Let’s Go: Experience the Grand Canyon’s South Rim

THINGS TO SEE

The South Rim, essentially, is divided up into three different main “areas.” The first is the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, which is closed as of press time. To the west of the visitor center is the Market Plaza. The Market features park headquarters, a post office, the Yavapai Lodge and Mather Campground. The third area is the Grand Canyon Village. The Village is home to the Bright Angel Trailhead, Kolb Studio, El Tovar Hotel and Verkamp’s Visitor Center. Here a few highlights from the Grand Canyon Village.

Verkamp’s Visitor Center

Located a short walk east of the El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House in one of the Village’s oldest buildings that’s named after the family that called this former gift shop home, Verkamp’s Visitor Center is where visitors can learn more about the canyon and speak with park staff. At the information desk, National Park Service rangers and Grand Canyon Association staff can answer your questions. The visitor center also features a bookstore and a museum shop. Visitors also can learn more about the Grand Canyon community and pioneer history. From the Verkamp’s Visitor Center, you can take the Rim Trail to other businesses and viewpoints along the Grand Canyon.

Kolb Studio

Once the home and business of the Kolb brothers Emery and Ellsworth, pioneering photographers and filmmakers at Grand Canyon, this five-story Victorian-era building (circa 1905) is perched on the edge of the Canyon. Check out the free art exhibits – including many beautiful paintings of the Grand Canyon – in the former auditorium and shop in the bookstore.

Yavapai Geology Museum

If you can snag a parking space (and this is a tough task), the Yavapai Geology Museum is a great spot for catching the sunrise. Inside, you can learn about how the Grand Canyon was formed and gaze out the expansive windows offering gorgeous views.

Hermit Road Drive

This seven-mile drive from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest viewpoint has dazzling views. From March 1 to Nov. 1 the drive is closed to private cars but available by free shuttle bus. The bus makes multiple stops where guests can get off and explore. The bus stops at nine viewpoints. One highlight is the Hopi Point – this is one of the most popular viewpoints for watching the sunrise and sunset due to its wide vistas. Another noteworthy stop is the Mohave Point, another great place for watching the sun set and rise. On quiet days from Pima Point, you can sometimes hear the Granite Rapids below. One of the most famed Grand Canyon architects, Mary Colter, created Hermits Rest in 1914 to resemble an old miner’s cabin. Today, Hermits Rest serves as a gift shop and snack bar. If you’re up for light exercise, the 1.1-mile paved hike from Hermits Rest to Pima Point is majestic.

El Tovar Hotel

El Tovar is a hotel unlike any other and worth a quick visit. For starters, it’s is a designated historical landmark originally built from limestone and Oregon pine. The hotel has hosted the likes of Oprah Winfrey, author Zane Grey and Sir Paul McCartney. It’s perched right on the rim and offers beautiful views. Walking into the lobby feels like stepping back in time. The place is entirely wood and even features taxidermy on the walls.

HIKES

The Grand Canyon is a true hiker’s paradise. Here are a handful of trails for all skill levels. If you choose to hike into the Canyon, keep in mind that it takes twice as long to ascend as it does to descend. In the spring and summer, temperatures rise as you descend.

Trail of Time Hike

Starting at the Yavapai Geology Museum, this 2.83-mile trail has exhibits that span 1.5 billion years in geologic time. Each meter represents one million years. You can even see rocks along the trail that are placed on their appropriate “birthdays.” Take time to read about the Canyon’s history as you take in stunning vistas if you take this relatively flat and paved trail.

Rim Trail

For an easy hike with stunning views of the Canyon’s inner rim, hike the Rim Trail. This extends from the village area to Hermits Rest. Begin from any viewpoint in the Grand Canyon Village or along Hermit Road. There’s no water west of Bright Angel Lodge. Part of the trail is paved.

Bright Angel Trail

The Bright Angel Trail is one of the most iconic hiking trails in the entire world. This trail offers stunning views and is challenging. The rest house at 1.5 miles one way is a good turnaround point for late starters or novice hikers. Fit hikers may be able to reach Indian Gardens – a 4.5-mile hike one way – and return to the rim during a day hike. But if you’re going past that point, you’ll need to secure a backpacking permit. There will be mules on this trail.

Bright Angel Trail

South Kaibab Trail

The South Kaibab Trail is the quickest way to reach the river. But it’s also a steep hike with little shade and no water. But it’s also the only trail that is essentially a ridgeline descent. The aptly named Ooh-Aah Point at 0.9 mile one way at the South Kaibab Trail is a quick hike into the canyon and back. If you’d like to go farther, Skeleton Point at 3 miles one way is as far as the park recommends traveling if you’re completing a day hike. From here, you can even see the Colorado River.

South Kaibab Trail

Shoshone Point Trail

You don’t typically see the word “easy” in any description of a Grand Canyon hiking trail. But one of the wonderful exceptions to that is the Shoshone Point Trail. This 2.1 mile out-and-back trail provides a stunning viewpoint and is easy to reach. Enjoy the wildflowers if you hike in the spring.

