South Rim Village - Ranger Programs

 

Summer Schedule - Park Ranger Programs: South Rim Village

All outdoor programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or when lightning danger is present. Summer thunderstorms frequently can occur through early September with the potential for torrential rains, frequent lightning, and sudden flash floods.

Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult on all programs. All programs are free of charge.

• South Rim Village evening ranger program schedule
• Visitor center, information desk and museum hours

 

Group of hikers walking down the trail towards Cedar Ridge, O'Neil Butte towering in the background.

7 – 11 am Daily
(South Kaibab Trailhead)
Cedar Ridge Hike
Moderate 3 mile (4.8 km) roundtrip hike. Allow 4 hours. Minimum 2 liters of water per person. Bring salty snacks, sunscreen, and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Ride the free Kaibab/Rim Route shuttle bus to the trailhead.

 

See marine fossils like these on our Fossil Walk

9 – 10 am Daily
(Bright Angel Trailhead)
Fossil Walk
Walk among brachiopods, sponges, and other marine creatures that thrived on this part of the continent 270 million years ago, before the age of the dinosaurs. This easy 1/2-mile (0.8 km) one-way walk explores an exposed fossil bed along the rim. Family friendly.

 

Park rangers repairing emergency telephone (1937)

10:30 – 11:15 am Daily
(Verkamp's Visitor Center)
History Walk
For thousands of years, humans have been part of the Grand Canyon. Join a ranger to discover different stories of humankind's enduring relationship with the canyon. Topics vary daily. Programs may include a walk around the village historic district. Accessible. Easy walk.

 

On Bright Angel Trail, 1905

1:30 – 1:50 pm Daily
(Verkamp's Visitor Center)
Canyon Tales
Enjoy captivating stories about diverse human connections to this landscape.
Accessible. 20 min. Perfect for Junior Rangers. Accessible. Consider walking the Canyon Rim Trail following the program.

 

Rock strata as seen from the Abyss overlook

2 – 2:20 pm Daily
(Yavapai Geology Museum)
Geology Glimpse
Learn how Grand Canyon formed while exploring Yavapai Geology Museum during this short introductory talk. Perfect for Junior Rangers. Accessible. Consider walking the Trail of Time following the program.

 

Rock strata as seen from the Abyss overlook

3:30 – 4:30 pm Daily
(Yavapai Geology Museum)
Geology Walk
Gain quick insight into Grand Canyon's amazing geologic story. Why is it so deep, wide, and grand? Why does it exist only here and nowhere else in the world? Accessible. Easy walk.

 

A bighorn ewe

5 pm – 5:20 pm Daily
Critter Chat
(Meet at Grand Canyon Visitor Center)

Learn about some of Grand Canyon's diverse wild inhabitants who survive here in this place of extreme changes in elevation, exposure, and climate. Family-friendly program. Accessible. Family friendly.

 

California condor

5:30 pm – 6:15 pm Daily
Condor Talk
(Village Amphiteater, located on the Rim Trail west of El Tovar)

What has a 9-foot (2.7 m) wingspan and a face only a mother could love? The California condor. Come discover their life and death story and the science that saved this incredible bird. Accessible. Family friendly.

 

Grand Canyon's night sky

Special Events and Evening Programs

Programs may include presentations in a beautiful auditorium, star walks, night hikes, cemetery tours, and more.

View our schedule of special events.
Upon arrival in the park, check at visitor centers to confirm times and locations.

 

South Rim Village Evening Ranger Program Schedule: August 11, through August 18, 2018

This schedule is subject to change. Check at Visitor Centers to confirm times and locations. Accessible.
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Saturday, August 11
Endangered Waters
Learn why the Colorado River is endangered and explore our past and present connection to water.
Meet at Shrine of the Ages Auditorium - 8 pm

Sunday, August 12
Dynamic Planet
Learn how to read Grand Canyon’s story in stone, and how small shifts can have a huge impact on the landscape.
Meet at Shrine of the Ages - 8 pm

Monday, August 13
Stars with a Chance of Meteors
Discover the legends and the science behind the stars and learn about the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.
Meet at Grand Canyon Visitor Center - 8:30 pm
Outdoor Program: Dress Warm. Weather Dependent. Accessible.

Tuesday, August 14
Shifting Perspectives
Explore how the ideas and meanings of Grand Canyon have changed over time, from barren wasteland to world-renowned landmark.
Meet at Shrine of the Ages - 8 pm

Wednesday, August 15
Ancient Landscapes
Life and death in the Paleozoic Era: how extinction has sculpted the world and Grand Canyon.
Meet at Shrine of the Ages - 8 pm

Thursday, August 16
Caves in the Grand Canyon
Learn about vital discoveries from caves in the Grand Canyon such as fossils, split twig figurines and discover current cave related research and concerns.
Meet at Park Headquarters - 6:15 pm
Walk 0.4 mi (0.6 km) to the rim. Dress Warm.

Friday, August 17
Exploring Grand Canyon with Your Five Senses
Come learn about the variety of ways the sensory experience of the Grand Canyon is preserved.
Meet at Shrine of the Ages - 8 pm

Saturday, August 18
Those Who Came Before Us
Unearth the human connection to Grand Canyon through the stories and experiences from the historical past.
Meet at Shrine of the Ages - 8 pm

All programs are subject to change.

 

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Learn More About Our Visitor Centers and Museums

• Return to the Ranger Program Index Page
• Desert View Ranger Program and Cultural Demonstrator Schedule. On the South Rim, 24 miles east of Grand Canyon Village.
• North Rim Ranger Programs