Things to Know about Visting the Grand Canyon

Author: Daniel Gillaspia; Cover Photo: Gary Randall.

The Grand Canyon is probably the most iconic of all the American National Parks. It almost seems like visiting it is a right of passage for all national park enthusiasts. Believe it or not, it’s not actually the most visited national park. It’s second, behind Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Still, the Grand Canyon is unlike any other place in the world. The first time I saw it, I remember it being surreal as if I was looking onto a scene from a movie. You simply can’t comprehend the vastness of this place until you see it in person.

In addition to the beauty of the landscape, one of the best things about this national park is that there is something to do for everyone. You can opt for short hikes on paved-trails or go with strenuous, overnight treks down into the heart of the Canyon. You can see the Canyon by helicopter ride, mule ride, bus ride, bike ride — whatever suits you there is an option for you.

I’m going to break down most of the things to do here and hopefully make your visit a lot easier to plan. And as always, I hope the beautiful photography I showcase here get you excited about making your way to this natural wonder.

1. North Rim vs South Rim

A lot of people have trouble deciding whether to visit the South Rim or the North Rim. First, know that they will both leave you equally impressed so you can’t go wrong with either one. But here are some things you’ll want to consider when deciding on which one to visit.

Time of year

The first thing to take into account is what time of year you’ll be visiting. The North Rim is closed from mid-October until about mid-May. Don’t assume it will be open on the opening day listed on the National Park Service website, because sometimes the park will remain closed due to weather conditions. If you are visiting within two to three weeks of mid-October or mid-May then just make sure you call the park beforehand to make sure you’ll have access to the North Rim.

Route

The next factor you should consider is your route. If you’re staying in Las Vegas, your easiest route is going to be the South Rim, because it will take significantly more time to get access to the North Rim. If you are coming in from the Page, Arizona area then it’s going to be about 3 hours to the North Rim and a little less to the South Rim. Be sure to check the road conditions as well. The last time I was in the area one the of the nearby highways was not in service.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/images/canyonwest_map.jpg (map via NPS)

Photographers

If you’re a photographer, I recommend the North Rim. Why? The North Rim locations just seem to offer more interesting photograph opportunities along with smaller crowds (only 10% of Canyon visitors go with the North Rim). Also, a lot of photographers come to this region as part of of a circuit (e.g., Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, etc.) and it’s easier to hit the Grand Canyon via the North Rim when doing that circuit. Now, don’t get me wrong, photographing the South Rim will be absolutely worth every second of your time and you will get fantastic shots. It’s just if I had to recommend one over the other for a photographer, it would be the North Rim.

Visiting Both

For most people who want to relax and experience the Canyon for the first time it’s probably not that practical to see both locations in one day. If you’re interested in seeing both then you should set aside a full two days to see the park. However, if you just have to see both sights in one day it is possible, just know you’re going to be spending a nice chunk of your day (about 5 hours) driving to the other rim. If you only have one day, then I highly recommend just sticking to one side.

One last thing you may want to consider is altitude. The North Rim sits at above 8,000 feet, so if you have issues with altitude you might want to minimize those risks and go with the South Rim.

2. Photographing the Grand Canyon

If you don’t think you’re good at taking photos you are in luck, because taking nice photographs doesn’t get much easier than at the Grand Canyon. Aside from exposure issues, you really cannot take a bad photo. With that said, there are several things you can do to enhance your photos.

Roam around and utilize foreground

Feel free to hop over the barriers and roam around the foreground looking for interesting shots. (When I say barriers I mean the small ones along the pavements; not the railings on the cliff sides.) While in the process of roaming around, be sure to utilize the foreground. You’ll be able to use trees, bushes, rocks, etc. Play around with the angles. Just be careful! There’s no reason to get right on the edge of the cliff; try to fight that urge. And try not to get too preoccupied with foreground shots; remember you’re there to see the Canyon. Here are some examples of good foreground shots:

Sunsets and sunrises

As mentioned, going in the morning or evening provides you with the unique opportunity of catching dramatic sun rays lighting the Canyon. As the sun comes closer to setting or rising the sun will illuminate off these canyon walls in an array of colors. The golden hours of the desert are truly golden, and the Grand Canyon is no exception. If you’re looking for a rough guide on the times of when to expect the sunrise or the sunset at the Grand Canyon (along with moon phases) click here. Remember to post up at your spot at least an hour before the sunset times, especially if you are at the more crowded South Rim.

Capturing the full dynamic range out here really makes these photos pop and can set your image apart from others so consider shooting HDRs. But don’t feel like you need to eliminate all the shadows in your photos. Many times it is catching the shadows in the Canyon that “make” the shot.

Panorama, Panorama, Panorama

If there was ever a place to go panorama crazy, this is probably it. Even if you are shooting with your iPhone, this is the place to use your panoramic function. With that said, you do want to mix up the type of photos you take but just make sure you attempt a few good panoramas, maybe about two per viewpoint is a good rule of thumb. And if you are an inexperienced photographer, don’t forget that polarizers can really screw with your panoramas. Unless you are very competent in photo treatment, you want to leave the polarizer off during panoramas.

