The Grand Canyon is definitely one of many extra iconic Nationwide Parks within the USA to go to – and with good purpose, it’s breathtaking. Completely iconic and huge, there’s a heap of the most effective issues to do within the Grand Canyon which might be dotted throughout the park. Plus, together with the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Kaibab Nationwide Forest and the Vermilion Cliffs, it’s the type of place you may spend months exploring.
Better of all, any journey to discover the Grand Canyon may be partnered with a gander round wider Arizona or heading to the intense lights of Las Vegas. Regardless of the case, and wherever you select to go to, be sure that to provide your self ample time to go to throughout the park itself.
Now, with a park that’s so huge, it may be difficult to nail down a handful of spots to go to throughout your journey.
So, that can assist you get probably the most out of your time, I needed to share a number of the prime spots that we completely liked within the Grand Canyon. This fashion, you may spend way more time having fun with the park with out the trouble of researching.
Have a look, under, at the most effective issues to do within the Grand Canyon. Have a tremendous journey.
1.) Desert View Drive
The most effective issues to do within the Grand Canyon in the event you’ve obtained a automobile, Desert View Drive is completely beautiful to discover. With round 20+ miles to drive, by means of the rim of the Grand Canyon, it’s the type of drive that’s completely good for some unbelievable views and the Tusayan Museum, too.
Simply accessed upon coming into Grand Canyon Nationwide Park (on the South Entrance), you may simply comply with the route from Grand Canyon Village to the East Entrance to the park itself.
Alongside the best way, you’ll get to see the Colorado River, carving by means of the spectacular panorama that’s simply so lovely. Make sure you go to Moran Level, Lipan Level, Grandview Level and Navajo Factors alongside the route.
Oh, and don’t overlook Yaki Level; although, bear in mind, it’s one of many solely viewpoints that you could’t drive to in your personal automobile. To get right here, you’ll have to hop on the free Kaibab Rim Route (Orange) Bus proper from Grand Canyon Village itself.
For us, we’d advocate visiting at sundown and see these attractive hues remodel the canyon. Sounds tacky but it surely’s beautiful.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in Arizona
2.) Brilliant Angel Mountaineering Path
Some of the in style trails in the complete Park, Brilliant Angel Mountaineering Path takes you from the Grand Canyon Village to the world round Indian Backyard.
Fairly powerful to finish, this can be a path that’s greatest suited to skilled hikers and shouldn’t be tried in the event you’re unfamiliar with mountain climbing, particularly as it could take days to finish the 20 (or so) miles route.
That being mentioned, Should you’re on the lookout for a shorter (however nonetheless powerful) day hike, attempt the trek to Indian Backyard Campground. This could nonetheless take between 6 and 9 hours but it surely’s doable in a day in the event you’re ready for the paths.
Although, concern not, in the event you’re not an skilled hiker you may nonetheless hop on the half-an-hour Higher Tunnel path, which is a 0.4 miles roundtrip. This path will allow you to get just a little style of the Brilliant Angel Mountaineering Path with out dedicating an excessive amount of time or power to an extended route.
Learn extra: Finest nationwide parks within the USA
3.) Toroweap Overlook
Inside the a lot quieter space of the North Rim, Toroweap Overlook is beautiful to go to, particularly for the views throughout the Colorado River.
As soon as right here, you should definitely be part of the paths that discover the broader space (the Lava Falls Path is epic) and camp at Tuweep Campground that’s good in the event you’re on the lookout for a a lot quieter a part of the Grand Canyon to discover.
Learn extra: Finest hikes in Arizona
4.) Havasu Canyon
Perched throughout the Havasupai Indian Reservation, Havasu Canyon is beautiful to go to.
As soon as right here, you should definitely discover the world round Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls that are unbelievable to hike all the way down to. Plus, you’ll additionally get to see the Fifty Foot Falls and the Little Navajo Falls alongside the path.
Simply bear in mind that you’ll want a reservation to enter and the hike can get powerful at occasions. In different phrases, your legs will ache like loopy the day after!
Learn extra: Finest hikes in Arizona
5.) Hermit Highway Drive
Hermit Highway is among the first route choices you may take upon coming into Grand Canyon Nationwide Park on the South Entrance and very easy to discover through the completely free Hermit Highway (Purple Route) bus. Although, in the event you’re fancying an extended stroll, head out on foot.
Alongside the 7-mile Hermit Road, from Grand Canyon Village, will get you to quite a lot of dazzling look-out factors the place you may take pleasure in attractive views overlooking the canyon. We liked Trailview Overlook and the views from The Abyss. Each have such big vistas and actually put into perspective the colossal measurement of the nationwide park.
Learn extra: Finest hikes in Arizona
6.) Horseshoe Bend
Simply outdoors of Web page itself, visiting Horshoe Bend is among the best and greatest issues to do within the Grand Canyon when in Northern Arizona. Not solely that, you don’t have to stroll for hours or trek mountains to get right here, it’s completely straightforward to search out and simply off Freeway 89.
Though it could get busy, it’s nicely price visiting at nightfall to observe the sundown behind the bend itself. It’s completely beautiful.
Plus, you may simply head right here after kayaking by means of Marble Canyon, too.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in Arizona
7.) The Desert View Watchtower
Taking the much less in style (however no much less lovely) route, through the South Entrance, and heading proper down Desert View Drive will get you to the attractive, Desert View Watchtower.
