Grand Canyon National Park

Tips for Exploring

When to Visit

The South Rim receives the majority of the park's 5 million annual visitors and is open year-round. The largest crowds visit in the summer and can strain the area's infrastructure - with traffic, long lines and too many people in your pictures. If you must visit in the summer, plan your trip during the mid-week, and try to arrive early in the day.

The more remote and North Rim gets plenty of winter weather, thus facilities close in mid-October and reopen in mid-May.

How to Get There

It depends on where you're going and where you're coming from, but here are the basics.

South Rim

From Flagstaff AZ

We recommend you enter the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from the east with the morning sun at your back. This allows for great lighting and a wonderful introduction to this incomparable natural treasure.

To Desert View entrance take US 8 to Cameron, then AZ 64 west along the little Colorado River.

To South Rim entrance take US 180 past the San Francisco Peaks about 80 miles

North Rim

Video Courtesy YouTube.com

From Jacob Lake

Take AZ 67 throught the Kaibab National Forest.

Be sure you have

Plenty of gas
Plenty of water 2 liters per person per day
Film, videotape, or flash memory for you camera or camcorder.
sunscreen, sunglasses, Hat

Words of Caution

Be very careful near the rim; there are protective barriers in some areas, but not all. The combination of human congestion, scurrying wildlife, and photo ops gallore, it's easy to get distracted.

The high elevation and hot arid conditions, make dehydration a real risk. If you are hiking avoid the heat of the day, rest often, be sure to bring and drink plenty of water.

Fees:

Entrance to park $25 per vehicle good for 7 days, $12 per bicycle, motorcycle or walk-in. Free shuttle service in Grand Canyon Village.

Regulations:

Arizona state fishing license required. Pets, are welcome but must be leashed at all times.

Hours:

South Rim open year-round, daily. North Rim Rd. open mid-May-mid Oct. daily