The Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon National Park is breathtakingly beautiful. I've been there three times now and each time have experienced it in a new and unique way.
The Grand Canyon is divided into five parts, only two of them being within Grand Canyon Natl. Park itself - the South Rim and the North Rim. Grand Canyon West, sometimes called the West Rim, is managed by the Hualapai Nation and is located 241 miles west of the South Rim, about a 4.5-hour drive. And Havasu Falls is down in the canyon in an area owned by the Havasupai tribe. A favorite photo spot, Horseshoe Bend, is also not inside the national park. It’s in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area with a parking lot in the city of Page, Arizona.
Photo credit: iStock
The South Rim is the part of the park the majority of people visit as it's more developed for tourists. It's open year round.
The North Rim is a more remote area that has fewer visitors than the South Rim. It's accessible from mid-May to mid-October due to snow.
However, please note the North Rim is closed for the 2025 travel season due to damage from a fire.
Grand Canyon West is a popular day trip destination with its Skywalk and zip lines. It's located near Las Vegas and is accessible by car.
Havasu Falls is not part of the park itself but is noted for its beautiful waterfalls. It is owned by the Havasupai tribe.
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We'll focus on the South Rim for the most part since that's the area most people visit and the North Rim is closed for this year.
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GRAND CANYON VILLAGE
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GETTING THERE: While the village is accessible by vehicle, what you want to do is park at the Mather Visitor Center and take the complimentary Blue Line Shuttle into the Village itself because there's a severe lack of parking in the Village itself.
Begin your tour of the village at the Verkamp Visitors Center. I'm going to rearrange the walking tour above just a bit so that if you have kids, you can get them started on the activity explained below.
The Visitors Center contains a display about the park and a gift shop.
If you have kids ages 4 and older, pick up a Junior Ranger activity book for each of them. This activity is FREE! and books are gauged to the age of the child.
Books are also available at one of the park's visitor centers, backcountry ranger stations, or Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore. Specialized books are available for the North Rim, South Rim, and Canyon Explorers.
The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger books are designed with place-based activities to be completed on a visit to the park. If you are visiting the South Rim and need a screen reader accessible or fillable PDF version of the South Rim Junior Ranger book, please download that here.
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Bring along some pencils, colored pencils and a clipboard for each and keep the kids entertained completing the book to become a Junior Ranger. When they've completed their book, return to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, the Verkamp Visitor Center or the Tusayan Museum and when the kids review it with a park ranger or staff member they will be awarded a Grand Canyon Junior Ranger badge.
You must be in the park in order to receive a badge, they cannot mail Junior Ranger books or badges.
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Matt and Cheryl have a website called We're In the Rockies that focuses on travel destinations in the West that's absolutely top notch. They did the following video for kids on the Junior Ranger Program.
Some changes had been made since my last visit. At the Visitor Center, family-friendly interpretive and educational elements were incorporated into the plaza area; and a theater was added to the Visitor Center where the park's new interpretive orientation film is shown daily on the hour and half-hour. A new shuttle bus transit center also created improved and simplified access to the park's free shuttle bus system.​
Photo credit: Michael Quinn
The shuttle bus stop and transit center is east of the visitor center and south of parking lot 2. The transit center can accommodate up to 4 shuttle buses at one time. The Village (Blue Route), the Kaibab/Rim Route (Orange Route) and the Tusayan (Purple Route) buses stop here. To get to the scenic Hermit Road (Red Route), you take the Village (Blue Route) bus from here - then transfer to the Hermit (Red Route) at the Hermit Road Interchange. Your driver will announce all stops along the way.
Visitor Center Map
From the Verkamp Center walk over to the Hopi House. Even if you're not in the market to shop for some Native American-made wares the interior of Hopi House is worth seeing, especially the thatched ceiling which is made in the traditional Hopi manner. Luckily for all of us, they didn't recreate Hopi House 100% authentically or we'd be crawling through a hole in the roof to enter the building rather than walking through a front door.
The typical ceiling of the Hopi style: saplings, grasses, and twigs with a mud coating on top, resting on peeled log beams.
Your next stop on your tour is the El Tovar Hotel, a curious mix of Southwestern and Norwegian architecture. But that's not the draw of the El Tovar - it's their dining room that serves world class gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The El Tovar's restaurant is the premiere restaurant in the Grand Canyon, having served the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Paul McCartney, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Albert Einstein.
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Reservations are now required for both lunch and dinner and are highly recommended for breakfast as well.
Online reservations can be made here.