Constructed again in 1932 and designed to appear to be an historical Anasazi watchtower, the Desert View Watchtower has tow beautiful remark decks to absorb the views.
The views are completely unbelievable throughout the canyon, although, their equally spectacular at evening to identify planets and constellations. It’s beautiful. Simply you should definitely take a windbreaker, it could get blustery at this level.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in Utah
8.) South Kaibab Path
Beginning on the south rim, becoming a member of the South Kaibab Path is among the greatest issues to do within the Grand Canyon for the wrap-around vistas at Skeleton Level.
Now, you received’t be capable to drive to the trailhead so be sure that to affix the shuttle and get off at Yaki Level. If not sure, ask the ranger for native instructions and a nudge if you arrive (generally that is simpler).
Taking round 6-miles to totally full, you’ll get to see Ooh-ahh Level, which is unbelievable, alongside the best way. Simply you should definitely take sufficient fluids and snacks for the journey; there’s no water alongside this route.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in Arizona
9.) Skywalk at Eagle Level, West Rim
Should you’re as much as a 4-hour drive from the Park’s South Entrance, head on over to Eagle Level the place you may stroll throughout an enormous glass bridge extending 70 ft over the Grand Canyon.
Completely breathtaking, the views throughout and straight down into the Grand Canyon are unbelievable to see. Although, in the event you endure from vertigo, you may wanna give this spot a miss.
Afterwards, head round 5-minutes away to Guano Level, one other beautiful view that’s inside straightforward attain of the Skywalk itself.
Alternatively, you may simply hop on a helicopter tour from Las Vegas to discover the western fringes of the Grand Canyon.
That is superb to do in the event you’re solely visiting the town and fancy just a little 2-hour, or so, jaunt to the pure magnificence spots of close by Arizona.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in Arizona
10.) The Path of Time hike
Simply shy of 3-miles in size, the Trail of Time is among the greatest hikes in Arizona in the event you’re fancying a simple and paved route by means of a slice of the Grand Canyon.
Nice for households and with a extra accessible paved route, the Path of Time is designed to characterize the geological historical past of the Grand Canyon itself.
You see, for each metre walked on the Path of Time, 1,000,000 years has handed within the Canyon. Alongside the path, you’ll encounter corresponding markers signifying the place in historical past that you’re at the moment at, in addition to reveals and rocks that specify the formation of the Canyon.
It’s completely distinctive and also you don’t should be an avid geologist to take pleasure in it!
Afterwards, you may accomplice this up with a gander across the Yavapai Geology Museum and see the views from close by Mather Level.
Additionally, in the event you fancy carrying in your hike, head on the South Rim Trail that takes in so many attractive viewpoints throughout the Nationwide Park. It’s completely lovely.
Learn extra: Finest hikes in Arizona
11.) Tusayan Pueblo Smash
Thought of one of many main archaeological websites of Arizona, the Tusayan Ruin, often known as the Tusayan Pueblo is the historic web site of an 800-year-old indigenous city from the 1100s!
Excavated in 1930, the positioning is round 3-miles west of the Desert View Watchtower and very easy to accomplice up a go to while exploring this space of the Grand Canyon.
As soon as right here, take a stroll across the Kiva, see the residing areas and comply with the gravel paths by means of the farming space. It’s so surreal to see.
Plus, the positioning additionally features a museum which may be reached by a path from the ruins which is nice to get a background historical past of the world.
Learn extra: Finest issues to do in Nevada
12.) Yavapai Geology Museum
Based within the Nineteen Twenties, the Yavapai Geology Museum is among the greatest issues to do within the Grand Canyon when exploring the South Rim.
The small group of well-known geologists who arrange Yavapi selected it because it’s top-of-the-line areas to see the varied geology of the Grand Cayon itself.
Full with exhibitions, historical past and big aid maps, it’s an excellent spot to raised perceive the geography of the park and the processes which have carved it for thousands and thousands of years.
Learn extra: Finest hikes in Nevada
13.) Marble Canyon
Getting a allow to paddle, float or in any other case benefit from the Colorado River working by means of the Grand Canyon is a notoriously tough course of, requiring excessive charges and very early functions and reserving. However there’s one space within the Park that fortunately doesn’t require all that work to take pleasure in, Marble Canyon.
Now, Marble Canyon is the part of the river between Lee’s Ferry and Little Colorado River. It’s technically the purpose at which the Grand Canyon begins and nicely price heading right here in the event you fancy taking a experience on the river.
You may even kayak Horseshoe Bend (with this rental company).
Learn extra: Finest nationwide parks within the USA
14.) Elves Chasm
In a way more distant a part of the Grand Canyon, visiting Elves Chasm is for those who need to get far off the overwhelmed monitor. Reached through the Royal Arch Loop, it’s the type of hike that’s very powerful.
Which means that it’s good for knowledgeable hikers (however nonetheless, you’ll doubtless want a information). It’s the type of place you go to in the event you’re on the lookout for a problem and positively very tough.
Don’t ever try the mountain climbing route right here with out skilled information, info and totally geared up. In any case, nobody likes a reckless hiker.
Learn extra: Finest hikes in Arizona
16 Finest Hikes In Arizona
