Last visited in 2015
The spectacular Grand Canyon and one of the natural wonders of the world, should be in everyone’s list of places to visit in their lifetime. Carved by the Colorado River the Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile. We have visited this place a few times – South Rim twice and West Rim once.
- South Rim
- West Rim
South Rim – The first time we visited the South Rim, was a day trip from Phoenix. The second time, was another day trip from Sedona.
Mather Point Overlook – If you are entering the park at the South Entrance, head first to the visitor center where the park staff are on hand to answer questions and provide information on hiking trails and attractions. From the visitor center, a short path leads to popular and easy to reach Mather Point Overlook. There are a couple of large viewing areas, where you can not only enjoy the stunning scenery but also the sunrise over the Grand Canyon.
Rim Trail – The Rim Trail which is 13 miles in length runs from South Kaibab Trailhead, east of the Visitor Center, to Hermit’s Rest, at the far west end of Hermit Road. The path is mostly on level ground, with a mix of sun and shade with fabulous views along the entire distance of the trail. If you don’t have time, you can just do a short walk, from Mather Point, heading west to Yavapai Point and the Geology Museum.
Hermit Road Drive – Hermit Road is a seven-mile scenic drive along the canyon rim, with numerous viewpoints. This is the most popular route in the park. If you are visiting between the beginning of December and the end of February, you can do this drive in your own vehicle. From March 1 to November 30 you must use the park shuttle buses, which operate every 10 to 15 minutes and stop at nine overlooks.
All the overlooks along this route offer incredible vantage points over the canyon. Although it may be the source of some debate, some of the best views can be had from Maricopa Point, Hopi Point, The Abyss, and Pima Point.
Desert View Drive – The 22-mile Desert View Drive is as stunning as the Hermit Road Drive. One of the main differences is the view to the Colorado River, which is much more visible from some of the stops along this drive. Also there are fewer viewpoints on this drive.
Helicopter Ride From Las Vegas – We took a helicopter ride from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The experience included a boat ride on the Colorado River, followed by a visit to the West Rim, where we walked on the glass-bottom walkway.
West Rim, Skywalk – This horseshoe-shape glass walkway extends out 70 feet over the canyon, allowing you to peer straight down.
