We visited the Grand Canyon North Rim shortly after it reopened following last year's unfortunate…read morefire. While some trails and amenities are still closed, the hiking experience is incredible. We hiked the Cape Royal Trail, which winds across the Walhalla Plateau with panoramic overlooks and stunning short hikes throughout. The trail leads to the iconic Angel's Window, and the views are so vast and beautiful you can't help but be awestruck at every turn. If you're planning a visit, note that the North Rim is still in recovery mode with some closures, but what is open is absolutely worth the trip. The Cape Royal Trail is a must-do if you make it out here. Download the map BEFORE you get there, you'll likely not have cell service out here.

Can't stop thinking about the oatmeal I had during the breakfast buffet. It is hands down the best…read moreoatmeal I've ever had. Our server was kind and attentive. The buffet was $20 per person, and the food was pretty good. The buffet included eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt, bread and muffins, and fruit. We also stayed a night in the lodge cabins. It wasn't really my vibe. It was very dusty with a lot of bugs and insects. It was do-able for a night, and it's the only place to stay at the North Rim. I got up at 4:45AM to watch the sunrise before breakfast. It was spectacular!

Awestruck is an understatement. We went out of our way to visit the Grand Canyon on our trip to…read moreTucson, it was 1000% worth it. We visited for sunset and it was stunning. It is hard to conceptualize how vast the Grand Canyon is through pictures. Park near the Bright Angel Lodge & Canyon and walk to the Village Route Transfer. You cannot drive out to the points March to November. Take the free red line bus up to the different points. (Hopi and Mohave were most recommended by google on the south rim) The driver said that the Mohave point was her favorite so we got off there. It did not disappoint. Then take the bus back down after sunset (buses run for 1 hour after sunset)

Date of visit: June 7, 2026…read more I was very excited to take my mom to see the Grand Canyon as she had been to Arizona but had not been given the opportunity to see this natural wonder in person. There was some concern because of her recent knee surgery but she did great walking on the trails and through the gift shop, and was impressed at the grandeur of the place, as really anyone should be. Parking here was plentiful and while it was busy, the crowds were very manageable and everyone also was respectful of the grounds during our time there, which was refreshing to see. The paved roads are dog-friendly and we almost seemed left out, not having a four-legged companion with us for the journey. If you have the time, walk along the trails away from the main road so you can put some distance between you and crowds and fully experience this majestic location.

I visited the South Rim as the North Rim was still closed. The sheer scale of the Grand Canyon was…read moremind-boggling. I walked around the village, checking out the art shop and the hotels (and grabbing brunch at El Tovar Hotel). The Geology Museum has more information about the formation of the area, as well as a small gift shop. I made it a bit down Bright Angel Trail, marveling at the views. I also did the 25 mile scenic drive towards the east on Desert View Drive - definitely stop at some pull outs since the views are different as you go along the rim. Things I have to do in the future: -Take the shuttle to Hermit's rest (be sure to sit on the right side since you get all the views that way) since it was wayyy too crowded when I looked at the bus stop -Get a ticket to climb up Desert View's tower. I wish there was more information about the Indigenous peoples and their cultures who lived in this area. There wasn't a lot of information provided, but a lot about the architect who designed a lot of the buildings. It seemed unbalanced. Also, I wish that Desert View went into more history of the building - apparently it was controversial when it was built. Amazing visit.

A definite wonder of the natural world. This canyon is majestic full of dozens and dozens of trails…read moreall along the rim. We visited the south rim this time and headed to the Bright Angel trail, which is the most up-kept trail in the park. We heard a trail guide mention that on his way down. Entry costs $35 per vehicle and the pass is good for a week. Going in the morning will have the shorter line to get in, and in the afternoon the line will get really long. They only take cards now, cash is no longer accepted. There are a ton of lodges, and individual cabins to stay at. There's also restaurants, a food court, and lots of shops all throughout the park. There's even WiFi available at a small fee. This park really has everything. If you've never been, or it's been a while since you're last visit, it is time to plan a trip back!

