3 day itinerary

An incredible sculpture formed by the power of the Colorado River, not many places in the world are as famous as Grand Canyon NP! Spend three days exploring above and below the rim, and you'll find out exactly why!

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Day 1

Typically the majority of visitors explore the south rim, as its more accessible and offers a bigger range of things to do! However, if you are driving from the north and want to spend some time on the quieter north rim of the canyon, then feel free! In summer it is a more pleasant temperature due to its higher elevation versus the south, and is extremely photogenic. You'll probably only need a few hours here, so for most people looking to maximise their time, concentrate on the south rim!

While a little further from Vegas, which a lot of people choose to travel from, we think its best to kickstart your experience of Grand Canyon in the east of the park, at Desert View. Here lies Desert View Watchtower, a 70 ft structure built in 1932 that mimics ancient Puebloan watchtowers. Standing proudly on the canyon rim, it strikes a contrasting foreground to the stunning backdrop. Then take your time driving along Scenic Route 64 that comes close to the canyon edge, including Grandview Point Overlook, to reach Grand Canyon Village.

The village hosts numerous lodges and studios, the train depot, visitor centres and a market plaza - where you can stock up on snacks in preparation for a hike below the rim tomorrow! Hike along

the rim trail and take plenty of photos of the amazing view! Half way between the Grand Canyon Visitor Centre and the village itself is Yavapai Point and the Geology Museum. The museum has exhibits on the history of the canyon, and teaches you about the various layers of rock you can see as you look out through the panoramic windows!

For the afternoon, drive just out of the national park for an activity on many people's bucket list! Helicopter flights are one of the best ways to understand the scale of the canyon, and the feeling you get as you soar over the trees of Kaibab National Forest, before the surface of the earth drops away and the Grand Canyon begins - it is an absolute must-do experience!

Your guide will point out different buttes that you can see out the large windows of the helicopter, and you can try to spot bits of the trails you'll soon tackle tomorrow!

One of the best ways to catch sunset at the rim is with a takeaway pizza, such as from Maswik Pizza Pub located in the village! Grab your dinner early and pick a spot to enjoy the colours and shadows created from the orange Arizona rock. Stay after the sun has set too to enjoy a spot of stargazing. Moran Point, Mather Point and Lipan Point are all great spots! The NPS also hosts different events, mainly through summer, where enthusiasts bring their telescopes for you to try. or for Ranger-led tours detailing the constellations are also offered some nights! Don't stay up too late though - it's an early start tomorrow!

Day 2

The early start is crucial to enter get ahead of the hot temperatures as you head below the rim! The majority of visitors never experience the views from within the canyon, and there's a couple of options available for you! Use the shuttle buses to cross the park, and check the times that they start and end for when you're visiting! The south rim boasts two spectacular trails, both challenging and requiring a good level of fitness, as well as plenty of preparation and respect.

Temperatures in the canyon are often 10F to 20F warmer than at the rim, notably in summer, and there is little shade. Plenty of water is required, with the NPS recommending 4 quarts/litres each during warm weather. Salty snacks are also important to resorb more water. But the most important thing to do is to listen to your body and turn back before you feel like you're struggling. The steep climb is much harder on the way back up than on the way down!

The South Kaibab trail has a few options if you want a shorter hike. The first stop comes after hiking just short of a mile below the surface, at Ooh Aah Point! You can probably guess why it has that name! From here you can see a few of the landmarks further down the hike.

Cedar Ridge is the next spot, a small plateau that is a good turnaround point for first time canyon hikers. That hike is 3 miles long round trip, but with the elevation change it feels a lot further. In cooler conditions, the fitter hikers can double the distance and reach Skeleton Point, after rounding the large O'Neill Butte visible throughout the hike! From here, you can see the Colorado River, but beware of the intensity of those switchbacks on the way back up!

The other option is for a longer hike, with more switchbacks at the beginning but some flatter sections, especially further into the Bright Angel trail. One of the toughest hikes we recommend at National Parks Planner, you can descend over 3,000 ft to reach Plateau Point, with views of the river. With the round trip being 12 miles long, start extremely early, well before sunrise - so be prepared with head torches.

Greenery awaits at Indian Garden 4.5 miles in with water usually available to top up those bottles. But it is not recommended to go further than this point in the summer due to the heat. Those that do choose to go on and reach Plateau Point need to try to make sure they're back at the rim by midday. Given that most people will take 8 hours or more to complete the hike, this should give you an idea of the start time needed...!

Those looking for something less intense can still tackle Bright Angel. There are rest houses at 1.5 and 3 miles - so both act as good turnaround points. The trail probably isn't quite as picturesque at these elevations as the South Kaibab trail, so if you're planning on a shorter hike, we'd probably lean towards the Kaibab! Rest your legs and grab a drink in Grand Canyon Village in the afternoon!

Day 3

Catch an Arizona sunrise for your final day in Grand Canyon National Park. Hopi Point and Shoshone Point are both lovely spots to start the day! The Shoshone hike is a couple of miles out and back, taking about an hour, and the view is usually one of the quieter on the south rim. Follow it up with breakfast at Bright Angel Bicycles and Cafe and energise yourself with a coffee so you can bike along Hermit Road Greenway, which you can do as part of a 3.5 hour tour! The road is largely closed to traffic, making it a great way to see even more of the south rim, with 5 or 6 viewpoints that you can stop at to admire!

Feel free to then tackle a small section of whichever trail you missed out on yesterday. Keep in mind the heat so perhaps limit yourself to just a few miles, especially if you're no doubt feeling the effects of yesterdays exploration! A hike to Ooh Aah Point would probably be the best taste of the South Kaibab if you made it all the way to Plateau Point yesterday!

Use the evening for another opportunity for a good sunset and stargazing incase the weather wasn't kind to you on day one. Or if you want a different experience, you can end your trip with a hummer tour concluding at sunset! Air, road, trails - you can do it all in Grand Canyon National Park!

If you want to find out more about Grand Canyon, then check out our full national park guide! Or stop off for a day or so as part of one our Road Trip itineraries!