Desert View and the East Entrance remain closed because of COVID-19 lockdowns on the neighboring Navajo Nation. In "More Than A View," Park Ranger Stephanie Sutton invites us to go beyond the rim and explore all that Grand Canyon National Park has to offer; diverse life zones, landforms, and cultural history.The South Rim’s South Entrance is now open 24 hours/day. The park is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon; a mile (1.6 km) deep, and up to 18 miles (29 km) wide. )From the South Rim you can ride a mule to the Colorado River and spend a night or two at Phantom Ranch, or take a shorter two-hour ride along the rim. The North Rim is fully open to private vehicles.One fun alternative way to arrive at the South Rim is via the The most convenient Grand Canyon lodging options are within the national park or Grand Canyon West rather than in nearby towns, but these options tend to book up quickly—sometimes months in advance. Park rangers can help design an itinerary to make the most of your visit, suggest hikes to suit your fitness level, and recommend the best viewpoints for sunrise and/or sunset.The desert heat can be deadly, so hikers should pack plenty of water as well as salty snacks. To plan a one- or two-day rafting trip at Grand Canyon West, visit GrandCanyonWest.com. Whether you’re planning a Grand Canyon road trip from Las Vegas or are ending your southwest journey in Sin City, we’ve created the ultimate Las Vegas-Grand Canyon road trip itinerary. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Soar over the eastern part of the canyon, admiring Zuni Point, the Desert View Watchtower, Point Imperial, the Painted Desert and the Kaibab National Forest. Take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime Overnight accomodations, and some visitor services are available. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. (See Dreaming of rafting the Colorado River? They’re more sure-footed than horses. Instead, plan to overnight at Phantom Ranch or one of several Keep in mind that it usually takes twice as long to come back up the trail as it does to go down, and that temperatures at the bottom of the canyon can be up to 20 degrees higher than those at the top. If you’re looking for classic Grand Canyon views, this is the place to go.Popular with hikers and photographers, the North Rim is the South Rim’s quieter, more heavily forested cousin. Not only does this protect the landscape, but it also protects you. Numerous tourists have died after falling from the rim of the canyon.The most crowded viewpoints at the South Rim are those nearest the parking lots and bus stops. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. While the canyon is certainly a geologic wonder that truly must be seen to be appreciated, it is at its best when visitors take time to walk its trails, ride a mule, and understand its native peoples. Hundreds of hikers are rescued each year from the canyon due to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or injury.Grand Canyon West offers just two hiking trails, one easy and one moderate, and neither one goes into the canyon.One intriguing Grand Canyon hike to consider is the 10-mile (each way) track to When planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, don’t forget about other activities besides hiking, like riding a mule into the canyon. You can take a guided trip in the national park with options from a half-day to more than two weeks, or plan your own trip with a permit from the Finally, one of the most incredible ways to view the Grand Canyon is from the air. It’s possible to hike into the canyon from the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail and back out of the canyon via one of the trails on the South Rim (or vice versa); this is recommended only for fit, experienced hikers.For information on all the trails listed above, see the The National Park Service strongly recommends against hiking down to the river and back in a single day, even if you’re a veteran hiker. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. Activities like Grand Canyon mule rides, Grand Canyon air tours, Colorado River rafting trips, hiking, train tours, 4x4 safari-jeep tours or ranger-guided activities can make your Grand Canyon vacation more memorable. Follow her on Twitter No matter how many photos you’ve seen of the Grand Canyon, standing at the rim’s edge for the first time will take your breath away—especially if you’re there at sunset, as the fading light paints shades of rose, violet, and gold onto the ancient rocks. Grand Canyon > Plan. Some travelers may experience fatigue, headaches, or other symptoms of Stick to the trail. Before we jump into places to visit on the way to the Grand Canyon, you’ll need to decide what region(s) of the Grand Canyon you want to visit. A shuttle service makes the 4.5-hour trip between the North and South Rims; it’s particularly handy for rim-to-rim hikers. Plan Your Grand Canyon Adventure.