What's not to love when you witness a world wonder? Came…read moreduring the week not much traffic on a Thursday it was perfection. Plenty of parking and limitless views. It's labeled as a park yet it house many things: a hotel, a store, a deli, cabins, a train etc. I did a nice picnic under a tree took in the sights and enjoyed the canyon. The photos don't it justice.

My brother and I spent two days at the park. The first day, we came up with the Grand Canyon…read morerailway, (see separate review), and then we came up to spend another day at the park. Both days were absolutely amazing. I don't care how many times you've been to the Grand Canyon, when you see it again, it's just like seeing it for the first time. Even though I've been to the canyon before, when I saw it for the first time this trip, I literally gasped at the beauty. The vastness of the canyon, the different colors, pictures do not do the place justice. The park is very large, and the drive along the south rim of the canyon is 20 to 25 miles long, with plenty of places to stop, and just view the magnificence of nature. If you want, you can park in one location, and then there are free, shuttle buses to get you around the park. I haven't been to the north rim, which is also part of the national park, but it is supposed to be just as beautiful, but more remote. The north rim is closed during the winter months due to snow. You can hike, or you can ride a bicycle in the park, which they rent. You can hike down into the canyon, or even ride a mule to the bottom of the canyon and spend the night. There's camping available, plenty of places to stay, (we stayed at the Yavapai Lodge,), and some of the hotels, like the El Tovar, are just gorgeous inside. There are snack bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, grocery stores, and a very nice visitor center. Yes, the park does get busy in the summer season, and there can be long lines, but there are lots and lots of places to go, and things to see. A little patience will go a long way. The entrance fee is $30 per car load, (It is quite a bit more expensive if you are not a US resident,) and you can also purchase national park passes, as well. I will never ever get tired of coming here....

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.

One of our favorite spots to view the Grand Canyon. The best viewpoint along Desert View Drive is…read moreat the Watchtower where the Desert View Visitor Center is located. If you are headed up to Page, AZ...then Desert Drive would be the best route to take. The road leads all the way east to Cameron, AZ. From there you can take Hwy 89 North to Page or South to Flagstaff. Anyways, there are other view points to stop at Desert View Drive. All the viewpoints give terrific photo opportunities of the Grand Canyon. There is also the Tusayan Museum along this route as well. Most tourists only go to the main Grand Canyon Visitor Center. If you have the time, then check out the sites along Desert View Drive! You won't be disappointed.

I had been to the Grand Canyon before and wanted to check out a part I had not been to yet. We…read moreentered from the east coming from Flagstaff and it was well worth the extra drive. We stopped at the towers first and enjoyed the short paved walk and view. My favorite stop was by far the Grandview Point. There were lots of good photo ops and you can do a short hike that drops you down a few feet in elevation. Parking is tough at this stop as the lot is small, so we had to circle a few times (we were here on a Sunday). However, all of the points along the Desert View Drive are close to where you park so walking is kept to a minimum.

If one thinks hiking nine miles in or out of the Grand Canyon is as easy as walking to the store,…read morethink again. Located a few hundred yards from where we are staying, the Bright Angel Trail is one of the superhighways, with its heavenly name making it the most well-known trail. It follows an old Native American route zigzagging down a vertical wall and then cuts across the flat plateau to the river from the South Rim. Early this morning while the temperature was still cool, my partner and I took only a short distance. The trail was safe. We've seen hikers of all shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness levels. It was well-maintained, easy to follow, consistently about 4 feet wide, and has wider sections for passing. The steepness of the trail is very misleading on the way down. Plan on taking twice as long to hike up as it took to hike down. We enjoyed the views, which can be more spectacular in the canyon than from the rim. There is something about actually being in the canyon that is more memorable and moving than being on the rim.

This is the most popular hiking trail into Grand Canyon! Even though it is well-traversed, this is…read morealso a dangerous trail for people who are not prepared, as it's wayy easier hiking down...but you have to contend with the hike up. Also, there is limited water on the trail (and sometimes there are pipeline breaks), with not a lot of shade. With hot weather, this could be a deadly hike. The trail head has bathrooms and a water filling station. Definitely use them before hiking down. This hike is well maintained, with mules sharing the trail. You can see them...or at least smell them as they leave poop on the trail. I hiked down to the Second Tunnel (1.8 miles) and it wasn't too bad, but I was unfortunately limited on time. It seems past this point the crowds thinned out. Havasupai Gardens at 9 miles round trip is the most the rangers recommend as a day trip. I loved how the view of the Canyon changed as I descended the trail!