After years of trying to apply for a permit, our group finally got picked! Highly recommend hiking…read moreat least once. I wouldn't do it again though, mainly because of how hard it was to get a permit. We visited in April and the weather was fantastic. It was actually freezing in the morning but as the sun rose, it warmed up to the point where we would sweat a little when hiking. I can't even imagine doing this in the summer but if you win the lottery then, make sure everyone brings plenty of water. To get to the trailhead, I'd recommend having a high-clearance vehicle, especially if it just recently rained. The road off of the freeway becomes unpaved and there are some ditches that can be flooded. Download an offline map of the trail and area for when you lose service. It gets spotty but you'll find reception every now and then. At the beginning, there are a couple of vault toilets. The trail itself is difficult to follow without an offline map. There's only a handful of signs pointing in a general direction. And until the Wave, we were pretty much the only people around. Considering only about 60 people are approved each day, it wasn't surprising, and honestly, kind of nice to be alone in nature. The Wave was everything we hoped for. We had clear, blue skies and that contrast with the red and orange rocks was beautiful. It looked exactly like the Windows background! There was even a pond further up with a ton of tadpoles. Besides the Wave, there's other neat waypoints to stop by but because we were tired, we didn't try for many of them. The only one we went out of our way for was the dinosaur tracks but it was anti-climatic. They just looked like larger chicken feet prints. Despite this hike being only about 6 miles round trip, it took pretty much the entire day. We stopped a lot to take pictures but also the landscape was difficult to hike. Lots of sand to walk through and lots of weird inclines to walk across, which kept our feet, knees, and legs at weird angles. There might have been easier pathways but as I said earlier, there's no clear indications of a trail. There was also a BLM worker at the Wave asking for the permit holders. If you hike without one and get caught, you'll get slapped with some steep fines. Drones are also not allowed!

My friend won the online lottery for the permit 4 months in advance but after talking to the…read moreranger, it seems that there's a good chance you can win the daily lottery since a lot of people cancel every day. It's easier if you have less people (like two people). Anyways, the orientation the day before was useful for weather and road conditions. The hike wasn't too bad, can be a bit steep in some parts but for the most part, not too much incline. It's moderate for the novice hiker but easy for an experienced hiker. For experienced hikers, probably can get to the Wave in 1 to 1.5 hours. For the inexperienced, it might take 2.5 to 3 hours. Either way, if you're planning to spend a lot of time at the Wave (some people take 2-3 hours for their extensive Instagram photoshoots haha), definitely go there early and spend all day there. I would definitely come back if I win the lottery!

Beautiful view of Coal Mine Canyon. Located about 15 miles southeast of Tuba City. If you go please…read morebe respectful of the property and livestock. Place has a great history and folklore. You can see the coal seam in the rock. There are a few picnic tables and cooking grills. No signs and few people. The person who maintains the area lives nearby. There is no fee but donations are always appreciated. You may even be lucky enough to hear a story about living near this natural scenic wonder.

Are you tired of being surrounded by many tourists in Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Antelope…read moreCanyon? If you are in that area, I highly recommend that you take a short side trip to "Coal Mine Canyon" in Tuba City. Coal Mine Canyon is not in most of guidebooks so you can enjoy the colorful canyon and the solitude. It is in the Navajo land and it is close to the eastern edge of Painted Desert. There is absolutely no sign to tell you where the canyon is so here is how to get there. 1. Drive to Tuba City on Route 160 2. There is only one major intersection in the city and from there, take Route 264 "South" 3. Drive about 15 miles or if you don't want to count the miles, drive your car at 60 mph for about 15 minutes. 4. You will see one new house and one windmill on your left. (Don't worry! These are the only structures around this area) 5. Turn left to the gravel road to go to the side of the house. 6. Park your car near the ruin of the old house after passing by the new house and walk to the rim of the canyon. When I got there with two other friends around 11:00 am, there was no other tourist. We enjoyed the canyon by walking around the rim for about an hour as if we had owned it. It was so quite and relaxing, just the sound of wind and the sound of a friend of mine urinating. If you have a chance to visit northern Arizona, I highly recommend you visit this hidden place!

