Grand Canyon National Park
Overview
Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 1,218,375 acres and lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. Highlighted by the Grand Canyon, which is one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world, the park's rich geologic history is astounding in scope and immense in size. The Grand Canyon, incised by the Colorado River, is 277 miles long and averages 4,000 feet deep. At its deepest point, the canyon is 6,000 feet deep and spans 18 miles at its widest point. The park offers an excellent record of three of the four eras of geological time, a rich and diverse fossil record, a vast array of geologic features and rock types, and numerous caves containing extensive and significant geological, paleontological, archeological, and biological resources.
To learn more about Grand Canyon National Park, visit www.nps.gov.
Explore the Grand Canyon in 3D with onX Backcountry.
Local Info
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center: 8 am to 5 pm daily, year round.
- Desert View Watchtower: Hours vary according to season, open year round
- The North Rim Visitor Center: 8 am to 6 pm daily, May 15-October 15.
Visiting Tips
The North Rim of the park is open from May 15 through October 15 each year. Reservations for lodging and camping are strongly recommended. The North Rim Campground site may be booked through October 31. The campground is open two weeks longer than the Grand Canyon Lodge which closes on October 15.
Fees & Passes:
To find out more about park fees, click here.
Camping & Lodging
- Mather Campground: Open year-round. Group sites are also available.
- Desert View Campground: Open April 19 through mid-October. This campground is first come, first served only. No reservations are accepted.
- Trailer Village: A concessioner-operated RV park with full hook-ups located in Grand Canyon Village.
- North Rim Campground: Open May 15 through October 31. Group sites are also available.
- Phantom Ranch: Open year round and located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Reservations are required and can be made up to 13 months in advance through Xanterra, 888-297-2757.
Food & Drink
Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles
Whether you are looking for a guided hike, a scenic bicycle tour, an authenic mule ride, a leisurely raft trip, or stunning air tour, Grand Canyon National Park offers an astounding variety of ways to explore the Grand Canyon. Visit the park's website for more information on the guided tours and to check out the special event calendar.
Free Shuttles:
The park operates several free bus shuttles. To view current operating schedules, click here.
- Village Route: Connects the visitor center with the Grand Canyon Village facilities and parking area.
- Kaibab Route: The fastest way to get from the visitor center to canyon views.
- Hermit Route: Scenic views along a historic road.
- Tusayan Route: A park and ride option for the busier summer months when parking is difficult to find on the South Rim.
- Hiker Express: An early morning bus with service to South Kaibab Trailhead.
REI Adventures:
REI offers over 30 national park trips led by expert guides capable of taking you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that many visitors never see.
Check out REI Adventures' national park offerings here.
Other Activities
If you are looking for other nearby activities on your way to and from the park, a great option is mountain biking the Rainbow Rim Trail just outside of the park. The Rainbow Rim Trail offers 18 miles (one-way) of exceptional solitude on a remote rim of the Grand Canyon. The trail offers an extremely unique experience as it is the only singletrack trail on the rim of the Grand Canyon open to bikes. Trails in nearby Grand Canyon National Park are closed to bicycles.
Maps & Guidebooks
Recommended Routes in Grand Canyon National Park - 13
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes
Grand Canyon National Park Hiking
- 431 Miles 694 Kilometers of Trail
- 13 Recommended Routes
- 8 Gems
- 30
Easy Trails
- 44
Intermediate Trails
- 29
Difficult Trails
Areas Within Grand Canyon National Park
Weather Averages
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Trails in Grand Canyon National Park - 90
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails
6.6
mi
10.6
km
#1AZT - Passage 38 - South Kaibab
Grand Canyon, AZ
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Grand Canyon, AZ |
75
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8.1
mi
13.0
km
#2Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon, AZ
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Grand Canyon, AZ |
71
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4.9
mi
7.8
km
#3Widforss Point Trail
Grand Canyon, AZ
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Grand Canyon, AZ |
24
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14.7
mi
23.6
km
#4AZT - Passage 38 - North Kaibab
Grand Canyon, AZ
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Grand Canyon, AZ |
25
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1.0
mi
1.7
km
#5Shoshone Point
Grand Canyon, AZ
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Grand Canyon, AZ |
18
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11.3
mi
18.2
km
#6Escalante
Grand Canyon, AZ
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Grand Canyon, AZ |
16
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5.9
mi
9.4
km
#7Hermit Trail
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
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Grand Canyon Village, AZ |
20
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3.2
mi
5.2
km
#8Deer Creek
Fredonia, AZ
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Fredonia, AZ |
8
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12.6
mi
20.4
km
#9Thunder River
Fredonia, AZ
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Fredonia, AZ |
8
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2.3
mi
3.7
km
#10Tapeats Creek
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
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Grand Canyon Village, AZ |
4
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Photos of Grand Canyon National Park - 466
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