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I recommend having breakfast there and ordering the Peach Melba Belgian Waffles.​
Dress Code: El Tovar Dining Room is a classic, fine dining experience. While jackets are not
required, please use discretion to dress appropriately (shorts and flip-flops discouraged)
The hotel itself is beautiful but I found a HUGE variance in price per night depending on the date you book - anywhere from $250 per night to $787 per night for the same room!
There are other places to stay in and around Grand Canyon Park that are more reasonable.
If you wish, make the Santa Fe Railroad Station your next stop - although I'll cover that later in this article. If you do go to see it, then afterward you'll need to backtrack the way you came, past the El Tovar to continue the walking tour.
Your next stop will be the Buckey O'Neill Cabin.
Photo credit: Natl. Park Service
This cabin is the only remaining building from the early pioneer settlement era of the Village. Built on this site in 1895 by William Owen "Buckey" O'Neill, the 2-room office and bunkhouse—complete with v-notched logs, rough mortar chinking, and a native stone chimney—was the rustic home of Buckey and his wife while they operated a small hotel on the South Rim. The consummate entrepreneur, Buckey improved the Bright Angel Trail and camp at Indian Garden and promoted the Grand Canyon Railroad to benefit both his tourism and mining interests.
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Buckey O'Neill died in Cuba in 1898 during the Battle of San Juan Hill, fighting with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. After his death, the cabin changed owners several times and was razed by the railroad and the Fred Harvey Company to replace it with the Bright Angel Lodge. The architect of the re-built Bright Angel Lodge and its cabins, Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter renovated Buckey's cabin as a guest cabin that is part of Bright Angel Lodge's guest cabins to this day.
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Your next stop on your walking tour will be the Lookout Studio,
Photo credit: Whit Richardson
Visitors to the Grand Canyon today may stop in the Lookout Studio just west of the Bright Angel Lodge to buy gifts, books, professional photos or other creative items. Be sure to walk out onto the deck and look through the telescope.
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Continue on to the Kolb Studio.
Photo credit: Natl. Park Service
Photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb helped turn the Grand Canyon into a national icon. They built Kolb Studio, one of the earliest tourist destinations on the South Rim. The brothers began to take photographs of the mule riders from a small toll shack on the Bright Angel Trail. The toll shack would later become today's five story home, theater and photo studio built right on the edge of the canyon! The studio was used to document the trips of visitors and create imagery of Grand Canyon for 75 years.
Nearly demolished in the 1960s, this structure stands today as a park icon, art gallery, and bookstore for visitors in the vicinity of Bright Angel Trail.
Currently, visitors can purchase artwork, books, gifts, souvenirs, and basic hiking gear, or simply stop by for park information and exhibits on the Kolb Brothers' life and adventures on the edge of the canyon.
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Last stop on your tour: the Bright Angel Lodge.
Located right on the canyon's edge at the west end Village Historic District, the lodge was designed by Mary Colter in 1935, to resemble a rambling pioneer settlement with a variety of buildings that feature exposed timber, adobe and natural rock walls. The lodge has, two restaurants, a gift shop, lounge, fountain and coffee shop, a small museum, and a transportation desk, where mule trips and bus tours may be booked.
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Bright Angel has 90 lodging units ranging from cozy historic units with shared bathrooms, to standard lodge rooms and historic cabins, to the one of a kind "Buckey O'Neill Cabin". Accommodations range from rustic cabins (with in-room coffee maker, satellite TV, and private bath) to lodge rooms (with no television and a shared bath). All rooms are equipped with telephone and refrigerator. Most rooms have only one bed and they are on the small side.
Please note: Rooms with canyon views are very limited and cannot be guaranteed.​
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That concludes your walking tour of the Grand Canyon Village proper but there are a couple of more stops you might want to make. The first is Hermit's Rest.
he only way to get to Hermit's Rest is via the Red Line shuttle you board in Grand Canyon Village near the Bright Angel Lodge.
Several miles to the west of Hopi House, is an entirely different type of structure. Hermit's Rest. The building, originally constructed as a rest stop for the short stage line that ran from El Tovar to this location, is a stone building placed several feet back from the rim edge, and is tucked into a small man-made earthen mound, built around and atop the building to blend it in with its setting.
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Hermit's Rest was designed to resemble a dwelling constructed by an untrained mountain man using the natural timber and boulders of the area. From the entrance path a haphazard looking structure of stone and wood greets the visitor, and the approach to Hermit's Rest is marked by a small stone arch set in a stone wall along the original pathway from the parking area to the building. The exposed portions of the building that are not banked into the earth are of rubble masonry bonded with cement mortar, structural logs, and a few expanses of glass. The chimneys are gently battered rubble masonry. The first thing I wondered when I saw it was how it was still standing!
