There are many ways to experience the Grand Canyon.  Individual interests, available time, and the weather can all influence a visit. The following are suggestions to assist you in personalizing your Grand Canyon experience.

Choose One:     South Rim       North Rim

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The South Rim and Desert View (Open All Year)

Attend Free Ranger Programs
Learn more about the the nature, science, history and culture of the Grand Canyon with a park ranger as your guide.  Program Schedule & Information   
Kids:  Be a Junior Ranger      Ranger Minutes (audio-video insights)

Stop by the Visitor Center or one of the Museums
The South Rim offers a variety of museums and information centers that house exhibits and provide park information. Learn more about information centers.
Learn about South Rim bookstores and gift shops.

Watch the park orientation film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, shown at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The movie is 20 minutes long and starts on the hour and half-hour. The first showing begins at 8:30 a.m. and the last showing is at 4:30 p.m. daily.

Your phone provides a fun way to learn more about the Park. Listen to park rangers give 2 minute audio tours at various points of interest on the South Rim, from Hermit Road to Yaki Point, and the North Rim. Learn more...

Hiking
Walk part of the well defined, and mostly level Rim Trail, starting from any viewpoint in the village or along the historic Hermit Road and greenway. Day hike in and around the canyon or backpack overnight below the rim.

Walk the Trail of Time between the Yavapai Museum of Geology and the Verkamps Visitor Center. 1.2 miles (2 km) The path contains information about the canyon's geologic history, as well as samples from each layer of the canyon. Read more here...

Tour the Scenic Hermit Road
Offering some of the best views that are available, the road is open to all vehicles during December, January and February. Tour in your vehicle or on a commercial bus tour, on foot, or by bicycle. More...
Free shuttle service runs March 1 - Nov. 30, with road closed to private vehicles.

Visit the Scenic Desert View Drive
East of Grand Canyon Village, tour in your private vehicle or by commercial bus tour. 25 miles (42 km) one-way. Views of the river at Moran, Lipan and Desert View Points. You may exit or enter the park to the east. (via Arizona highways 64 and 89)

At Desert View Point, climb to the top of a 70 ft. tall (21.5 m) stone Watchtower for a panoramic view that extends for more than 100 miles on a clear day. The historic Watchtower is a replica of the prehistoric towers found on the Colorado Plateau and was designed in 1932 by legendary architect, Mary Jane Colter. 

The Tusayan Museum and Ruin, near Desert View, provides a glimpse into Pueblo Indian life at Grand Canyon some 800 years ago. View indoor exhibits and walk a self-guiding trail through the ruin. How was the life of these early people similar to ours today?

Whitewater and Smoothwater raft trips on the Colorado River
Whitewater trips through Grand Canyon last from 3 days to 21 days and require reservations well in advance. Half-day smoothwater trips from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry may be arranged by any Lodge inside the park and include transportation from the South Rim Village to Glen Canyon Dam.

Visit a Grand Canyon Photo Hot Spot.  Lighting is the key to all good photos. When it comes to the Grand Canyon, the lighting is more dramatic during the early morning and the late afternoon. Long shadows bring out depth and texture.

Participate in a Grand Canyon Field Institute Learning Adventure
The Grand Canyon Field Institute offers guided educational tours led by expert instructors while backpacking, camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting. Topics include geology, history, archaeology, photography, and more.

Journey to Grand Canyon National Park aboard Grand Canyon Railway
From Williams, Arizona (along Interstate 40) the Grand Canyon Railway carries more than 230,000 people by rail to Grand Canyon National Park each year.
Learn more...

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North Rim (Open mid-May through mid-October)

Closed for the winter. Reopens mid-May 2012

The North Rim Visitor Center is located adjacent to the parking lot on Bright Angel Peninsula. This is a great place to start your adventure on the North Rim. Speak with a ranger who will be happy to help with questions you may have about the area. The Visitor Center also features interpretive exhibits, maps, brochures and a bookstore.

Free Interpretive Ranger Programs will be offered daily throughout the 2012 season. As an aid to planning next year's trip, download the 2011 Program Schedule (120kb PDF File) The 2012 Schedule will be published in April, 2012.

Take a day hike through this beautiful scenery. Experience the wild and remote feeling of the North Rim. Solitude can be found hiking the trails, and enjoying an awe-inspiring view. Watch mule deer and turkeys feeding in mountain meadows. Enjoy, discover, and celebrate the unique world of the North Rim.

North Rim facilities are open mid-May to mid-October only.