Plan Your Visit

 

Quick links to information about:

Lodging	Maps	Shuttle Buses	Guided Tours	Ranger Programs
Campgrounds	Food	Public Transport	Mule Trips	Visitor Centers
Goods/ Services	Permits	River Trips	Hiking	Sunrise/ Sunset

 

Traveler Warning: US 89 Closed South of Page, AZ Due to Landslide: Learn more...
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Bottled water is no longer sold in park (in individual disposable containers) Learn more...

 

Traveling with a pet ? Read more...

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View from Mather Point (South Rim)

NPS photo by Michael Quinn

Introduction

Nearly five million people see the 1 mile deep (1.6 km) Grand Canyon each year.

Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View).

The South Rim, the most accessible part of the park, is open all year, averaging 7000 feet/ 2134 m above sea level.

A much smaller number of people see the Canyon from the North Rim, which lies just 10 miles / 16 km (as the California condor flies) directly across the Canyon from the South Rim.

Download a PDF file of our 2013 Trip Planning "newspaper" HERE. (Covers both rims & inner canyon.)

 

View from Grand Canyon Lodge (North Rim)

NPS photo by Jessica Pope

Averaging 8000 feet/ 2438 m above sea level, the North Rim rises 1000 feet/ 305 m higher than the South Rim, and is much less accessible. The North Rim has a short season. Lodging and restaurants are open from mid-May through mid-October each year.

Even in good weather the North Rim is harder to get to. It is 220 miles / 354 km by car from the South Rim, or 21 miles / 34 km by foot across the canyon by way of the North and South Kaibab Trails.

 

Hikers ascending Bright Angel Trail

NPS photo by Michael Quinn

The Inner Canyon includes everything below the rim and is seen mainly by hikers, mule riders, or river runners.

There are many opportunities here for adventurous and hardy persons who want to backpack, ride a mule to Phantom Ranch, or take a river trip through the Canyon on the Colorado River (which can take anywhere from several days to three weeks - there are no one-day river trips through the length of Grand Canyon).

 

Colorado River footbridge.

How Do People Get Across the Canyon?

If you are hiking across the canyon, the South Kaibab Trail crosses the Colorado River on a narrow foot bridge 70 feet/ 21 m above the water.

It is a 21 mile/ 34 km hike to go "Rim To Rim," with a vertical descent - followed by a climb - of 1 mile/ 1.6 km. This is an overnight hiking trip for 99.5% of hikers.

 

Grand Canyon Area Map

There is only one way to cross the Colorado River by automobile, and that is 137 miles / 231 km from the South Rim Village (at Marble Canyon, AZ) via the Navajo Bridge, a few miles downstream from Lees Ferry, where the Canyon is only 400 feet/ 122 m wide.

There is no longer an airstrip on the North Rim of the park. That means that the North Rim village may only be reached by driving all the way around - or by hiking across the canyon. Click on the map to download the Grand Canyon National Park Area Map (83kb PDF File)

 

Park Newspaper

Download the current park Newspaper 2013 Spring March 1 - May 22, 2013

Spring South Rim Guide (letter-size)
(Prints on 8.5 x 11" paper 2.2 MB PDF File)

Spring South Rim Guide (tabloid size)
(Prints on 11 x 17" paper 3.1 MB PDF File)

Contains maps, schedules and this season's information.

South Rim lodging and camping along with most other visitor services within the park are open all year.

Reserve lodging and campsites as far ahead as possible, especially during spring break and busy summer and fall months.

Download the Spring South Rim Village Shuttle Bus/ Parking Map
by itself - as one large page 22.5 x 17" (1.3 MB PDF file)

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Park Newspaper

Download the 2013 Summer (English)
May 23 - September 2, 2013
Summer South Rim Guide (letter-size)
(Prints on 8.5 x 11" paper 4 MB PDF File)

Summer South Rim Guide (tabloid size)
(Prints on 11 x 17" paper 4 MB PDF File)

Contains maps, schedules and information.

South Rim lodging and camping along with most other visitor services within the park are open all year.

Reserve lodging and campsites as far ahead as possible, especially during busy summer and fall months.

Download Summer South Rim Village Shuttle Bus/ Parking Map
as one large page 22.5 x 17" (1.5 MB PDF file)

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Park  Newspaper

Download the 2013 Season (English)
North Rim Guide (letter-size)
(Prints on 8.5 x 11" paper 3 MB PDF File)

North Rim Guide (tabloid size)
(Prints on 11 x 17" paper 2.5 MB PDF File)

The 2013 season edition of the North Rim Guide contains the maps, schedules and information needed to plan your visit.

North Rim lodging and camping along with most other visitor services within the park are open from mid-May to mid-October. It is best to reserve lodging and campsites as far ahead as possible.

Download the maps/trail guide as one large page 22.5 x 17"
(660 kb PDF file)

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Quick links to information about:

Lodging	Maps	Shuttle Buses	Guided Tours	Ranger Programs
Campgrounds	Food	Public Transport	Mule Trips	Visitor Centers
Goods/ Services	Permits	River Trips	Hiking	Sunrise/ Sunset

 

"Traveling Green"
is a great way to help Grand Canyon and other areas you visit reduce carbon emissions, divert and reduce what goes into the waste stream, and to generally help the environment. Go to the Traveling Green page for helpful tips on planning your next green adventure.

Thanks for doing what you can to help protect our environment!

 

Grand Canyon  03m:03s By Ron Chapple, Aerial Filmworks

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