Are you thinking about visiting Grand Canyon National Park but don’t know where to start?
Luckily, you’ve come across this article, where you’ll find all the answers you’re looking for!
10 amazing things to do in Grand Canyon National Park
1. Hiking in the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon region are a hiker’s dream.
In fact, most of Grand Canyon National Park is undeveloped wilderness: there are literally hundreds of miles to explore on foot, backpack on your shoulders.
And despite the Grand Canyon’s popularity and the large number of tourists every year, all it takes is a short walk to enjoy some solitude.
2. Desert View Drive
Among the best things to do in the Grand Canyon if you have a car (and we definitely do!), Desert View Drive is absolutely stunning to explore.
With over 19 miles of road running along the rim of the Grand Canyon, it’s the perfect route to take in incredible views and visit the Tusayan Museum.
Easily accessible by entering Grand Canyon National Park through the South Entrance, you can follow the route from Grand Canyon Village to the park’s East Entrance.
Along the way, you’ll be able to admire the Colorado River winding through the dramatic landscape. Be sure not to miss Moran Point, Lipan Point, Grandview Point, and Navajo Point.
Finally, don’t forget Yaki Point, which is one of the few scenic viewpoints that cannot be reached by private car. To get there, you’ll need to take the free Kaibab Rim Route shuttle bus (Orange) directly from Grand Canyon Village.
Read also: How to visit Death Valley and the American West on an incredible on-the-road adventure
3. Bright Angel Hiking Trail
One of the most popular trails in the entire park, the Bright Angel Hiking Trail leads from Grand Canyon Village to the Indian Garden area.
It’s a fairly demanding trail, best suited to experienced hikers, and it’s not something to tackle unprepared if you’re not familiar with hiking—especially because completing the full route of around 19 miles may take several days.
That said, if you’re looking for a shorter day hike (though still a challenging one), try the route to Indian Garden Campground: it can take between 6 and 9 hours, but it can be done in a day if you’re properly prepared for the trail.
4. Watch the Grand Canyon IMAX film
This is a fantastic and low-effort activity to add to your list of things to do. At the IMAX theater in the Visitor Center, you can watch a 34-minute film about the Grand Canyon. It’s not quite as thrilling as seeing the Grand Canyon from its viewpoints or hiking below the rim, but it’s a great midday summer activity since you can escape the heat in the air-conditioned theater.
5. Cycling along Hermit Road
Hermit Road is 7 miles long, starting at Grand Canyon Village and ending at Hermit’s Rest.
You can visit the viewpoints along Hermit Road:
- by shuttle bus (from March 1 to November 30);
- by car (only between December 1 and February 28);
- on foot;
- by bike.
Among these options, cycling along Hermit Road seems like the most fun.
6. Discover Tusayan Ruin
Visiting the Tusayan Ruin is a great activity to add to your list of things to do in the eastern area of Grand Canyon National Park if you’re a fan of culture and history. Believe it or not, the Grand Canyon is home to more than 4,000 archaeological sites dating back 12,000 years!
Today, only the foundations of the structures that once stood here are still visible, but for visitors of all ages it’s a wonderful opportunity to discover the park’s incredible cultural history. It’s estimated that 16 to 20 people once lived in this small community.
As mentioned in point two, don’t forget to visit the Tusayan Museum while you’re in the area for more details and to help you gather as much information as possible about these remarkable civilizations.
Getting to this site is easy, as it is located just off Desert View Drive, a 7-minute drive from the Desert View complex.
7. Trail of Time
The Trail of Time is one of the best interactive things to do at the Grand Canyon, allowing visitors to appreciate the epic formation of the canyon over billions of years. This paved trail begins just behind the Yavapai Geology Museum and is fully accessible.
The first part of the trail (about 500 feet) covers a span of one million years. The second part, about 2.8 miles long, takes you through a full 2 billion years. Each meter of the second part of the trail represents 1 million years of geologic time in the Grand Canyon.
The walk takes about an hour and offers sweeping canyon views along the way.
8. Grand Canyon Skywalk
Although it is located outside Grand Canyon National Park, it is still an extraordinary experience worth adding to your list of things to do at the Grand Canyon (if you have the time).
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge extending out over the rim of the Grand Canyon. Looking through the glass beneath their feet, visitors can see 4,000 feet down to the floor of the canyon.
While this activity is not suitable for anyone with a fear of heights, the Hualapai Tribe, which manages the site, proudly claims that the glass bridge is strong enough to support “seventy fully loaded 747 jets.”
Read also: Documents needed to travel to Jordan: everything you should know before you go
9. Mather Point
Mather Point is one of the most popular viewpoints on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, and it is just a short walk from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center parking area.
The viewpoint is also accessible by shuttle bus, and you can take the Kaibab Rim Route shuttle (Orange) to get here from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
Mather Point offers visitors a wide-open view of the canyon, stretching as far as the eye can see. It is also an ideal spot for watching sunrise and sunset.
This viewpoint is named after Stephen Tyng Mather, noted conservationist and the first director of the National Park Service.
10. Yavapai Geology Museum
The Yavapai Geology Museum is located on the edge of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim at Yavapai Point.
To get there, simply take the orange shuttle bus from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center or from Mather Point.
It is an extraordinary place to learn about the history of the Grand Canyon and the geological processes that have shaped it over time.
This museum was designed by architect Herbert C. Maier and opened in July 1928. It houses a remarkable collection of exhibits that help visitors understand the area’s fascinating geology.
And as if that weren’t enough, in addition to exploring the exhibits, you can enjoy fantastic panoramic views through the museum’s large picture windows.
Conclusions
In this article, we’ve explored some of the top attractions in Grand Canyon National Park. But what if we told you that we’ve already taken care of everything, and all you have to do is choose when to go?
Don’t believe us? Take a look at our suuuuper on-the-road itinerary!
