Grand Canyon
A mile-deep gorge cut by the Colorado River, with two very different rims.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $35 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 1.2 million acres
Grand Canyon Weather Now
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The Grand Canyon is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide and about a mile deep. Its walls expose nearly two billion years of geologic history in bands of red, orange and cream, laid down by ancient seas, deserts and rivers before the Colorado River cut through them. Standing at the rim for the first time, most people go quiet.
The South Rim, open all year, is where most visitors start: viewpoints, historic lodges and the Rim Trail are all within a short walk or shuttle ride. The North Rim sits about 1,000 feet higher, with cooler forests and far fewer people, but it is open only in summer. Below the rim, the canyon becomes a desert where temperatures can top 110°F, which is why rangers rescue hundreds of unprepared hikers each year.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Watch
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- March to May and September to November for comfortable hiking. Summer is busy and hot below the rim. Winter brings snow-dusted views and few crowds on the South Rim.
- How long to stay
- 1 to 2 days on the South Rim; add a day or two for an inner-canyon hike.
- Getting there
- Flagstaff (FLG) is about 1.5 hours away. Phoenix is about 3.5 to 4 hours and Las Vegas about 4.5 hours. The Grand Canyon Railway runs from Williams.
- Wildlife
- Elk, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep and California condors, one of the rarest birds in North America.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Grand Canyon
- 3-liter hydration packCarry more water than you think below the rim.
- Electrolyte tabletsReplace salt lost in the heat.
- Wide-brim sun hatThere is little shade on canyon trails.
- Trekking polesSteep switchbacks on Bright Angel and South Kaibab.
- MicrospikesRim trails can be icy from late fall to spring.
A first day, start to finish
- Sunrise at Mather Point
- Walk the Rim Trail to the Yavapai Geology Museum
- Hike the Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse and back
- Drive Desert View Drive to the Watchtower
- Sunset at Hopi Point via the Hermit Road shuttle
Don't miss
- Rim TrailMostly paved, mostly flat path along 13 miles of the South Rim.
- Mather Point and Yavapai PointClassic sunrise and sunset viewpoints near the main visitor center.
- Hermit RoadScenic drive served by free shuttles for much of the year.
- Desert View WatchtowerHistoric stone tower at the east end of the South Rim.
- Bright Angel TrailSteep inner-canyon trail; turn back early because the climb out is the hard part.
Know before you go
Do
- Carry at least 2 liters of water and salty snacks on any inner-canyon hike.
- Stay behind railings and well back from unfenced edges.
- Check North Rim status before driving there; services are limited in 2026.
Don't
- Attempt rim-to-river-to-rim in one day in summer heat.
- Feed squirrels; they bite and carry disease.
- Throw anything over the edge.
South Rim is open 24 hours, all year. The North Rim reopened May 15, 2026 after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, for a shorter season with no in-park lodging.
The South and North Rims are about 4.5 hours apart by road, though only 10 miles across.Trekker's tip