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If you're not going to Hermit's Rest, then head on over to the Mule Pen.
Photo credit: Natl. Park Service
This livery barn is the home of the Xanterra mules that carry visitors and supplies into the canyon.
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Based on their historic usage, these three buildings were referred to as the Fred Harvey company's "Transportation Department." Today's Mule Barn was originally the Livery Stable used to house company horses that pulled carraige tours around the village. Visitors traveling to the canyon via horse-drawn coach, could also stable their horses here.
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In the 1920's, as horse-drawn tours were discontinued, mules that carried visitors to the bottom of Grand Canyon.were moved from the adjacent barn across the road (the original mule barn), to this building, in order to accommodate a growing number of mules.
So here's my challenge to all of you travelin' adventurers: Book a mule ride down into or at least along the rim of the Canyon. You haven't experienced the Grand Canyon until you've done this.
PLEASE NOTE: The North Rim of the Canyon is closed for the 2025 travel season due to fire damage so North Rim mule rides are not available this year.
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This video by Cheryl of We're In The Rockies does a great job of explaining everything about the mule rides.
I'm not a city slicker but like Cheryl, I'm not wild about horses - or mules in this case. Yes, the mules hug the outside rim when walking the trail so this gives you an idea of the drop you're hugging...
Yes, you'll think your heart is in A Fib when that initial panic attack hits. LOL But as long as you observe the #1 rule "No leanin' no screamin' " you'll come out of your ride life and limb intact. Those mules are amazingly sure footed and have walked that trail so many times I'm sure they could walk it in their sleep.
Once I trusted my mule I relaxed and had a blast on the mule ride.
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If you've never done it before, start out with a short 2 hour South Rim ride.
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Mule ride options include 1-3 hour rides along the rim of the canyon, 3-hour rides into the canyon, and multi-day trips to the bottom of the canyon. The cost ranges from $60 to over $2,000 for the multi day rides down to the bottom of the Canyon and the Phantom Ranch.
Phantom Ranch cabins and canteen. Photos credit: Scott Temme/Xanterra
Now that you've familiarized yourself with Grand Canyon Village, let's begin exploring the Grand Canyon itself. But before we get started...
Hiking the Grand Canyon
PREPARATION: Hiking in the Grand Canyon can be deceptive and downright dangerous, even to an experienced hiker. Over 250 people require rescue from the Canyon every year. You don't want to end up being one of them. The only South Rim trail not designated as STEEP is the Rim Trail. The trails can be deceptive in that while you may start out on a relatively flat, paved trail it doesn't stay that way and becomes very steep and brutal to climb near the end of the trail, leaving you exhausted when trying to finish your hike.
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Temperatures during the summer months are normally hot, places to find shade are few and far between and you'll need to bring sufficient water with you to stay adequately hydrated.
Here are some more hiking absolute musts:
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Wear appropriate comfortable hiking shoes or boots. These trails were not designed for flip flops or sandals, especially the unpaved portions of the trail.
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Wear a sun hat of some kind.
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Stay on the designated marked trails, don't venture off of them.
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Before you begin your hike let someone know where you'll be hiking just in case something would happen (such as an injury) that you'd need rescue, so someone knows where to find you. This is true even if you're just doing a day hike.
HIKE SMART
For a safe and enjoyable hike prepare before you arrive.
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Review the Hiking Tips section.
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In summer read the Summer Hiking page and in winter read the Winter Hiking page.
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Check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on trail conditions and situations affecting the backcountry.
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Watch the HIKE SMART: Your Essential Guide to Hiking in Grand Canyon video.
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Listen to the Hike Smart Podcasts (transcripts available).
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Hiking the Corridor? Be sure to visit the Key Hiking Messages webpage and the Trail Courtesy Practices That Leave No Trace webpage.
The Rim Trail extends from the village area to Hermits Rest. Begin from any viewpoint in the Village or along Hermit Road. The Rim Trail offers excellent walking for quiet views of the inner canyon and for visitors who desire an easy hike. No water west of Bright Angel Lodge. By using the shuttle buses, you can customize your hike to meet your needs. Part of the trail is paved and accessible. The Rim Trail is 14 miles long but you don't have to do all 14 miles, you can stop and turn around at any time or catch a shuttle bus.
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This is also the only trail that allows dogs on it - a rarity in the national parks.
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I'm going to make out a 5 day itinerary for you that's a combination of all of my trips to the Grand Canyon.