If you really want to understand the Grand Canyon, you don't stand at the rim. You step off it…read more South Kaibab Trail is not subtle about what it is. There's no easing into it, no gentle introduction. Within minutes, you're descending through tight switchbacks, the rim already pulling away behind you, and that comfortable "overlook" perspective is gone. You're in it now. What makes this trail different is the exposure. It rides out along a ridge, not tucked away or hidden, so the views are constant. There's no point where it closes in or gives you a break. Every step opens something new. Layers of rock stacked like pages, colors shifting depending on where the sun hits, distances that feel close until you realize they're anything but. Early on, you hit that first real vantage point where everything just drops away in front of you. It's the kind of moment that interrupts whatever you were thinking about. You stop, not because you planned to, but because you don't really have a choice. And then you keep going. The trail pulls you downward at a steady, unapologetic grade. It's not technical, but it demands attention. Your footing matters. Your pacing matters. Knees start to take notice on the way down, and somewhere in the back of your mind, you're already aware that every step you're taking is one you'll have to reverse later. There's almost no shade. That's not an exaggeration. Once the sun is up, it owns this trail. That's why going early isn't just a good idea, it's the difference between a great hike and a brutal one. In the early hours, the light cuts across the canyon at an angle, pulling out depth and contrast you just don't get later. Shadows stretch, colors deepen, and the entire landscape feels more alive. By midday, it flattens out and the heat starts pressing down in a way that changes the tone completely. As you descend, the canyon shifts around you. The rock underfoot changes color and texture, walls rise and fall, and the sense of scale keeps slipping just out of reach. You try to make sense of distance, but it doesn't behave the way you expect. What looks like a short stretch can take far longer than it should. Landmarks move. Perspectives lie. There's a point where the noise fades out. Fewer people, more space, just the sound of your own steps and the occasional wind moving through the canyon. It's quiet in a way that feels earned. Not empty, just stripped down to what matters. And then there's the reality check. Going down is the easy part. It always is. The climb back up is where this trail makes its case. The grade doesn't soften. The exposure doesn't change. It's you, the incline, and however well you managed your energy on the way down. It's not impossible, not even close, but it demands respect. You feel it in your legs, your lungs, your pace slowing whether you like it or not. But that's also where something shifts. You're not just looking at the canyon anymore. You're moving through it, working against it, understanding it in a physical way that no overlook can give you. The scale stops being abstract. It becomes something you measure in effort, in time, in breath. By the time you reach the top again, you've earned a completely different perspective than the one you started with. This trail doesn't offer comfort. It offers clarity. It strips things down to effort, environment, and awareness. And in return, it gives you one of the most direct, honest ways to experience the Grand Canyon. Five stars, no hesitation.

I have done Bright Angle Trial a couple of times in the past to the bottom of the Grand Canyon…read more South Kaibab is the other big trail into the Canyon. Over the summer, we camped at the rim and decided to hike South Kaibab a little ways early in the morning before it got too hot. We ended up hiking all the way to Skeleton Point and back. As it approached afternoon, it started to get a little warm. I ended drinking all the water in my CamelBak just before I got to the top. The temperature was climbing fast and I had to use my cooling towel to stay cool. I got to say that I really gained a lot of respect for this Canyon during this short summer hike that I did. The South Kaibab Trail is a 7 mile hiking trail in Grand Canyon National Park that leads to the Colorado River. I like this trail because you get 360-degree views of the canyon after you pass Skeleton Point. The trail is mostly shaded until you reach Ooh Aah Point. Then you are out in the open. Up next is Cedar Ridge at 1.5 miles and then Skeleton Point at 3 miles. After that is the Tipoff and Black Suspension Bridge as you are descending into the Canyon. There is no water on the trail until you get to the bottom of the canyon at Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. So bring plenty of it along with snacks, sunscreen, etc. The hike is 15 miles (24 km) roundtrip to Phantom Ranch and will take at least 2 days to complete. If you get to the beginning of the trail early enough, you can probably find parking in the parking lot or on the side of the road. But it fills up quick. Another option is to take the free shuttle to the trailhead from the South Rim Visitor's Center. Both water and restrooms are located at the beginning of the trail. The hike is usually a little busy with people to start off with, but many turn around after reaching Ooh Aah Point. It is also fairly steep with lots of switchbacks, so bring poles if you need them for assistance. Be prepared for a climb on the way back to the parking lot during that last mile. Also keep an eye out for Mules as they use this trail regularly. My recent hike was in June and I saw many people with little or no water. I also saw people with footwear that should not be worn on this trail. It blew me away how uneducated and naive people are about doing these hikes into the canyon. I understand lots of tourists come here, but people need to be a little more careful when hiking the Grand Canyon. Many of the deaths that occur every year in this Canyon can be avoided. On the day that I visited and hiked this trail, they reported several heat related incidents that evening and one death. South Kaibab Trail is a great hike. Enjoy, make a plan and be responsible.

