Note: Though only a few miles apart, it takes several hours to drive from Grand Canyon’s South Rim to the remote North Rim. My recommended hikes are divided accordingly.

South Rim:
🥾 Bright Angel Trail: the Grand Canyon’s most popular trail departs from Grand Canyon Village and descends steeply into the canyon. This trail is an out-and-back, so you have full control in how far you want to hike before turning around. Popular turnaround points include the 1.5-Mile Resthouse (3.2 miles, 1,184 feet elev. gain), the 3-Mile Resthouse (6.0 miles, 2,112 feet elev. gain), and Havasupai Gardens (8.9 miles, 3,034 feet elev. gain).
🥾 South Kaibab Trail: the Grand Canyon’s other most popular trail offers sweeping vistas of the canyon. Like Bright Angel, this trail is an out-and-back. There are several popular turnaround points, including Ooh Aah Point (1.8 miles, 685 feet elev. gain), Cedar Ridge (3.1 miles, 1,181 feet elev. gain), and Skeleton Point (5.8 miles, 2,027 feet elev. gain). For the best views, hike this trail in the morning!
🥾 Rim Trail (up to 12.7 miles, 583 feet elev. gain): The Rim Trail traverses much of the South Rim, from South Kaibab Trailhead on the east end to Hermits Rest on the west end. The trail offers easy walks and great views of the canyon, and the park’s shuttle system makes it easy to cater the trail’s distance to your ability.
🥾 Rim-to-River-to-Rim (16.6 miles, 4,747 feet elev. gain): This epic all-day hike takes the South Kaibab Trail all the way to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. From there, you can return to the South Rim via Bright Angel Trail. 

North Rim:
🥾 North Kaibab Trail: Though less-visited than its counterpart on the South Rim, the North Kaibab Trail is arguably more beautiful, more scenic, and more memorable per mile. The NPS describes the trail passing “through every ecosystem to be found between Canada New Mexico.” The trail is an out-and-back. Popular turnaround spots include Supai Tunnel (3.4 miles, 1,377 feet elev. gain), Cypress Point (6.5 miles, 2,555 feet elev. gain), and Roaring Springs (11.0 miles, 3,517 feet elev. gain).
🥾 Rim-to-Rim (24.0 miles, 5,150 feet elev. gain): One of America’s most sought-after hikes involves an all-day trek starting at the North Rim and ending at the South Rim. From the North Rim, you can take the North Kaibab Trail all the way to Phantom Ranch near the Colorado River. From there, it’s recommended to return to the South Rim via the Bright Angel Trail.

🌄 Mather Point: Grand Canyon National Park’s most popular viewpoint is a short walk from the park’s visitor center. It’s a great place to watch sunrise and sunset… something that everyone knows. Be prepared to face crowds here, but enjoy the view!
🗼 Desert View Watchtower: At the east end of the park, this famous watchtower rises 70 feet above the canyon rim. Inside, you can find beautiful Native American-inspired artwork and breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon.
🚌 Hermit Road: West of Grand Canyon Village, Hermit Road passes by a collection of viewpoints overlooking the canyon. The road is accessible via a shuttle, which stops at every viewpoint until reaching Hermits Rest, which features a gift shop and trailhead. If you’re pressed for time, prioritize stops at Powell Point, Mojave Point, and Pima Point.
🏘️ Grand Canyon Village: Sitting on the South Rim, most of the national park’s lodging, camping, and food options reside in this historic village. While you’re visiting the park, check out the Yavapai Geology Museum, Lookout Studio, and Kolb Studio, along with the historic hotels in the village.
🌲 Visit the North Rim: At Grand Canyon National Park, most visitors never visit the North Rim. However, those who make the journey will find incredible views, diverse environments, and peaceful solitude with nature. Here, you can find a campground, visitor center, the North Kaibab Trail, and several viewpoints.
🌄 Watch a Sunrise or Sunset: At the Grand Canyon, there are no shortage of incredible places to watch a sunrise or sunset. For sunrise, rangers recommend Yaki Point, Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and Hopi Point. For sunset, they recommend Lipan Point, Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and Hopi Point.
🔭 Stargazing: Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning it sees exceptional night skies. Mather Point, Desert View, and Moran Point are all excellent places to view the night sky.
🎒 Backpacking: Hiking into the Grand Canyon and staying overnight is an unforgettable experience. There are enough trails and backcountry campsites in the canyon to keep you coming back again and again. Planning your trip and nabbing a backcountry permit can be tricky, so be sure to reference this guide for more details.
🛌 Stay at Phantom Ranch: Phantom Ranch is a group of cabins sitting near the Colorado River along the Kaibab Trail. The historic cabins offer comfortable accommodations for those willing to hike into the canyon. If you don’t want to hike, you can alternatively ride a mule to the ranch! For many, staying at Phantom Ranch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While it’s technically possible to get a reservation through conventional means, most people book their stay via a lottery.

