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Special Event
Event
4:45 pm: Village - Full Moonrise over Grand Canyon from Mather Point
This event has already occurred. This page is provided for reference only.
Fee:
Free.Location: LAT/LONG: 36.061711, -112.107736
Located about 1800 feet (550 m) northeast from the visitor center along a wide, smooth concrete path is Mather Point. The viewing area here is quite extensive with two major overlooks, each lined with four-foot (1.2 m) high metal safety railings built into the rocks that project out into the canyon. A plaque honoring Stephen Mather sits at the top right of a 20-foot (6 m) wide set of concrete stairs that lead down to the main overlook area. Note there is also a ramp down to the overlook located about 140 feet (42 m) west of the stairs. Following along the right handrail, move down 6 steps to a concrete landing. Continue eight feet (2.4 m) forward, moving to the right of a central limestone boulder in the center of the path to your left. Move eight steps down to a second landing, and continue 15 feet (4.5 m) forward to a central staircase. Move down 10 more steps to a third landing, and continue 20 feet (6 m) along the right-hand railing to a final set of steps. Move down seven steps to the landing at the point itself past a low, rocky platform to your left. Move all around the point, following along the railing. The powerful Colorado River snakes far below at the bottom of a one mile (1600 m) deep abyss. Colorful rock layers fill the cliffs all around you, including the tan Kaibab Formation, white and creamy Coconino Sandstone, red to orange Hermit Shale and Supai Formation, and dark gray to black Vishnu Schist and other basement rocks at the bottom. The panorama at Mather Point spans from Bright Angel Trail in the west to the South Kaibab Trail in the east. In between is the deep canyon of Pipe Creek, Cedar Ridge, and O'Neill Butte. The Tonto Trail is also visible. The North Rim stands 10 miles (16 km) away across the chasm. Back up on the rim, the railing continues in both directions from the point offering various other viewpoints. To the west, the Rim Trail offers more vistas all the way to Yavapai Point.
Dates & Times
Date:
Monday, November 27, 2023
Time:
4:45 PM
Duration:
1 hour
Type of Event
Campfire/Evening Program
Other
Performance
Talk
Description
Full Moon Rise over Grand Canyon
Description: Watch the Sun set in the west at 5:15 pm, then turn to the east and watch the Full Moon rise over the canyon at 5:24 pm! Rangers will be out at Mather Point with telescopes to point at the Moon and other early evening objects like Saturn and Jupiter!
Time: Sunset is at 5:15 pm. Arrive half hour early. Moon rise is 5:24 pm.
Location: South Rim - Mather Point
More information
Reservation or Registration: No
Image Gallery
NPS Photo/M. Quinn