Things To Do

 

Touring Desert View Drive, the only South Rim scenic road that is open to private vehicles all year.

Ways to Experience the Canyon

Check the Park's Digital Calendar
for a list of today's scheduled programs and activities.

• Signs outdoors and displays at information desks describe the programs and special events being presented during your visit.

• Download the NPS Mobile App

Your Destination?

• South Rim Open all year

• North Rim - Current Status and Closures (anticipated reopening May 15, 2026)

 

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South Rim (Open All Year)

 

Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim.

NPS/M. Quinn

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

Grand Canyon Visitor Center (South Rim Village)

• Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. (December 7, 2025 - April 18, 2026)

• Information, Passport Stamps and Jr. Ranger books and badges are also available at the adjacent Park Store (8 am to 6 pm).

• This week's ranger pograms and special events

• From the Visitor Center, ride free shuttle buses around the park

• South Rim bookstores and gift shops

 

Park films are show daily on the big screen in the Visitor Center Theater.

Visitor Center Theater

We Are Grand Canyon —shows on the hour. (24 minutes long).
Grand Canyon's 11 tribal communities extend a heartfelt invitation to all who visit this sacred place – directly from the people who call this land home, who have been here for millennia, and are still here.

Grand Canyon: A Journey Of Wonder —shows on the half-hour. (24 minutes long).
An orientation film that takes visitors on a rim to river, and dawn to dusk journey through the park, and provides an introduction to the human and natural history of the region.

 

Walking or Hiking

The Canyon Rim Trail

For a nice introduction to the park, walk part of the well defined, and mostly level Canyon Rim Trail. Start from the Visitor Center/Mather Point, or from any viewpoint in the village.

West of the village, the Canyon Rim Trail continues alongside Hermit Road, a 7 mile scenic road with 9 exceptional overlooks.

• Day Hiking in and around the canyon.

• Today's Key Hiking Messages - weather forecast, heat risk and drinking water locations.

• Backpacking Overnight below the rim requires a Backcountry Permit.

 

Walk the Trail of Time

Between Yavapai Museum of Geology and Verkamps Visitor Center 1.2 miles (2 km) along the canyon rim. View photos here

The path contains information about the canyon's geologic history, as well as samples from each rock layer within Grand Canyon. More

Learn about Grand Canyon Geology

 

Activities for Kids

• Families visiting the park can engage with Grand Canyon's Junior Ranger program

• 4th graders and their families can see America's natural wonders and historic sites for free this school year, through the Every Kid Outdoors Program

• Groups organizing youth field trips to the park can find activities and videos to prepare students prior to the trip and self-guided activities to facilitate during the experience.

• Take a Grand Canyon Virtual Tour

 

Hermit Road

(Formerly known as the West Rim Drive)

• From March 1, through November 30, Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles. During this time, the free Hermit Road (Red) Route shuttle bus provides the only motorized access. (Along with commercial bus tours).

• Hermit Road is open to private vehicles (under 22 feet) during the months of December, January and Februay, when there is no bus service.

• The road itself, and it's designated greenway section is also open to travel by foot or bicycle. There are 9 designated overlooks with fantastic views. More about touring Hermit Road

 

Did You Bring Your Bicycle?

Learn about bicycling on the South Rim

Canyon Adventures Bike Tours and Café

Offering bicycle rentals & guided bicycle tours, weather permitting, Canyon Adventures Bike Tours and Cafe is located by the Visitor Center.

Their coffee bar/café has a "grab & go" menu targeted towards bicyclists and pedestrians.

 

Capture Grand Canyon in Photos

Taking photos is a great way to make your Grand Canyon trip last. Whether you share them on social media or compile them in a scrapbook, having great photos of your adventure is the best souvenir.

Visit the links below for some suggestions about the best times of day to shoot and, insider information about popular photo hot spots.

Capture Grand Canyon in Photos

How to View and Photograph Wildlife

 

Desert View Drive

Visitors traveling to Grand Canyon National Park can enter and exit the park through the East Entrance at Desert View. During periods of high visitation, often there are shorter wait times at this entrance station.

(State Route 64 - also known as the East Rim Drive) This 23 mile (37 km) road, leaves Grand Canyon Village, then travels east to Desert View and the East Entrance Station.

This is the only scenic road on the South Rim that is open to private vehicles all year. More about touring Desert View Drive in your vehicle.

Desert View Visitor Services

 

Desert View

Visitors traveling to Grand Canyon National Park can enter/exit the park through the East Entrance at Desert View for wide, expansive views of Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. (Desert View is 23 miles/37 km) from the South Rim Village.