Yeah, it sounds strange to rate an entrance station. I had the same thought pulling up to Grand…read moreCanyon South Entrance Station. But here we are. We've got the lifetime America the Beautiful pass, so the whole interaction took maybe ten seconds. Hand it over, quick nod, a "have a great day," and we're through. No friction, no awkward fumbling, no bottleneck. Just clean, efficient movement. What impressed me is how well it works considering the volume. This is the main way into the South Rim, and it sees a constant stream of cars. Families, tour buses, people who planned ahead, people who clearly did not. And somehow it still functions without feeling like a mess. Multiple lanes, clear direction, and rangers who keep things moving without rushing you out the door. There's also a human element that hasn't been stripped away. It's not robotic. Even in a quick exchange, there's a sense you're being welcomed, not processed. And then you drive on. That's where it clicks. You're not just entering a park. You're crossing into something that has been carved, layered, and exposed over spans of time that don't fit neatly into human thinking. No fanfare, no big reveal at the gate. Just a quiet shift. Trees thin out, the road carries you forward, and somewhere ahead is one of the most staggering landscapes on Earth. It's a small moment, technically. A checkpoint, a transaction. But it's also the threshold to something enormous. Five stars for doing exactly what it's supposed to do, and doing it well. Sometimes the simplest part of the journey sets the tone for everything that follows.

First time to the Grand Canyon and hopefully not the last. What was a welcome gift was free…read moreadmission due to government shut down. Seemed useless to have someone at the gate just hand out maps. The visitor center was closed but bathrooms and shuttle busses still running.

This is a quick and quirky roadside stop where there are real dinosaur tracks! We looked it up!…read moreIt's pretty amazing and there are Navajo men and women willing to walk you around to see specific fossils and tracks for donation/tip. We enjoyed the conversation and were happy to tip 20$ which felt fair--worth the stop

DANGER! WARNING! DO NOT GO HERE! If you do not pay for a tour (which is not mandatory), you may be…read moreassaulted. We stopped here & politely turned down the optional "tour" that we were immediately pressured to take (since we just wanted to just walk around on our own). I told them we were simply going to spend a few minutes there. After about 15 minutes, as we were leaving, we were suddenly, from out of nowhere, verbally assaulted when one man began pounding on our car window and screaming at us. Then, two other Navajo guides (see photo 1)--a man and woman--began yelling at us & threatening us, telling us to "Get the F---- out of here" and "You're not welcome!" THEN IT GOT VIOLENT when one large man (see photo 2) said "You better get the F--- out of here RIGHT NOW," picked up a large rock, and actually threw it at our windshield. It cracked (see photo 3). If it had shattered, my wife would've been covered with glass. We were in shock! It had escalated from nothing at all happening to extreme violence and us being in danger in literally seconds! He then began to walk toward the car and I realized both my wife and I were in serious danger. The guy was like 6'4, 240-275 lbs and in his twenties. I am 65 years old!!! These people are not just pushy, they are extremely violent. We immediately called the police when a safe distance down the road (see photo 4) and are pressing charges. We absolutely in danger. These people practically force you to pay up (when there is no fee, supposedly)--and if you don't pay, then you will be threatened (see other 1-star reviews on YELP detailing violence & aggression & assault) and, as in our case, actually attacked -- they are very violent.