Accommodations
For my last trip, I had my trusty travel sidekick, Jay along, which meant staying in an RV park as we took his RV, which I've come to call "The Beast". (Try backing a 30+ foot RV into a RV site without taking out any trees!)
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My second trip to the Canyon was with my late husband and we took an entirely different route when it came to accommodations, so I'll try to show you both options.
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Grand Canyon Railway Hotel & Train
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We're going to backtrack to Grand Canyon Village for a moment and that railway depot you saw on your self guided tour of the Village.
On my second trip to the Grand Canyon my late hubby and I elected to stay at the Grand Canyon Train Hotel. Budget conscious travelers tend to bypass the hotel for less expensive accommodations but to be honest, the base price of a one night stay was $353.95 plus tax, which I personally feel isn't all that out of line considering it includes your $35 park entrance fee. We booked a hotel package with the train luxury dome or parlor car (with a discount) bringing our 1 night stay total to $633.50.
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The hotel itself was gorgeous, comfortable and the room spacious enough for us.​
Photos credit: Wiiliams Hotel
The AAA 3-diamond 298-room hotel is right next door to the train depot and just a block away from downtown Williams and historic Route 66. Amenities include complimentary wi-fi, an indoor pool and hot tub, delicious dining options at the Fred Harvey Restaurant and Spenser’s Pub, a fitness center, an outdoor firepit area, a playground for the kids and a business/computer room for those on business trips.
There are six different train car options to choose from:
Pullman Class From $27.99 /adult , $14.39 /child
Coach Class From $35.99 /adult , $22.39 /child
First Class From $67.99 /adult , $51.99 /child
Observation Dome From $79.99 /adult , $75.99 /child
Luxury Dome From $95.99 /adult (Adults only)
Luxury Parlor From $95.99 /adult (Adults only)
The luxury Parlor Car we booked. Photo credit: Grand Canyon Railway
Grand Canyon Railway provides service to and from Williams, Arizona and Grand Canyon National Park. Service occurs throughout the year, weather permitting. Please note that you do not see the Canyon itself during this train ride! However, you will see an array of different scenery during your trip that's every bit as beautiful.
We both agreed the package was worth the money we spent and that we'd do the trip again.
By the way, you don't have to stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in order to ride the train!
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So that's one option...
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On my last trip Jay and I took The Beast so we stayed at the Trailer Village RV Park as it stands alone as the exclusive in-park destination, offering full hookups, pull through sites and an unbeatable proximity to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. (The rest of the RV sites within the park do not have hook ups.)
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CAMPING
For the really budget conscious (and even those who aren't!) Grand Canyon Park has some beautiful campgrounds that you'll pay around $20 a night for.
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On my first trip to the park we camped at Mather Campground, the most popular and centrally located of the campgrounds. It's open to tents and RV's under 30 feet long. $18 per night.
An added bonus: Elk would occasionally wander through.
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There are 5 campgrounds within Grand Canyon National Park: Mather, Desert View, Trailer Village RV Park, the North Rim, and Phantom Ranch. Know that these campgrounds fill up fast so you need to make your reservations as early as possible. There are also many camping, glamping, and boondocking options near the park.
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Again, Cheryl from We're In the Rockies did a great comprehensive video on accommodations:
There is a place Cheryl didn't mention in her video that you may be interested in.
Highland Grand Canyon Glamping.
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Highland Grand Canyon is a boutique off-grid glamping retreat just 4 miles from the South Rim. It features five spacious safari tents with king beds, heated mattress pads, and private covered porches all tucked into the pines for peace and privacy. Wake to forest views, spend your day exploring the canyon, and return to stargazing by night. Highland is close to the Canyon but feels a world away from the crowds of the National Park and you don't need to book 6 months to a year in advance.
Their shared spaces include 2 bathroom units but these aren't your typical campground bathrooms.
There's also a really nice outdoor kitchen with gas grill under a pergola and a firepit.
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If you are deciding between glamping Grand Canyon style or staying at a traditional Grand Canyon hotel, Highland offers something different; something slower, quieter, and closer to nature.
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Oh, and they're dog friendly too!
Photos credit: Highland Glamping
Pricing is around $255 per night before taxes are added.
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Of course, the further away from the park itself you get, the easier and less expensive accommodations are to get. There are plenty of nice accommodations in Williams to suit any budget. Williams is about an hour drive away from the park.