The Desert View Watchtower Shop (View Room) is open daily 9 am to 6 pm:

• The upper floors of the tower are open, when staffing allows, from 9 am to 5 pm. The last tower access is at 5 pm, with the stairs closed for the day at 5:30 pm. Capacity is 25 people in the tower at one time. A ticket system admits 25 people with a 20 minute time limit. Admission is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Desert View visitor services include: Market/Deli, Trading Post with coffee/ice cream, seasonal campground, and a pay-at-the-pump gas station. Details

 

Tusayan Pueblo and Museum

CLOSED - For Winter

Tusayan Pueblo is the remains of a small Ancestral Puebloan village is located 3 miles (5 km) west of Desert View. The archaeological site has a self-guiding trail that encircles the pueblo.During the summer, there is also a Native American Artisan Market with authentic and beautiful arts and crafts for sale, sponsored by Native Americans for Community Action, Inc. (NACA).

More about visiting Desert View >

 

Guided Learning Adventures

Grand Canyon Conservancy's Field Institute

• Schedule of Guided Tours and Experiences for 2026

The institute provides immersive and educational adventures at Grand Canyon—all officially designed and developed in partnership with Grand Canyon National Park.

• A wide variety of Grand Canyon Maps, Trail Guides and Field Guides are available online from the park's non-profit partner, Grand Canyon Conservancy.

Learn about additional Guided Tour options on the South Rim

 

Mule Trips

are offered year round on the South Rim.

The Canyon Vistas Ride is a 3 hour trip that travels along the canyon rim.

Overnight Rides go to the bottom of the canyon and stay at Phantom Ranch.

NOTE: Overnight rides are suspended when the corridor trails are closed for construction.

More about South Rim Mule Trips

 

Raft Trips on the Colorado River

Half-day and all-day smooth water trips from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry may be arranged by any lodge within the park.

Transportation from the lodges to the dam is included.

Whitewater trips through Grand Canyon last from 3 days to 21 days and require reservations made well in advance, or a noncommercial permit obtained by entering a weighted lottery.

 

Ride Grand Canyon Railway

From Williams, Arizona (along Interstate 40) the Grand Canyon Railway carries more than 230,000 people by rail to Grand Canyon National Park each year.

As an alternative, to driving, it is possible to park in Williams, AZ, 60 miles south of the park, (on Interstate 40), take Grand Canyon Railway, and not have to deal with busy summer traffic and finding a parking place.

During the season, the train departs Williams daily at 9:30 am, arrives in Grand Canyon Village at 11:45 am, then departs the village at 3:30 pm, and arrives back in Williams at 5:45 pm.

 

North Rim

Current Status and Closures

 

North Rim Day Hiking

The North Rim developed area, including the lodge, visitor center and campground are CLOSED. Grand Canyon National Park is preparing an adaptive approach for the seasonal reopening of the North Rim, evaluating potential impacts from winter weather to park infrastructure after the Dragon Bravo Fire. The park aims to open popular points of interest on Friday, May 15, 2026, weather and conditions permitting.

The following trails are closed.

• CLOSED: Bright Angel Point and Trail
• CLOSED: Transept and Widfross Trails
• CLOSED: Bridle Path
• CLOSED: North Kaibab Trail from the Ribbon Falls junction to the North Kaibab Trailhead.

 

North Rim Scenic Drives

Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads
Between Oct. 1, and November 14, 2025, a partial reopening of the North Rim included Highway 67 to the W1 road, (approximately at mile marker 11), and the Cape Royal Road, provided access to both Point Imperial and Cape Royal. The roads were open for day use only.

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is currently CLOSED for the winter.

Sections of the North Rim are tentatively expected to reopen to visitors for the 2026 season on May 15, pending weather, trail conditions, infrastructure readiness, and completion of hazard mitigation efforts.

Visit this link for the latest updates: North Rim -Current Status and Closures

Point Imperial and Cape Royal are reached via winding scenic drives that can be toured in personal vehicles. The roads are open during the fall day use period.

NOTE: the roads are closed at times for maintenance, or snow clearing, during November.

• Driving to both points, with short walks and several stops at pullouts along the way, could take 4 to 5 hours. (View photos)

• Note: RVs over 22 feet long, and vehicle-trailer combinations with a total length over 22 feet, are not permitted on the Scenic Drive due to narrow, windy roads with blind corners.

• Point Imperial is 11 miles/ 18km - 20 min. one way.

• Cape Royal is 23 miles/ 37km - 45 min. one way.

 

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"Traveling Green"

Is a great way to help Grand Canyon and other areas you visit reduce carbon emissions, divert and reduce what goes into the waste stream, and to generally help the environment. Go to the Traveling Green page for helpful tips on planning your next green adventure.

Thanks for doing what you can to help protect our environment!