Play around with compositions and angles

Play around with the composition. Sometimes the sky will be 2/3 of your photo sometimes it will be 1/3. When it comes to taking photographs here, variety is a very good thing.

Utilize people or wildlife as subjects

This really goes for any location but a good way to set your photos apart from the millions out there are to catch people in action. Candid photos of the pensive photographer or hiker out on a ledge at the Grand Canyon almost always look amazing. Also, catching wildlife in the act is always a good way to capture unique qualities of the Canyon.

3. Things to see at the  Grand Canyon South Rim 

Once you pull into the park, you’ll be able to drive along Desert View Drive where there are a number of different South Rim viewpoints with parking lots. I can’t say that I recommend any one point over the other and I don’t think it’s necessary to stop at each one unless you’d like to do so.  Keep in mind that the further you get away from the entrances the more likely the crowds are to thin out. I went in September so those spots probably stay a little bit busier in the summer. Another thing to remember about visiting these viewpoints is that they often get very windy, so be sure to layer up especially if you are trying to catch the sunrise or sunset.

For your convenience, I’ve pulled some great photos from the different viewpoints to show you what kind of shots or views you can expect to get along the South Rim.

Yaki Point

You’ll have to rely on a shuttle to get you to and from this location but it makes an exceptional viewpoint to watch the sunrise and the sunset. During the evenings near a full-moon, you can catch the sunset and the moonrise from this location allowing for a diverse way to capture the Canyon.

Grandview Point

This point is about 15 miles from the Village so it is usually less packed and there is usually ample room for parking. You can also hit the trails from this parking lot.

Moran Point

Lipan Point

From Grand Canyon village, you’re looking at about a 30-40 minute drive to get to this point that a lot of visitors claim is the best among the South Rim viewpoints.

Navajo Point

This point offers a great view of the Colorado River and a great viewpoint to take in the sunrise.

Desert View Vista

4. Things to see at the Grand Canyon North Rim

Point Imperial

This is the highest viewpoint of either rim and offers exceptional views for the sunrise and sunsets. If I had to choose one spot to shoot for a sunset, it would likely be here.

Roosevelt Point

This viewpoint is located about halfway between Bright Angel Point and Cape Royal.

Cape Royal

The drive itself to Cape Royal is spectacular and the viewpoint may offer the bet panoramic shots in the Canyon.

Bright Angel

Angel’s Window

Cape Final

Point Sublime:

This more unknown viewpoint is on the western side of the North Rim. To access it you’ll have to venture about 30 miles on an unpaved road off the main road.

West Rim

Don’t forget about the viewpoints on the West Rim of the Canyon.

As you can see, all of these viewpoints are absolutely breathtaking so you can’t go wrong with any of them. Try to hit as many as you can get to while still enjoying the Canyon and not rushing. And try your best to catch the Canyon at least at one sunset or sunrise.

5. The Skywalk

The Grand Canyon skywalk is located in the West Grand Canyon. That means if you’re coming from Las Vegas, you’ve got a shorter drive of about 2 hours versus 5 hours to the South Rim. The skywalk projects about 70 feet over the canyon and makes for a unique experience to see the canyon. However, I’ve got some problems with the skywalk.

First, it’s expensive — you’ll have to drop around $80. Second, they don’t allow cameras or even iPhones on the skywalk. As someone passionate about photography, you can just guess how that makes me feel. But maybe worst of all is that the West Canyon is not as deep and vast as the Grand Canyon at the South or North Rim. I’ve even heard accounts of folks leaving the Skywalk a little unimpressed with the Canyon because they thought it’d be bigger!

Now, on the other hand, the Skywalk tour packages offered do allow for two other viewpoint stops (where you can get your pics) and you are supporting the Hualapai Tribe. If I had to plan a trip, though, I’d probably rather head to the South or North Rim where you’ll pay less and be able to capture many more viewpoints. With that said, seeing the West Canyon would still be a special experience and the skywalk is still an architectural marvel to be noted, so if your spouse or partner bought you honeymoon tix for it, don’t sweat it… just try to make your way to the South or North Rim if you can.

6. Shuttle Busses

There are parking lots in the town of Tusayan you can park in to use the free shuttle busses to get around the park. Also, look into the busses (not sure if free) that run between the South and North Rim during the summer. If you need transportation to get from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon they offer those services as well.

7. Hiking in the Grand Canyon

One of the best ways to experience the Grand Canyon is to actually enter it and hike. There are opportunities for some great hiking in the Grand Canyon. I recommend looking into some of the day hikes at the Canyon. Here’s a brief description of the trails available to you for day hikes. All information provided by the National Park Service.