🌊 Havasu Falls: Supai village sits inside Havasu Canyon (a branch of the Grand Canyon), outside the national park. The village is home to Havasu Falls, which has become a world-famous hiking destinations due to its beautiful blue waters. The Havasupai Tribe manages access to the falls. To reach the falls, you must acquire a reservation and stay overnight at Havasupai Campground or the lodge. These reservations can be very hard to acquire, but are totally worth the effort. The trailhead for Supai village is at Hualapai Hilltop, which is a 4-hour drive from the South Rim.
🌉 Grand Canyon Skywalk: This popular tourist destination is a 4-hour drive from the South Rim. The skywalk allows visitors to walk over the edge of the canyon. Be warned: tickets are expensive, and wait times can be long.
🏞️ Horseshoe Bend: This impressive canyon – upstream from the Grand Canyon along the Colorado River – resides in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. A short hike from the parking lot near the bend takes you to an overlook, photos of which have become popular on social media.
🏞️ Antelope Canyon: This famous, beautiful slot canyon sits 2.5 hours from the South Rim. Visits to this canyon can be paired with a stop in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
🏞️ Petrified Forest National Park: One of Arizona’s lesser-appreciated national parks is a 3-hour drive from the South Rim. The park features a number of short hikes that navigate beautiful desert landscapes and a collection of ancient, petrified wood.
🏜️ Monument Valley: One of the most iconic landscapes in cinema resides in northeastern Arizona, along the Utah border. Impressive red buttes, mesas, and pinnacles dot this desert landscape, which has featured in countless movies over the last century. You can easily spend a full day here exploring the valley.
⛰️ Humphreys Peak: Arizona’s tallest peak is visible from the Grand Canyon, sitting just north of Flagstaff. A 10-mile hike leads to the summit of this prominent peak.
🏙️ Flagstaff, AZ: Those looking for some fun in the city should look no further than Flagstaff, the closest major city to the Grand Canyon.
🏞️ Zion National Park: Utah’s heaven on earth is a 4.5-hour drive from the South Rim and 3 hours from the North Rim. The park houses famous hikes like Angels Landing and the Narrows and offers some of the most incredible scenery in the country.

📅 When to Visit: Though most people visit the Grand Canyon during the summer, spring and fall are actually the best times to visit. In April, May, October, and November, the temperatures along the South Rim are cool, and the temperatures in the inner canyon are pleasant. Therefore, spring and fall are the best seasons for hiking into the canyon. To visit the North Rim, summer is your best bet.
⌚ How Long to Visit: Most people only visit the Grand Canyon for 1 day, which only allows them enough time to see a few viewpoints and walk along the rim. If you to enjoy the park to its fullest, plan for 2-3 days, or longer if you’re hoping to backpack.
🚗 How to Visit: The South Rim is only 1.5 hours by car from Flagstaff, AZ, and the North Rim is 4 hours from it. Both sides of the canyon are easy to reach by car. If you’re flying into the area, fly into either Las Vegas or Phoenix.
🛏️ Where to Stay: Grand Canyon National Park offers a plethora of camping and lodging opportunities. For camping, Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, and North Rim Campground all offer reservable campsites. At the South Rim, lodging options include El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Yavapai Lodge. At the North Rim, Grand Canyon Lodge is the only lodging option. Make sure to book lodging well in advance.
🧳 What to Bring: In addition to your usual camping and hiking gear, be sure to bring plenty of water capacity. If you plan to hike into the canyon, carry at least 3 liters with you. The further you plan to hike, the more water you’ll need. Don’t forget sunscreen either.

✅ DO bring plenty of water. If you’re walking along the rim, carry 1-2 liters with you. If you’re hiking into the canyon, carry at least 3 liters… more if you intend to hike far.
✅ DO check weather conditions before embarking on long backcountry adventures in the canyon. Hot temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms in the summer can be life-threatening.
✅ DO make the effort to get away from the crowds. The North Rim, inner canyon hiking trails, and less-popular viewpoints are all great places to avoid the crowds.
✅ DO get an early start to your day, especially in the summer. That way, you can avoid crowds and beat the heat. 
❌ DON’T underestimate the elevation gain that comes with hiking into the canyon. Though it’s easy to hike into the canyon, it’s much harder to hike back out of it. 
❌ DON’T feed wildlife. Plenty of people who come to Grand Canyon National Park break this rule. It endangers the wildlife and it endangers you… DON’T DO IT.