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Grand Canyon National Park

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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

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.

Visiting Tips

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
  • Camping & Lodging

    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.

    Food & Drink

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

    Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles

    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 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

    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.

    Maps & Guidebooks

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

    Gems in Grand Canyon National Park - 8

    Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Gems

    gem Favorite Afternoon rain, North Rim, Grand Canyon.

    Bright Angel Point

    (44) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite A beautiful Grand Canyon sunrise.

    South Rim Historic District

    (25) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite View from Watchtower, Grand Canyon

    Desert View Watchtower

    (32) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite Cape Royal

    Cape Royal

    (8) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite Grand Canyon as seen from the Rim Trail.

    Yavapai Museum of Geology

    (16) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite Point Imperial viewpoint (NPS Photo by Michael Quinn)

    Point Imperial

    (10) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite Hikers approaching the granaries

    Nankoweap Granary

    (4) Grand C…, AZ
    gem Favorite Large Kiva at the Tusayan Ruins

    Tusayan Museum and Ruins

    (10) Grand C…, AZ

    Recommended Routes in Grand Canyon National Park - 13

    Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

    Favorite Coming down Bright Angel.
    Difficult

    Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim (R2R2R)

    47.5 mi 76.5 km 10,919' Up 3328.07 m Up 10,919' Down 3328.18 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Coming down Bright Angel.
    Difficult

    South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop

    21.6 mi 34.7 km 4,968' Up 1514.22 m Up 4,978' Down 1517.24 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Coming down Bright Angel.
    Difficult

    Bright Angel Trail Out-and-Back

    16.0 mi 25.7 km 4,366' Up 1330.9 m Up 4,367' Down 1331.07 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Coming down Bright Angel.
    Easy

    Rim Trail

    13.1 mi 21.0 km 469' Up 142.87 m Up 990' Down 301.78 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Coming down Bright Angel.
    Difficult

    Plateau Point From South Rim

    12.4 mi 19.9 km 3,208' Up 977.81 m Up 3,208' Down 977.85 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Afternoon rain, North Rim, Grand Canyon.
    Easy/Intermediate

    Bright Angel Point

    0.5 mi 0.8 km 70' Up 21.3 m Up 69' Down 21.12 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Cape Royal
    Easy

    Cape Royal Trail

    0.9 mi 1.5 km 32' Up 9.71 m Up 32' Down 9.71 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite View from Watchtower, Grand Canyon
    Easy/Intermediate

    Desert View Point

    0.5 mi 0.7 km 27' Up 8.35 m Up 26' Down 7.99 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite North Rim Hike days before my Rim 2 Rim Hike
    Easy/Intermediate

    Transept

    2.1 mi 3.3 km 110' Up 33.45 m Up 265' Down 80.68 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite View to south with Unkar Creek running through picture. Jupiter Temple on left side.
    Easy/Intermediate

    Cape Final Trail

    4.3 mi 6.9 km 425' Up 129.56 m Up 425' Down 129.46 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Colorado River
    Intermediate/Difficult

    Whitmore Trail

    2.2 mi 3.5 km 921' Up 280.63 m Up 920' Down 280.52 m Down

    Peach S…, AZ
    Favorite Headed down North Kaibab
    Intermediate

    Uncle Jim Complete Loop

    4.8 mi 7.8 km 494' Up 150.7 m Up 495' Down 150.91 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ
    Favorite Large Kiva at the Tusayan Ruins
    Easy

    Tusayan Ruins Loop

    0.2 mi 0.4 km 30' Up 9.06 m Up 30' Down 9.19 m Down

    Grand C…, AZ

    Grand Canyon National Park Hiking

    • 431 Miles 694 Kilometers of Trail
    • 13 Recommended Routes
    • 8 Gems Gems
    • 30 Easy Trails Easy Trails
    • 44 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
    • 29 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
    Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Share what you know about this area!

    Areas Within Grand Canyon National Park

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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
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ 75 
    8.1 mi 13.0 km #2Bright Angel Trail
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ 71 
    4.9 mi 7.8 km #3Widforss Point Trail
    Intermediate
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    Intermediate
    Grand Canyon, AZ 24 
    14.7 mi 23.6 km #4AZT - Passage 38 - North Kaibab
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ 25 
    1.0 mi 1.7 km #5Shoshone Point
    Easy
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    Easy
    Grand Canyon, AZ 18 
    11.3 mi 18.2 km #6Escalante
    Very Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    Very Difficult
    Grand Canyon, AZ 16 
    5.9 mi 9.4 km #7Hermit Trail
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon Village, AZ
    Difficult
    Grand Canyon Village, AZ 20 
    3.2 mi 5.2 km #8Deer Creek
    Intermediate/Difficult
    Fredonia, AZ
    Intermediate/Difficult
    Fredonia, AZ
    12.6 mi 20.4 km #9Thunder River
    Intermediate/Difficult
    Fredonia, AZ
    Intermediate/Difficult
    Fredonia, AZ
    2.3 mi 3.7 km #10Tapeats Creek
    Intermediate/Difficult
    Grand Canyon Village, AZ
    Intermediate/Difficult
    Grand Canyon Village, AZ

    Photos of Grand Canyon National Park - 466

    Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

    Coming down Bright Angel.
    Apr 7, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
    Deer Creek Falls
    May 14, 2015 near Fredonia, AZ
    Grand Canyon National Park: North Rim - Muted sunrise from Cape Royal
    May 14, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
    Cape Royal
    May 14, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
    Mouth of Havasu Creek
    Jul 8, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
    The amazing colors of Elves Chasm (photo by smoddelm)
    Jul 9, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
    Bighorn Sheep crossing the Bright Angel Trail on our way to Plateau Point.
    Jun 11, 2016 near Grand C…, AZ
    The Canyon shares it magic
    Feb 8, 2018 near Fredonia, AZ