Mather Point

Camping

The Mather Campground is currently open. If you’d like to camp in the Grand Canyon, backcountry permits are being considered. Visit nps.gov for more information.

Buses

The Grand Canyon’s South Rim features five different shuttle bus routes. Buses are free with admission. As of press time, riders must wear masks. Seating capacity is limited to 15 passengers. Buses arrive at each stop every 15 minutes. The orange route offers five vistas and is a good option if you only have two hours or less. The orange route takes you to restaurants, hotels and campgrounds. The orange route connects you to the red route, which offers the most scenic views. Shuttle bus routes are accurate as of press time.

VIEWPOINTS

Yavapai Point Museum & Viewpoint

The exhibits at Yavapai Point Museum feature displays including 3D models, photographs and exhibits for visitors to see and understand the complicated geologic story of the area. The historic building, located one mile east of Market Plaza and a short walk or bike on the paved Greenway, features expansive canyon views. The bookstore offers a variety of materials about the area. Several ranger programs begin here. Car parking is available.

JEEP AND FLIGHT TOURS

Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris

Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris offers off-road adventures at the Grand Canyon. Professional guides teach guests about ecosystems, flora and fauna, American Indians, cave paintings and give sunset tours.

Pink Jeep Tours

In addition to tours of the Sedona area, Pink Jeep Tours offers one-day tours from Sedona to the Grand Canyon.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters

Papillon offers helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon that are 25, 30 or 50-minutes long. Papillon also has three landing sites on the floor of the Canyon.

Maverick Aviation Group

Maverick offers one 45-minute tour from the South Rim. Each flight is designed to be as interactive as possible between the pilot and the guests. Using voice-activated headsets, passengers experience narration (in English) by the pilot or a pre-recorded narration in guests’ native languages.

Westwind Air Service

Westwind offers multiple narrated air tours of the Grand Canyon from Sedona.

SKYDIVING

Paragon Skydive

Paragon Skydive offers tandem skydives at the Grand Canyon. Take in views of the majestic expanse of the Grand Canyon from 15,000 feet when you are in freefall. Using wrist-mounted high-resolution cameras, the instructors capture your entire skydive experience on video. Riders are given training prior to skydiving.

GUIDED HIKING AND BACKPACKING TOURS

All Star Grand Canyon Tours

Offers custom private tours, sightseeing day tours, group day hikes and backpacking trips in all permitted areas of Grand Canyon National Park. Tours pick up from Sedona.

Detours

Offers private sightseeing tours from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. One-day or two-day trips available.

Four Seasons Guides

Flagstaff-based Four Seasons Guides offers guided hiking, basecamp hiking, backpacking, lodge-based hiking and day hikes in the Grand Canyon.

Pygmy Guides

Pygmy Guides offers guided day hiking or overnight backpacking tours in the Grand Canyon. Guests can be picked up in Flagstaff, Williams, Tusayan or a South Rim hotel.

REI

REI offers backpacking and hiking tours into the Grand Canyon.

Rubicon Outdoors

Grand Canyon tours can include private guided backpacking or self-guided backpacking.

360 Adventures

From sightseeing at the Grand Canyon to hiking below the rim, 360 Adventures offers guided day hikes for all levels to multi-day tours.

Wildland Trekking – South Kaibab Trail Tour

Wildland Trekking

Grand Canyon hiking tours include guided Grand Canyon backpacking trips, mule-supported trips, basecamp hiking tours, inn-based hiking tours and day hike tours. All Grand Canyon hikes are all-inclusive with local transportation, meals, gear, permits and professional guides. Tours depart from Flagstaff.

Wildland Trekking – Wonders of the Grand Canyon Tour

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

HORSEBACK

Apache Stables

You can see the Grand Canyon by horseback if you book a one- or two-hour ride with Grand Canyon Apache Stables. Riders can enjoy a stroll through the pines of Kaibab National Forest. These rides are not along the rim.

BIKING

Bright Angel Bicycles

Located at the South Rim Visitor Center near Mather Point, Bright Angel Bicycles offers bicycles to accommodate riders of all sizes and abilities. Children’s frame sizes and trailers are available for younger kids. Adult tricycles are also available. Bike on the forested greenways or the shuttle route that gives you access to a restricted area of the park where cars are prohibited. The paved Greenway Trail system provides traffic-free riding and walking throughout the Village and along the rim. Guided tours depart twice daily. Bright Angel Bicycles is open weather permitting. Bike reservations are walkup only. No reservations at this time.

Bright Angel Bicycles

IMAX MOVIE

Grand Canyon IMAX Movie Learn about the history of the Grand Canyon, see the water rushing and overviews of spectacular vistas when you watch the seven-story giant screen presentation of “Grand Canyon IMAX Movie.” The film is shown at the Grand Canyon IMAX® Theater in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, located one mile south of the South Rim entrance.