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Here are the smaller towns closest to the Grand Canyon, where accommodations are likely to be less expensive:
Tusayan, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Seligman, Arizona
Kingman, Arizona
Kanab, Utah (Near North Rim)
Page, Arizona (Near Desert View)
Tuba City and Moenkopi
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at your accommodations and get settled in. (Your best bet is to secure accommodations near the South Rim as the North Rim is currently closed due to fire damage)
Visit the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to get maps and information then explore Grand Canyon Village.
Grab lunch at one of the restaurants in Grand Canyon Village.
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We opted to grab some food from the Fred Harvey Food Truck, which is located between El Tovar and the Hopi House. $
We supplemented with some groceries we bought to make a picnic lunch that we could eat at one of many scenic views in the park.
Fred Harvey food truck
Village restaurants often have long lines and most offer just okay food. The food at the Village grocery store is pricey.
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The food truck serves lunch and snacks from 11:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Food is mostly hot dogs, sandwiches, ice cream. While it is the most affordable place to eat at the South Rim, a hot dog will still set you back $8.
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You have some lunch options:
Maswik Food Court: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a food court stye atmosphere with no views of the Canyon. It also felt hot and stuffy to us. BBQ, Mexican, pizza by the slice, salads, packaged snacks, and drinks available and a pretty good selection of them.
Pizza Pub: Open for lunch and dinner. Pizza and salads. We opted not to eat here after a couple on their way out told us the pizza was "just OK".
General store & deli: market, sandwiches, snacks. Overpriced in our opinion.
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Yavapai Lodge. $-$$
Friends of ours tried it on their trip and reported the food and atmosphere were great, especially the outdoor seating area. The Lodge also has indoor dining.
This is a 5 minute drive from the Village and again you have some options:
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Yavapai Dining Hall: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner specializing in American and Southwest fare.
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Yavapai Tavern: Serves lunch, dinner, and craft beer. Burgers, wraps, and pizza. Offers outdoor seating and a fun atmosphere.
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Yavapai Coffee Shop: Open for breakfast and lunch. Serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and ice cream.
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Yavapai Cafe: Grab-and-go sandwiches and pizza by the slice.
The orange route free park shuttle goes to Yavapai Lodge and the Village Blue Route shuttle goes to Market Plaza, which is just a short walk from the Lodge. So leave your car parked where it is and take one of the free shuttles to Yavapai Lodge.
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Come evening, enjoy dinner at the El Tovar Restaurant inside the El Tovar Hotel. It's on the pricier side but it's also the best food in the park - and you get what you pay for.
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Gourmet dining in an atmosphere of historic and casual elegance describes this world-class dining experience.
The ambiance is rustic but classic and traditional. Guests such as Teddy Roosevelt, President Bill Clinton, and Sir Paul McCartney have dined at El Tovar.
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The menu is traditional, integrating both international and local Southwest influences. Signature items such as the Prime Rib Hash at Breakfast or the Salmon Tostada at Dinner have graced the menu for decades and become true classics. The Service Staff for the El Tovar Dining Room are consummate professionals; many have been with the restaurant for over 20 years. The El Tovar Dining Room is considered the premier dining establishment at the Grand Canyon and is recognized internationally.
Dinner options span the gamut from soups and salads (including the fun Whittlesey Salad, a Mexican-inspired offering) to steak, fish, and creative vegetarian dishes.
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It may also be helpful for families to know that you can request a half portion of any entrée for your children at a reduced price, so they don’t need to order kid-only fare.
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I didn't have high expectations having eaten Park food before...but El Tovar knocked it out of the park. We ordered the lamb chops and the bison, both of which were simply amazing.
One important thing to keep in mind when considering El Tovar Dining Room is the dress code. While you don’t have to show up in formal attire, flip-flops and shorts are discouraged and most guests really will dress in something approaching business casual. Pricing is consistent with a fine dining restaurant outside of a major urban center, with some vegetarian options costing less and certain cuts of meat and fish going at market price.
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Because this restaurant is so renowned and popular, reservations are recommended for dinner – and do make sure to make them as far in advance as possible during the busy season. Guests who aren’t staying in the hotel can make reservations up to 30 days in advance.
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After dinner, take a shuttle ride up to Mather Point to see the sunset. The sunsets over the Grand Cayon are spectacular.
The free shuttle you want to take from Grand Canyon Village to Mather Point is the Canyon View Information Plaza Route. (Blue shuttle)
Day 2
Have breakfast in your lodge or a nearby cafe. You're also going to want to pack a picnic or brown bag lunch for the afternoon.
Then saddle up because you're going on a 2 hour mule rim ride on the South Rim.
Just remember "No leanin' no screamin' ", trust your mule and you'll be perfectly fine.
