The Grand Canyon, one of the incredible seven wonders of the world and a truly draw-dropping sight! Located in Arizona, the Grand Crayon National Park makes a perfect detour off Route 66.
There are lots of different ways to explore the National Park. You can drive to some of the different viewpoints, take a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon, or head onto one of the many great hiking trails. I’ve been fortunate to visit the Grand Cayon on two separate trips, and have done all three. A lot would choose the helicopter tour as their number one thing to do in the Grand Canyon. Honestly, hiking the Bright Angel Trail has been my most memorable experience! I have written a separate guide on hiking the Bright Angle Trail, and everything you need to know: Hiking Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail
Park Fees
To visit the park, you do have to pay. At the time we visited, it cost $30 per vehicle. If you have the ‘America the Beautiful Pass’, you can use it to gain free entry.
Where To Stay
Staying in the park can be quite pricy. The cheapest way to do it, is to camp, at the Grand Canyon Campground. If camping isn’t your thing, there is a range of lodges to choose from. My advice is to book early, as they do get booked up quite quickly!
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit is between April and June. In the Summer, temperatures are high and storms are frequent. Winter, it’s a lot cooler on the rim, and sometimes even a dusting of snow.
Bus Routes
The easiest way to get around the park, if you didn’t want to drive, is by the free buses. There are three main bus routes:
- Blue Route – it connects the Visitor Center with lodges, campsites, and other facilities within Grand Canyon Village.
- Orange Route – Takes you along Desert View Road to Desert View Watchtower
- Red Route – Takes you up and down Hermit Road to Hermit’s Rest.
What To See and Do
There are many different ways to see the Grand Canyon. You can hike along the rim, take a trek down into the canyon, or even take a helicopter over the top.
Here are my top recommendations to do, when visiting the Grand Canyon National Park:
Sunset over the Grand Canyon
If you staying in the Grand Canyon, get yourself out at sunset on the rim, and watch the sun go down! It’s a magical moment, you will never forget! My favourite location to go for sunset, is over on the South Rim, at the Desert View Watchtower.
Walk to Hermit’s Rest
The walk to Hermit’s Rest is a great walk to do! Starting in the Grand Canyon Village, the route takes you along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, passing lots of incredible viewpoints along the way. Once you reach Hermit’s Rest, you can catch the free shuttle back to the Grand Canyon Village. If you only wanted to walk part of the route, you can hop on and off the free shuttles at any of the stops along the way.
Please note: Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles from 1st March 1 to 30th November. The free shuttle bus runs throughout the whole year.
Drive the Desert View Drive
If you fancy a drive? Then this is the road to drive! The road takes you along the South Rim, with some incredible viewpoints along the way. The drive goes from Grand Canyon Village all the way to Desert View Watchtower.
Hike The Bright Angel Trail
This is my all-time favourite trail to do! The trail leads you down into the canyon, allowing you to see the Grand Canyon from a completely different perspective. If you want to know more, here is my full guide on the trail: Hiking Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail
Helicopter Over The Grand Canyon
If you fancy something a bit different, a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon is definitely an experience to remember! We used the company Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters: https://www.papillon.com/
For more information on the Grand Canyon, including other great hiking trails to do, please head to their website: https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
If you would like to be notified when any new travel guides goes live, straight to your inbox, please subscribe here:
(don’t forget to check your junkbox for the confirmation e-mail!)
Further Reading
My book, How I Tamed the Wolf, Living with Lupus is available on Amazon via this link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09M73X2JQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MWAF58981F0VVMNRV1WN
Other travel guides you may like:
Chicago – 48 Hours in Chicago
Sedona – A Bucket List Hiking Destination: Sedona
Miami – https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/miami/
New York – https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/new-york/
