Grand Canyon National Park Travelers Recommend

With two days in Grand Canyon National Park, you have an entire day to explore the popular sights along the South Rim as well as a day to learn about the history and culture of the Grand Canyon and tackle on an outdoor adventure or two. Here are a few ideas on how to spend your two days in Grand Canyon National Park.   

Day 1: Explore the Grand Canyon South Rim

**Morning:**Get an early start and hike along the Rim Trail from Grand Canyon Village and enjoy the sunrise at Yaki or Mather points. Alternatively, hike a short distance down Bright Angel Trail while the weather is still cool. Stop by the Visitor’s Center for trail maps and a quick introduction to the geology of the Grand Canyon.  

**Afternoon:**One of the most exhilarating ways to see the Grand Canyon is from air. Helicopter tours and scenic flights take off from the South Rim as well as Las Vegas and Flagstaff. Choices include scenic rides and luxury tours, and aerial tours often include gourmet dinners and below-the-rim landings. 

**Night:**After a day exploring popular South Rim spots, take the shuttle bus out of the Village onto Hermit’s Rest Road for drop-off at one of several viewpoints in time for sunset. The lookouts are superb at sunset and offer a reprieve from the crowds at Grand Canyon Village. 

Day 2: Native American Culture and Outdoor Adventures

**Morning:**Head to Grand Canyon's East Rim to visit Desert View Watchtower, an Ancestral Puebloan-inspired tower clinging to the edge of the canyon. Then stop by the ruins of an 800-year-old Ancestral Puebloan village at Tusayan Ruin and learn about the ancient people who once made this canyon home at Tusayan Museum. 

**Afternoon:**Back at Grand Canyon Village, browse Native American crafts at Hopi House and art exhibits and pioneer photographs at Kolb Studio. Adventurous travelers might take a jeep adventure, join a cycling tour, or skydive over the rim.  

**Night:**For your final night at Grand Canyon National Park, enjoy live music at Bright Angel Bar or an elegant dinner at historic El Tovar. With clear skies and low light pollution, stargazing at the Grand Canyon is fantastic. Join a ranger-led stargazing tour or enjoy the starry skies from the rim.

With just one day at the Grand Canyon, it's important to plan ahead to squeeze in as much as possible. Among the priorities: Visit the best lookouts, hike into the canyon, catch a sunrise or sunset, and tackle an outdoor adventure. Here are a few ways to spend your one day in Grand Canyon National Park.

Morning: Sightseeing on the South Rim

Most who have only one day at Grand Canyon National Park visit the South Rim from Flagstaff, Sedona, or Las Vegas. Day tours from these locations are usually include round-trip transportation and multiple canyon experiences. Tours typically offer guided hikes, helicopter tours, or a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway. If visiting independently, start early with a walk along the rim at sunrise. You won’t want to miss the views from Mather Point or a stop at the Visitor’s Center in Grand Canyon Village to get an introduction to the canyon’s history and geology. 

Afternoon: Venture Below the Rim

Very few visitors to Grand Canyon National Park venture below the canyon’s edge. Hiking into the canyon gives a unique perspective of the canyon's size and you don’t even have to go very far. Take off down the South Kaibab Trail to be rewarded with views at OoAh Point, only 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) round-trip. If you feel more adventurous, hike Bright Angel Trail to  Plateau Point. For a thrill, opt for a helicopter tour of the canyon, jeep adventure, or skydiving experience. 

Night: Sunsets and Stargazing

A full-day tour of Grand Canyon National Park can take 12 hours or more, but if you have free time at night, watch the sunset at Mohave Point. The Grand Canyon is especially peaceful at night, plus the park has some of the darkest skies in the country, making it perfect for stargazing. The park hosts stargazing events in summer, as well as evening ranger programs. Evening is also a nice time to visit Hopi House and Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon Village. 

With three days in Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll be able to see all the highlights and also have time for a day trip to Arizona’s other top attractions, like Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell. Here are just a few ideas for how to make the most out of your trip to the Grand Canyon.  

Day 1: Sightseeing on the South Rim

Kick off your trip to Grand Canyon National Park by rising early and watching the sunrise at Mather Point. Take a hike along the rim or head down into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail while the temperature is still cool. Next, head to the Yavapai Geology Museum for a crash course in the history and geology of the Grand Canyon, or browse the historic photographs at the Kolb Studio. 

In the afternoon, splurge on a helicopter tour so you can really grasp the enormity of the Grand Canyon. Alternatively, take the shuttle out to Hermit’s Rest, and then hike back to the Grand Canyon Village along a more remote section of the Rim Trail, which is also a perfect spot to catch the sunset. End the evening with a luxurious dinner at historic El Tovar Dining Room. (Book a table well in advance of your visit.) 

Day 2: Exploring Ancestral Puebloan Ruins

Spend your morning exploring the sights at the East Rim, also known as Desert View. Grand Canyon National Park has thousands of ancient archaeological sites, and at the Tusayan Ruin, you can view the remains of an 800-year-old ancestral Puebloan village. Stop by the Tusayan museum to learn about the lives of the ancient people that made their home here, and don’t miss the views of the Colorado River from the Desert View Watchtower, a replica of an ancestral Puebloan tower. 

In the afternoon, browse traditional Native American crafts and jewelry at Hopi House, in Grand Canyon Village, then head out for a night of stargazing at the rim, which has reliably clear skies and low light pollution. The park offers occasional astronomy talks and stargazing events during the summer months. 

Day 3: Arizona Highlights or West Rim Daredevilry

Having checked off the main Grand Canyon attractions, you’ll have time to explore the wonders outside the park on your last day. Opt for an Arizona highlights tour and visit famous landscapes such as the Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River, the stunning Antelope Canyon, or the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. You can also choose river rafting, flightseeing, and canyoneering tours at some of these sites.

Alternatively, visit the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is outside the national park and operated by the Hualapai tribe. The West Rim is home to the Skywalk Bridge, a remarkable glass bridge that allows guests to walk out into the middle of the canyon suspended in the air, and is also the only region where commercial aircraft can land on the canyon floor.