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This ride is called the Canyon Vista Mule Ride and costs $143 before tax and gratuity (don’t forget to tip your wrangler). In total, the whole ride is 3 hours long. 2 hours of riding, plus another hour or so that you will spend taking a van ride from one mule barn to the other and getting the low down on how to ride your mule, the rules, and the use of the “mule motivator,” aka crop.
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The mules used for the Canyon Vista ride are all retired mules that used to do the 2 day ride. So these mules are all older (the youngest being around 12 and the oldest 25 or 26) and could do this ride in their sleep. They all know the drill. They have been trained to basically zone out their riders, and just do their job. They don’t really get the whole
concept of neck reining and stopping and going when you want them to (well, maybe they do, but if so they don’t want their riders to know). Each stop along the trail, the mules turn and face the canyon, lined up like they’re in the opening ceremony of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
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It’s an out and back ride, four miles total, and on fairly flat ground. You start off in the forest and within minutes, boom, there it is: the best looking hole in the ground I’ve ever seen. Once you make it to the rim, you’ll go two miles out, and turn around and come home the same way. There’s about six stops along the way, and each stop goes over the history of the canyon and why we ride mules instead of horses. Our gracious wrangler, Simon, also took everyone’s pictures — multiple pictures to get everyone’s good side, by the way. He also told us about his story and how he ended up being a mule wrangler at the Grand Canyon.​
The one thing you need to be aware of is that these mules all have their own personalities...and you can pull back those reins hard enough the back an elephant up but they're gonna do what they're gonna do regardless!
I was glad Jay got the more cantankerous mule, the one that decided he was going to eat his way through the trail ride. The entire Grand Canyon for that matter. Stopping at every bush he saw to graze, despite the fact he was wearing a grazing muzzle. No amount of coaxing from Jay would deter him from trying to eat everything enroute...once getting so close to the edge I thought he and Jay would go tumbling right over it.
(Well, at least they'd enjoy the scenic view on their way down if nothing else...)
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Finally, an exasperated Jay said to me "This damn mule is SO STUBBORN!"
He really shouldn't give me openings like that...
Me: "Well now you know what YOU'RE like when you make up your mind about something!"
If looks could kill... From both he and his mule.
After the mule ride, take a leisurely hike on the Rim Trail. Start at Mather Point and walk towards Yavapai Point for stunning views.
View of the Canyon from the Rim Trail & Mathers Point
From Mather Point, hike to the Yavapai Geology Museum.
Yavapai Geological Museum
Museum interior
You can have your picnic lunch at either Mather Point or Yavapai Point where the Yavapai Geological Museum is located.
Return to the Grand Canyon Village or your accommodations and RELAX until dinner time.
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Have dinner at Bright Angel Restaurant. (Or elsewhere if you prefer)
Bright Angel Lodge restaurant
We debated on whether to try Bright Angel or drive out of the park to Tusayan for dinner, being we aren't particularly keen on the Park food. We decided to dine at Bright Angel being as the locals informed us there weren't any stand out restaurants in Tusayan.
We figured if we ordered something simple they couldn't screw it up too badly...
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So we ordered spaghetti. While the portions were good sized, it was just okay. But then in all fairness my spaghetti sauce recipe came via my Italian relatives, straight off the boat from Italy and Sicily so I'm spoiled in that respect.
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Jays opinion: "Yours is a hell of a lot better."
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But let's face it, you don't go to Grand Canyon National Park for a foodie experience. You go for the scenery.
Bright Angel spaghetti
After dinner consider a stargazing session or attend a ranger program.
Day 3
Early breakfast and head to the South Kaibab Trail.
Hike down to Ooh Aah Point (about 1.8 miles round trip) for breathtaking views.
The South Kaibab Trail is a popular hiking route in the Grand Canyon, known for its stunning views and challenging terrain, making it a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts. However, unless you're a seasoned hiker, I wouldn't advise going past Ooh Aah Point as this is a rugged, challenging trail that starts out deceptively easy looking.
Photo credit: grandcanyon.org
Steep) The South Kaibab Trail begins south of Yaki Point on Yaki Point Road. Access to the trailhead is by shuttle bus (Kaibab Trail Route). Offers day hikes that range in distance up to 6 miles (round trip). Best views for a relatively short hike. Steep trail, no water, little shade. Water available seasonally at the trailhead. Upper portion of the trail may be extremely icy in winter or early spring.
A further portion of the trail as it grows more steep and rugged Photo credit: Pro Art Inc.
If you'd rather skip the hike altogether, then consider bicycling around the park.
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Both regular bicycles and E bikes are available to rent.