There are places on this earth that don't feel entirely claimed by man where the air sits heavier,…read morewhere silence hums just a little too loud. Havasupai Falls is one of those places. Now listen I'm gonna tell you straight. You can hike it, sure. Strap on your pack, bake in that canyon heat, follow the mules and the dust like you're reenacting some pioneer tragedy. Or... you take the helicopter. Drop in like you've got better sense than the rest of 'em. Because when you're only staying a night, you don't waste half your trip pretending you enjoy suffering. You get there quick, boots on the ground, eyes wide open. And what waits for you... ain't normal. The water this unreal shade of blue, like someone spilled paint straight outta heaven itself cuts through red rock like it's been there since before memory had a name. The canyon walls stand tall, watching. Always watching. You can feel it. Not in a poetic way... in a you're not alone kind of way. The people there, the tribe they carry a quiet presence. Like they know something they're not in a hurry to explain. Respectful, grounded... but there's history in their eyes. Old history. Night comes different down there. The fire was crackling low. Shadows stretching just a little too far, bending where they shouldn't. That's when I saw it. Across the canyon, tucked behind a tree like it didn't quite understand hiding... something big. Hairy. Not a trick of the light. Not a deer. Not a man. It stood there. Watching. Then came the sound. Tap... tap... tap. Something hitting the tent. Not hard. Just enough to say, "I'm still here." I thought maybe rocks... maybe pinecones. But there weren't any trees above us that could explain it. And whatever it was it had aim. I told the others. Nobody laughed. Nobody slept. We sat around that fire like it was the last safe place on earth, eyes fixed into the dark, waiting for something to step forward... or worse, not step forward. Because sometimes what you don't see is worse than what you do. Finally, in a moment of pure, desperate brilliance or stupidity someone grabbed a sandwich and chucked it out there into the black. We waited. Minutes stretched. The canyon held its breath. And then... nothing. Whatever it was... it was gone. No footsteps. No sound. Just silence again, like the place had swallowed it whole. Now I ain't saying I believe in Bigfoot... ...but I'm also not saying I slept worth a damn that night. And here's the part where I switch gears for ya because after all that spooky nonsense, you gotta laugh a little. Look, I'm just gonna say it .. "I paid good money to fly into a canyon, not to get mugged by a damn woodland gorilla." You got folks hiking ten miles, riding donkeys, sweating like they owe the sun money... and I'm down there getting harassed by what I can only assume is the canyon's unofficial night manager. Five stars. Would absolutely go again. ...but next time, I'm bringing two sandwiches.

Out in the middle of the desert in Arizona pretty much near the end portion of the Grand Canyon and…read moreabout an hour away from Route 66 is the trail to get to Havasupai. There's a lodge in the village and a campground area another 2 miles from the village, both have different dates to apply for permits online about a year in advance. There are 5 amazing water fall sites once you pass the village. 50 Foot Falls, Lower Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beavers. An additional journey heading out 6 miles past Beaver falls you can get to the Confluence where you can see the Havasu Creek water meet up with the Colorado river. For the camp sites you aren't assigned an actual location you just grab any available site that's not directly on the trail. There's a fresh water spring in the camp site where we refilled out bottles for the 4 days & 3 nights we were here. Also 2 miles back up at the village they do have a cafeteria with burgers fries, hot dogs and all that other stuff. If you're not up for the 8-10 miles hike into the village/campground with all your camping gear on your back they have options at additional cost. You can have your bags packed on miles/horses and carried into the site & they also have helicopter rides in and out of the village (first come first serve, the natives have priority to skip the line at anytime)

Nice clean courts for a game of pickleball. The basketball from the adjacent basketball courts…read moretends to fly in and intervene though. Low quality restrooms a bit of a walk away. Friendly beginner picklers to play with if you came by yourself. No shade though.

Were in town for the canyons and wanted to play pickleball found this park from a FB group and came…read morearound 9pm. There were people playing pickleball, a family playing basketball, some kids at the skate park. Overall it seemed well lit and safe and the pickleball courts were nice. I'd recommend

Had a beautiful time! Bring some quarters to put into the binoculars. Has a gift shop inside they…read moretake cards. Bathrooms, parking and picnic tables are near by. Great family outing !

The Desert View Watchtower is a 70 foot iconic stone structure that can be seen from quite a…read moredistance away. It has four stories and was designed by architect Mary Colter in 1932. The Watchtower is located in the Desert View area next to the East entrance. You are able to enter and explore the lower level of the Watchtower called the Kiva Room. There are many windows that you can view the Grand Canyon from. The interior of the tower also has a lot of beautiful stone carvings on the walls. In the Desert View area are bathrooms, a gift shop, general store, and a trading post. Just outside the watchtower is Desert View Point. At this viewpoint you can see the Colorado River make a sharp 90-degree turn to the west. If you drive west on Desert View Drive, there are quite a few other beautiful viewpoints along the way until you get to Grand Canyon Village. If you are traveling on the on US 89, you can get to Desert View by turning west onto State Route 64 in Cameron, AZ. Then travel about 25 miles until you get to the East Entrance. The Desert View area is right after you enter the park. The Watchtower is easy to locate as soon as you enter. It is a popular spot because this is the first viewpoint you can visit as you enter the park. So expect some crowds.