Grand Canyon National Park
Last Updated: 3/29/2024
“In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world.”
At 227 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and one mile deep, the Grand Canyon is definitely a must see! We decided to create a checklist of our top 5 things to do at Grand Canyon during our family vacation last summer.
The Grand Canyon is truly a wonder of the world. Below we share some of the activities and hikes that made up our basic itinerary. We spent 2 nights at Maswick Lodge and enjoyed every second of this amazing National Park.
Explore the Visitor Center
We usually begin every trip to a national park with a stop at the visitor center. So when you arrive at the park make the Grand Canyon Visitor Center your first stop. Here you can explore the many exhibits inside and outside the visitor center. You can also watch Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, which is a 20 minute film. The film takes viewers on an amazing journey through the park.
We also used this time to visit the Park Store so that we could get a stamp in our National Park Adventure Guide. And most importantly you will be able to pick up maps and information you need to get around Grand Canyon National Park.
Walk the South Rim Trail of Time
The Trail of Time is an interpretive walking timeline, marked by brass markers, each representing one million years of time. The walk focuses on the Grand Canyon’s views and geology. The Trail of Time follows the existing paved rim trail on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon between Yavapai Geology Museum and Verkamps Visitor Center.
You can choose to walk backwards in time, starting at the Yavapai Geology Museum and walking west. Or you can walk east from Grand Canyon Village (Verkamps Visitor Center) which takes you through the same experience, but forward in time. If you are short on time, a rim walk is a great way to experience the beauty of the Grand Canyon.
Hike a Portion of the Bright Angel Trail
The Bright Angel Trail is a steep trail that begins just west of Bright Angel Lodge. The whole trail is 12 miles round trip. But you should not try to hike the whole trail in one day, especially in the summer. Bright Angel Trail is a popular trail that provides convenient access below the rim, offering dramatic views of the Inner Canyon.
On our hike we started out all together and went down to the first switchback, which is almost a mile round trip. At this point, our two youngest and I returned to the top to explore on the Rim. My husband and oldest continued to the 1.5 Mile Rest House, which is 3 miles round trip. Definitely pack plenty of water and snacks.
Visit the Desert View Watchtower
It’s about a 22 mile ride from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to this incredible viewpoint. You’ll be able to see for what feels like hundreds of miles! And you will catch lots of views of the Colorado River.
Architect Mary Colter designed the Desert View Watchtower in 1932 in the style of Ancestral Puebloan towers. Climb the watch tower and soak up the history, as well as a 360 degree view from the observation deck. The upper floors of the tower are now open, when staffing allows, from 8:20 am to 4:40 pm. Capacity is 25 people in the tower at one time. A ticket system admits 25 people with a 20 minute time limit.
Sunrise at Mather Point
Wake up while it’s still dark out to watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon, you won’t be sorry:) If you are tempted to skip the cold morning air, just remember that sunrises are much less crowded than sunsets. You will have a much better chance of finding a quiet spot to watch the pink-hued sky.
Drive your car or catch the shuttle bus to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to walk out to Mather Point, which has a great view east since it sticks out into the canyon. My kiddos were not happy about getting up early at first, but in the end they really enjoyed themselves.
If time had allowed, an overnight stay at the Phantom Ranch would have been an absolute bucket list adventure. You can hike to the Colorado River from the Rim on the South Kaibab Trail, which is 8 miles to Phantom Ranch. And then stay overnight in a cabin at Phantom Ranch before climbing back out of the Canyon the next day. This is definitely on our list of things to do! I hope you are inspired to visit the Grand Canyon and enjoy all that it has to offer!