Canyon Adventures provides rentals and guided bicycle tours between mid-March and October 31. When the weather permits, rentals and tours may be offered at other times of the year - check their website for current availability.
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Please read this page for the regulations and restrictions re: bicycling the Grand Canyon.
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I did the The Hermit Road Greenway Trail, between Monument Creek Vista and Hermits Rest, provides a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) bicycle path away from the road and, in places, along the rim of Grand Canyon.
I highly recommend it. If you're not used to bicycling on a regular basis then I recommend renting an E bike to do the trail. You can either return to the Village for lunch or pack a picnic lunch.
The Hermit Road section of the Greenway Trail accommodates hikers, bicyclists, e-bicyclists, and visitors using wheelchairs. The trail meets Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas. Much of the trail follows the 1912 alignment of Hermit Road. There are six overlooks, including Pima Point, in addition to multiple resting areas along the trail.
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Bicycling on the South Rim: S. Kaibab Trailhead & Yaki Point
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Looking for a scenic, yet shorter cycling opportunity? Follow the paved Greenway Trail to the South Kaibab Trailhead and then ride along Yaki Point Road to Yaki Point. Access the Greenway near Grand Canyon Visitor Center and follow the South Kaibab Trailhead signs. In about 2.4 miles (3.9 km), you will come to the trailhead parking area.
From here, turn right and follow the trailhead road until you come to Yaki Point Road. Make a left and follow it 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to Yaki Point. There are plenty of spectacular canyon views along the Greenway Trail and once you reach Yaki Point.
Like Hermit Road, private vehicle restrictions eliminate most traffic. Shuttle and tour buses do utilize Yaki Point Road, so cyclists should pull to the right shoulder in a safe location, dismount and let buses pass.
If you become tired of cycling, you can catch the Orange Shuttle (Kaibab Rim Route) at Yaki Point, The South Kaibab Trailhead, or Pipe Creek Overlook, put your bike in the front rack, and ride the bus back to the Visitor Center.
Photo credit: Natl. Park Service
Day 3 Evening: Visit the Desert View Watchtower for panoramic views.
Desert View Watchtower Photo credit: Viator
Have dinner at a place of your choosing. We'd met another couple in the RV park that invited us for a cookout so that's where we went for dinner. It's the best part of traveling, meeting and making new friends.
Day 4
Breakfast, then head to the Bright Angel Trail. Hike part of the trail (consider going to 3 Mile Resthouse for a moderate hike).
Photo credit: proartinc Bright Angel Trail
Located on the South Rim, trail begins just west of Bright Angel Lodge. Follow path along rim, trail starts by mule corral.
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Trail Condition: Maintained dirt trail. Steep. Well defined. Some shade on trail, mostly from canyon walls and dependent on time of day. Give uphill hikers the right of way. Upper portion of trail may be extremely icy in winter or early spring.
Randomly patrolled by park rangers. Water available year round at trailhead and at Havasupai Gardens. Ranger Station at Havasupai Gardens. Water available seasonally along trail. Even though the Bright Angel has water along the trail, you need to carry water.
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The Bright Angel Trail offers wonderful views all along the trail making it very easy to lose track of how far down you have hiked. Additionally, the steepness of the trail is very misleading on the way down. Plan on taking twice as long to hike up as it took to hike down.
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You will encounter mules with their riders on this trail. When encountering mules on the trails:
• Step off the trail on the uphill side away from the edge.
• Follow the direction of the wrangler. Remain completely quiet and stand perfectly still.
• Do not return to the trail until the last mule is 50 feet (15 meters) past your position.​
After your hike, return to the rim and have lunch at the restaurant of your choice.
We had lunch at Harvey House Cafe.
We both had the shaved prime rib sandwich with fries.
Prime Rib, Baguette, Swiss Cheese, Peppers & Onions, Horseradish Sauce, Au Jus, French Fries
$21.95
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It was good enough as park food goes.​
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After dinner we took a drive along Desert View Drive, stopping at viewpoints like Grandview Point and Lipan Point. (I think we were pretty hiked out by that point.)
View from Grandview Point
View from Lipan Point
Have dinner, then check out the sunset at Hopi Point.
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We drove to Williams for dinner with our friends who'd invited us to a cookout the previous night. (We wanted to reciprocate their hospitality) and they'd mentioned one of their favorite restaurants was the Red Raven in Williams.
It must be a local favorite because every table in the place filled rapidly. It's just a small, quaint place but it has excellent food and service.
Red Raven serves primarily steaks, seafood and pasta. They serve brunch and dinner.
Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes
and brussel sprouts
Blackened shirmp pasts and
Lobster tail in background
Salmon over rice with
grilled veggies
We very quickly discovered why it was John and Marie's favorite area restaurant. The food was out of this world, so were the drinks and the service was impeccable.
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After dinner the four of us went to Hopi Point to catch the sunset.
It was stunning as are most Grand Canyon sunsets.
Day 5
Breakfast and checkout.
Stop by the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater in Tusayan if time permits.
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The Visitor Center IMAX’s premiere attraction is the new award winning Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time movie. The new IMAX® screen stands 6 stories tall with a reflective surface allowing for heightened realism drawing you into something as close to reality as you can possibly experience.
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The Grand Canyon Visitor Center IMAX, is located 7 miles from the South Rim in Tusayan just outside the Grand Canyon National Park.
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Here's a preview trailer for you. (Best in full screen)
We were glad we took the time to stop. The movie was superbly done and very interesting.
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Money $aving Tip: Pre-purchase IMAX online and save up to 20% off adult/all age tickets. Click to purchase.
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Tickets normally run:
Adult (Ages 11+ to 54) $14.00
Youth (6-10) $11.00
Senior (55+) $13.00
Military $13.00
(Taxes not included.)
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Well, that's our tour of the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon National Park. As always you can adjust the itinerary just given to fit your own needs and desires.
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MORE MONEY $AVING TIPS
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Visit in the spring or fall when prices are lower and you don't have to fight the summer crowds.
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Drive instead of fly. If you're in the Southwest, driving to the Park will be cheaper than flying.
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Prepare and plan ahead to save money.
It is no secret that you will get better discounts and more affordable options by preparing and planning early. Cheaper options always go more quickly than their more expensive counterparts. Planning and preparing for a trip to visit the Grand Canyon is not a task you want to drag your feet on.
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Admission costs – Admission costs to the Grand Canyon range from $20-$35. For those who opt to bicycle or hike their way to the Grand Canyon, the entrance fee is $20 per person. Taking a private vehicle with up to 15 passengers will cost you $35.
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Entrance-fee-free day – If you are serious about saving money during your trip, opt to visit the park on one of its fee-free days. During these days, the traditional admission fee is waived, and all visitors can witness the magnificence of the Grand Canyon for free. You can find out when fee-free days are by visiting the fees page on the National Park Service website.
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Plan what type of experience you want.
Before diving too deeply into the finer details of your trip, you should decide on what type of experience you are going for. You need to ask yourself whether you want to lodge inside or outside the park. If you are not dead set on lodging inside the park, there are plenty of affordable options available. You could opt for staying in a close-by town for cheaper lodging. This also gives you the added benefit of restaurant and shopping options. If you have your heart set on lodging inside the park, you can find occasional sales during off seasons as well as on special occasions. However, you need to be proactive because discounted lodging inside the park books quickly.
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Try camping in the Canyon for less than $30 a night.
If you really want to experience the authenticity of the Grand Canyon, consider camping. You can camp at the Grand Canyon for less than $30 a night. This is a huge way to save some money and embark on an adventure during your trip. You have the option for South Rim and North Rim camping as well as backcountry camping. You’ll experience the Grand Canyon in a unique way and spare your wallet in one fell swoop.
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Travel by bike or foot.
Hiking and biking are exceedingly popular ways to experience the Grand Canyon. You can set off on foot or by bike and explore the Grand Canyon Village for free. Opting to explore the Grand Canyon on your own by hiking or biking the trails on your own terms instead of paying for a guided tour is also an economical option.
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Tour the Grand Canyon in a group.
Another way to save money while planning your Grand Canyon vacation is by booking group-rate tours in advance. This will typically get you much better rates than trying to book individual tickets at the last minute. It is especially beneficial if there are several of you traveling together, as most tours provide significant savings when tickets are purchased in large quantities.
Another benefit of traveling with a group is that you can split the lodging costs. This opens up more options that you may not have considered before, due to the hefty individual cost. Splitting the cost of more expensive lodgings is always a good way to save your bank account some strain.
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Familiarize yourself with the area before you go.
It’s easy to get excited about the prospect of a new adventure before heading out on a trip. This excitement can result in overlooking some small but powerful ways to save money on your vacation. Familiarizing yourself with the area before you go may seem trivial and unnecessary, however, knowing the area could save you money on transportation as well as provide the opportunity to find more cost-effective activities to fill your vacation itinerary.
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Bring your own food and drinks.
It's not necessary to skip every restaurant in the Canyon but making some of your own meals will save you a bunch of money. Not only that, your meals will taste better!