I did an overnight at the Grand Canyon and booked one of those guided sunset bus tours that took…read moreyou down Hermit Road. It was a fun tour and the tour guide shared lots of information about the canyon along the way. Hermit Road is a pretty popular drive on the south rim that is about 7 miles long and begins just west of Grand Canyon Village. It doesn't take too long to drive from one end to the other. What makes Hermit Road popular are all the sightseeing stops and hiking trails along the way. There are many overlook points on Hermit Road. The ones that I stopped at and were Trailview Overlook, Hopi Point and Mohave Point. Trailview Overlook gives you a view of the switchbacks of Bright Angel Trail. Hopi Point gives you nice views of the Colorado River. Diminishing View at Hopi Point is an interesting perspective of the Grand Canyon because the view is impaired due to air pollutants. The shadows on the canyon walls from the sunset made for great photos. Mohave Point is one of the best spots to see the sun set and rise in the Grand Canyon. I got to witness the sun disappear behind a plateau. It was so beautiful and fun to photograph. I saw a cephalopod fossil nearby which proves that the top layer was once underwater millions of years ago. If you stop at Pima Point, you can hear the faint sounds of the Colorado River. There is a gift store and hiking trails near the end of Hermit Road at Hermit's Rest. Hermit Road is definitely worth the quick drive if you near the village area. It's good for driving, biking, hiking or you can take the shuttle. If you do take the free public park shuttle, it stops at every overlook point.

The most incompetent bus service. This is why America can't have nice things. If you're planning on…read morevisiting Hermit's Rest by taking the Red Line bus, ensure that you have plenty of time to wait for the bus. You'll be waiting hours. They also don't load the buses properly. They leave multiple seats vacant and don't allow anyone to stand. This ensures that they'll fit 15 people per bus.

Great place to get some wifi and work/watch a show on your computer/catch up with your friends and…read morefamily online at. Clean restrooms and it's super cozy. Outside seating available for those nice days when you don't want to be cooped up inside while working on your computer. Gym also available I believe for Grand Canyon Village residents only.

This locals only joint is a great place to work out, meet up for sand volleyball, a softball or…read morebaseball game, ping pong or movie nights. Yoga, Zomba, Ballet, children's music, cooking and many other classes are offered as well as recreational trips to places like Sedona, Monument Valley, Prescott, Vegas, Phoenix and Flagstaff! Some of the trips are geared specifically towards Spring Training, photography, hiking or a fair, while others are geared towards errands. The Gym has been expanded so there is more room now. There is a new playground outside, and talk of a disc golf course. (Okay, it may be mostly me talking about the disc golf!) Membership is $10 a month or $60 a year. Wow is that a quarter of the cost of a monthly gym membership in Boston! The New Rec Center manager, Jake, is very open to more adventurous trips and activities, and has already ordered in some cool new equipment for the gym. (Just make sure you introduce yourself to him before demanding new services!) See the Face book page for current events! Again this service is for local residents of Grand Canyon Village and Tusayan ONLY. Mon: 5:30 am - 9:00 pm Tues: 6:00 am - 9:00 pm Wed: 5:30 am - 9:00 pm Thurs: 6:00 am - 9:00 pm Fri: 5:30 am - 9:00 pm Sat - Sun: 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

This review is actually of the wider view of Gran Canyon in general. The train trip from Williams…read morewas an experience itself, and the landscapes are exraorinary.

No bathrooms after a 2 hour train ride is not cool. However the prices of tourist items was pretty…read morereasonable

This trail is very nice for everyone of all ages and for leashed pets! It's pretty well defined so…read moreyou won't get lost. Most of the trail is paved and some sections are even accessible. It's pretty flat. I would say it's great for a stroll, walking at whatever pace you want for quiet views of the inner canyon. The only drawback is that there's no water on the trail, so be prepared. There are primitive toilets along the trail. At the end of the trail at Hermit's Rest there's running water (and the gift shop with snacks). There are nine scenic overlooks along this trail, although all along the trail you will see amazing views. If you would rather bike, you can bike on the road that kind of follows the rim, or take the shuttle. There are also shuttle stops at various points, so if you only want to do a portion of the Trail that's also doable.

Walking the Rim Trail was easily our favorite part of visiting the Grand Canyon. It's the perfect…read moreway to take in those iconic South Rim views, especially since it's dog-friendly! The path is mostly paved, though we did hit a few moderately steep sections along the way.  There aren't water stations or restrooms directly on the trail, so definitely fill up and use the facilities at the popular stops whenever you can. We drove in and found parking near the lodges (no parking fees). While there are benches and shuttle stations to rest at, keep in mind that dogs aren't allowed on the shuttles, so you'll be walking the whole way back if traveling with your pup. We visited in early March and were definitely glad to have jackets for the chilly weather.

Perfect spot for those wanting the full Grand Canyon experience in the south rim. The area features…read morehistoric stays like El Tovar, Bright Angel and cabins, plus dining and gift shops. The highlight was walking a few miles of the Rim Trail with our dog, it's such a pet-friendly way to soak in those stunning canyon views. It gets a bit chilly up here so I was glad to have my jacket during our early March trip. There's clean restrooms near the bus drop off area, but not on the actual trail. There is no fee for parking, but finding an open space can be difficult during peak hours. A truly lovely time spent here!

Beautiful park with plenty of rangers to answer questions. Easy to walk around to gift shops,…read morerestaurants and the hotel which is a must see!