Grand Canyon National Park

Visitor Centers:

• 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.

The South Rim of the park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All visitor services are available year round. Reservations are strongly recommended during spring, summer, and fall. Some facilities close during the winter. 

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. 

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of camping and lodging options at the South and North Rim. For most sites, reservations are required, and it is recommended that reservations are made far in advance as most of the park lodging tends to be full much of the year. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.recreation.gov. For more information on camping and lodging in and around Grand Canyon National Park, visit the park's website. 

• 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.

Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of restaurant options. Click here for a list of restaurant options inside and outside of the park.

Guided Tours: 
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 Trail.

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.

While you definitely want to spend some time hiking around and below the rim of the Grand Canyon, don't let your exploration of the park stop there. Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of other activities that you'll want to take advantage of including museums, mule trips, road biking, scenic shuttles, historic sites, whitewater and smoothwater rafting, scenic drives, and a trip on the Grand Canyon railway. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, come prepared to rock climb one of the many technical routes up the various temples, mostly featuring soft sandstone and lots of excitement. 

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.

To download free visitor guides and trail brochures, click here.