South Rim Destinations

• The Rim Trail – This trail is suitable for everyone, including the disabled. It is mostly flat and goes on for 13 miles but you can choose to head back at anytime, making it perfect for those who are not sure how long they want to be hiking.
• Bright Angel Trail – This is a popular steep trail that leads into the canyon. You can travel anywhere from 3 to 9 miles roundtrip on this trail. Restrooms and water are usually available at certain points along the trail.
• South Kaibab Trail – You’ll have to take a shuttle bus to get to the trailhead of this hike.

 

North Rim Destinations

• Bright Angel Point – This is the easiest hike on the North Rim. It’s a short and easy walk on a paved walkway, only half a mile.
• Widforss Trail – This trail goes on for 10 miles but you need not go the entire way to appreciate the beautiful scenery you will come across.
• North Kaibab Trail – This is a steeper trail and can range from 1.4 miles to 4 miles.

Here’s an image from Roaring Springs, a destination you can reach on the North Kaibab Trail.

8. Mule Trips

There are a ton of different options for mule rides in the Canyon. You’ll want to book early because they fill up quickly. The rides can be as short as an hour and even up to multiple night stays that go down into the Canyon. The rides are great because mules have traditionally been used to navigate the area and you’ll be given all sorts of interesting information on the Canyon while you ride around. For a full-day ride you’re looking at around $100 but for multiple night stays you’ll be paying around $500 plus.

9. Helicopter Tours

Seeing the Grand Canyon from the sky is absolutely worth every penny. If your budget allows, then I highly recommend you looking into booking a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.

10. Rafting

Rafting is probably the most adventurous thing you could do in the Canyon. There are several different types of trips you could plan for rafting. For half-day or one day rafting trips you can look out heading out of Page, Arizona or the West Canyon. For the more adventurous, there are tours lasting up to two weeks that will take you throughout the entire Canyon! Just know that the Colorado River is known for being rough in certain parts, so before you sign up for one of these tours do your research and know what to expect.

11. Waterfalls of Havasupai

If there was one destination that I wish I would have known about on my first trip out to the Grand Canyon this would be it. The Waterfalls of Havasupai are not a part of the Grand Canyon National Park but are located in the Grand Canyon. The trail to get to these falls is not a super difficult trail; it’s just pretty long at 10 miles. Thankfully, towering canyon walls allow for some shade along the way in the hot summer. And if you’re heading out in the summer, it’s recommended you bring at least 2 liters of water and that you head out on your hike as early as possible, like around 5am.

These waterfalls are some of the most beautiful waterfalls you will ever see. Also, what is cool about them is that they multiply. In 2008 a flash flood redirected the flow of water creating two new waterfalls for you to explore. There are now a total of five waterfalls to explore:

• Upper Navajo Falls
• Lower Navajo Falls
• Havasu Falls
• Mooney Falls
• Beaver Falls

So after hiking out 10 miles to get to this spot what’s the best way to get back? Try booking a helicopter flight to get you back where you started. It’s not too expensive and what better way to relax than to take in views of this amazing place from the air after a long hike. Or if you’re not up for the hike, book a helicopter tour for there and back. Just remember, helicopters aren’t impervious to weather, so they may not always be available. Also, you can look into horse rides that will take you to your destination and back as well. Finally, consider camping out there for a night.

For more information on this destination check out: http://havasupaifalls.net/waterfalls.html

12. Lodging

The park has some pretty amazing lodges around the South Rim and the North Rim. At the south rim, the lodges are located at different viewpoint locations along the rim.  Of course, the lodging at these places is going to be a little expensive and you’re going to have to book far in advance for peak season. I took the below figures off the National Park Service website for your convenience. It shows the kinds of prices you will be looking at.

South Rim – Inside the Park:

• Bright Angel Lodge $83-$404
• El Tovar Hotel $186-$464
• Kachina Lodge $194-$209
• Maswik Lodge $94-$185
• Thunderbird Lodge $194-$209
• Yavapai Lodge $140-$174

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/lodging.htm

You can always stay down in the Canyon at Phantom Ranch as well. Also, for the North Rim, the Grand Canyon Lodge is your only hope for lodging inside the park.http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

Don’t forget to look into staying at nearby Flagstaff Hotels where you’ll find cheaper prices.

13. Other Nearby Destinations

When most people travel to or from the Grand Canyon, they make sure to visit other well-known destinations in the area. Here are just a few to look into. I’ll eventually be adding material covering these destinations; for now, just be sure to research what they have to offer.

• Las Vegas
• Hoover Dam
• Valley of Fire
• Antelope Canyon
• Lake Powell
• Lake Mead

Also, be sure to check out my list of 40 places that will blow your mind in the western United States for more points of interest.

14. National Park Resources

Much like Yosemite National Park, the National Park Service has a wealth of information for visitors on their website.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/trip-planner-grca.pdf

Here’s another good source to check out: http://explorethecanyon.com/top-ten-lookout-points-of-the-grand-canyon/

That’s all I have for things to see at Grand Canyon National Park. I hope you enjoy your time at this natural wonder! And a special thanks to all of the super talented photographers who assisted me with this article!

Feel free to check out my Flickr account and Facebook page!