Grand Canyon National Park needs no introduction and is likely familiar to almost everyone.
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s largest canyons and among the most significant natural attractions, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This canyon, sculpted by the Colorado River over millions of years, stretches over 400 kilometers in length, with a width ranging from 6 to 29 kilometers and a depth of up to 1.5 kilometers. Even though you can see the canyon extending endlessly before you, it represents only a small part of the whole.
We visited the most popular area of Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim, which is easily accessible, especially from the direction of Route 66.
Like many other national parks, there was a per-vehicle entrance fee here, which was $35 per car. Despite attracting 5 million visitors annually, during our visit in June, there wasn’t much of a crowd, although we certainly didn’t mind! There was ample parking available, and we didn’t have to search for a spot.
If you plan to visit multiple paid national parks, We highly recommend looking into the America the Beautiful Pass, which allows access to national parks for a year. The cost is $80 per vehicle or up to 4 adults. We only came across this option towards the end of our trip, and it would have saved us a considerable amount. Here’s where you can find out more about purchasing this pass.
As usual, our first stop was the Visitor Center, an excellent way to start our visit. Here, we obtained a map and received tips for exploring the area. You’ll also find cafes, restaurants, and a gift shop here.
The staff provide great insights into the area. They asked if there was anything specific we wanted to see, how much time we had, and whether we were prepared for a walk. Based on this, they suggested suitable destinations.
We began by walking along the canyon rim, where there are well-defined walking paths making it easy to navigate. The Visitor Center is just a couple of hundred meters from the canyon rim, so you’ll catch the first glimpses of the Grand Canyon almost immediately. There are numerous viewpoints along the rim, although the entire journey is one continuous viewpoint. One of the most popular viewpoints near the Visitor Center is Mather Point, offering a stunning panoramic view of the Grand Canyon, its folding walls tinted beautifully with layers of color. In summary: Incredibly breathtaking!
There’s also a free shuttle bus that makes getting around between stops easy and convenient. We started by walking west of the Visitor Center, then took the bus to the other end of the area, Yaki Point, to admire more of these stunning vistas. On the way back, we stopped at the South Kaibab Trailhead, from where we walked towards the staff-recommended Ooh Aah Point viewpoint.
Ooh Aah Point is slightly lower down in the canyon, with a total walking distance of about 2.9 kilometers (round trip). The trail is clear and easy to follow, but do consider that there’s an elevation change of about 200 meters.
During our visit, the temperature in Arizona was around 40 degrees Celsius, so even though the route is short, the heat and elevation change make the journey sweaty and strenuous, with the dry sand adding to the challenge. Make sure to bring plenty of water.
The trail winds down the slope of the Grand Canyon like a serpentine road, allowing for continuous admiration of the beautiful canyon landscapes. Take your time and enjoy the magnificent scenery. Along the way, we also encountered men in Stetsons riding horses, which was a fantastic sight in these surroundings.
The views from Ooh Aah Point were breathtaking, and although we descended relatively little compared to the canyon’s height, the perspective was still different. The canyon’s different-colored layers of earth create a truly spectacular view, enhancing the grandeur of the canyon.
Plan to spend at least a full day at the Grand Canyon to see all the major attractions. The area also offers opportunities for longer hikes and guided tours, providing different ways to explore the canyon. In addition to the South Rim, you can visit the North Rim (closed in winter) and the Grand Canyon West, located closest to Las Vegas and home to the popular glass-bottomed Skywalk.
In summary, Grand Canyon National Park is truly magnificent, fitting perfectly into the “everything’s bigger in America” theme. It’s truly awe-inspiring and hard to comprehend its vastness.
Read more about other worthwhile destinations in Arizona: Monument Valley โ, Antelope Canyon โ, Horseshoe Bend โ, Canyon de Chelly โ, and Petrified Forest โ
