The first time coming up to the wall at Mather Point, and the canyon falls away from you like an effect in a movie, makes you realize why it is as famous at it is. We’ve all used a camera with an automatic focus (such as your phone), and sometimes the computer takes a few tries to get things to focus properly. This is what your eyes do when you look down into the Grand Canyon for the first time. It’s just that big. It doesn’t matter how many loud tourists are behind you, how many shoulders you bumped, or how long you had to wait to get to the railing. At that moment it’s just you and that canyon. The grand canyon is one vista that is truly unbelievable. I have been here a handful of times, and I still have that feeling like “I need to go see the Grand Canyon.”

POINTS OF INTEREST

SOUTH RIM

The south east rim of the canyon, near Flagstaff, AZ is where you see the iconic views of a canyon full of canyons. No matter where you view the canyon from, it is the greatest canyon you will ever see, but the south rim is the most developed area of the park and is the most visited. A number of lookouts dot the southern rim and if you have some time I suggest stopping at as many as possible. Each point offers a unique view and has something different to offer. The canyon is like a fractal of canyons, one inside another, inside another, so each stop along the southern rim is a different experience. Mather Point is perhaps the most popular overlook and is a short walk from the parking lot. The canyon expands away from you in every direction and you are completely smitten.

If you plan on staying overnight at the Grand Canyon, the village is well equipped and is a very convenient stay. Modern campsites make it easy to pitch a tent, or park an RV, and there are full bathroom amenities and a general store nearby. The shuttle busses stop by Grand Canyon Village and will take you to all of the points along the southern rim. The shuttle may get crowded and it can feel like public transportation in New York City, but the short rides are more convenient than trying to find parking at every point, and some points are only accessible via the shuttle.

DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER

This iconic 70ft tall stone structure that looks like the last vestiges of a medieval desert castle was designed by Mary Colter (who also designed the Hopi House). The view here is one of the only places along the southern rim where you can get a good look at the mighty Colorado River below, even without climbing the tower. You’ll have to fight crowds of people to get a view from up in the tower. I have never done so, but I can’t imagine it’s worth the hassle.

SKYWALK

The famous U-shaped glass walkway that hangs out over the canyon wall is a Navajo owned attraction on the western side of the canyon, closer to Las Vegas. It takes nearly four hours to drive from Grand Canyon village in the east to the skywalk in the west, but it’s only two hours from Las Vegas. The glass walkway hangs 70ft out over the edge of the canyon. Look down and the canyon floor is 4000 ft below you (The top floor of the Empire State Building is only 1200ft high). Tickets to walk start around $75 and personal cameras/phones are not allowed, so if you’d like a picture you’ll have to spend ~$15/printed photo, taken by a professional on site.

NORTH RIM

The northern rim is a different beast than the southern rim. A dense forest sits along the northern rim and the temperatures are usually quite cooler in the north. It takes more than three hours to drive from Desert View Watchtower (the eastern most point along the south rim) around the eastern edge of the canyon up to the north rim, but the north rim doesn’t offer very different views. If you are visiting the south side, your time is better spent exploring all there is to see along the southern rim.

GRAND CANYON RAILWAY

This train isn’t just a shuttle to and from the canyon, it is an entire experience. In the morning, the train departs from the depot in Williams, Arizona shortly after a morning gun fight between the Marshall and the Cataract Creek Gang. The scenic ride through the desert can be as swanky as you like in a number of historic train cars that range from cramped to classy. Six classes of cars are available, ranging from $67/$32 for adults/children in the Pullman Class to $189/$153 in the Observation Dome cars. The Luxury Dome and Luxury Parlor cars are each $226 (children under 16 not allowed). Live musicians playing banjos, fiddles, or guitars stroll the train cars entertaining guests. Don’t be surprised if the Cataract Creek Gang attempts a daring mid-day train robbery. Food and restrooms are available and the knowledgeable staff is there to answer questions. The train arrives back in Williams in the afternoon. Tour packages are available that include a stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, breakfast and dinner, and a guided bus tour along the south rim of the grand canyon. Check the website for information on scheduling, car classes, and tour packages.

TIPS

FOOD

The food in the average restaurants along the southern rim is cafeteria quality. Save your time and money and eat before you get to the park, or pack a lunch. If you are coming from Flagstaff along rt 64 you will pass through Tusayan, a small town with a number of chain restaurants, hotels, and even a movie theater. If you are entering from the eastern side, a Navajo travel center offers a few chain options as well.

PATIENCE

The Grand Canyon is known world wide, and it is very popular. The number of people is not usually overwhelming, because the park is designed for the number of visitors it receives, but there will be a lot of people there. Finding a parking spot may be challenging, but not impossible. Expect to walk a bit from where you park your car. The fewer times you have to move your vehicle the better. The shuttle busses can get crowded, but are more convenient if parking is an issue.

GIFT SHOP

You can’t leave the Grand Canyon without a memento or two to remember your trip, and the vendors at the Grand Canyon know this all too well. There are a number of gift shops of the highest caliber that sell whatever your heart desires… and then some. Stop in at the Hopi House if you’re looking for a truly spectacular (albeit somewhat pricey) gift for that special someone.