In terms of visitation, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is the nation’s second-most-popular national park (behind Great Smoky Mountains), and it’s also one of the “Big Three”– the crown jewels Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.
Although it’s a huge park, the fourth-largest outside Alaska and #11 overall, most visitation is concentrated off the scenic drives of the North Rim and South Rim. So at the South Rim especially, the roads often feel more like parking lots, actually, parking can be frustrating, and the crowded overlooks can feel like mob scenes.
Here are great ways to enjoy the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, without all the insanity. It’ll include some of the very popular spots, but with tips for enjoying them in those cases.
Go in the Winter
The North Rim is closed in the winter, but the South Rim isn’t. Winter will still be busy there, but it’s definitely the least-busy time of year except for around the holidays. Watch out for icy conditions along trails and near cliff edges.
Hit the Popular South Rim Overlooks Early in the Morning
If the crowded overlooks of midday are unbearable, go out to them at dawn. You likely won’t have them to yourself, but most of the other people there will be folks trying to get the perfect sunrise photo, and it will be a lot quieter and a lot less crowded.
Hit Bright Angel Point at Sunrise
Bright Angel Point is a popular North Rim overlook within walking distance of the campground, lodge, and visitor center, so it gets really busy. Go out at sunrise for a lot more peace, quiet, and elbow room. It’s also the best time of day to view this huge canyon that’s a mere tributary of the Grand.
Hike to Roaring Springs
After taking in the view from Bright Angel Point, start hiking down the Bright Angel Trail, which leads all the way to the Colorado River and then up to the South Rim. Roaring springs is a natural water source that feeds into Bright Angel Creek. It’s one of only a few permanent water sources inside the canyon. The round-trip hike is about 9.5 miles, and the return elevation gain is a little over 3000’, so it’s a pretty strenuous hike.
Save Cape Royal for Sunset
Cape Royal is one of the few places on the North Rim where you can see the Colorado River, so it’s naturally a popular spot. It’s best at sunset for two reasons: the colors are stunning, and the crowds really thin out because the drive back to the lodge, campground, or restaurant is long and gets you back well past dark. On the way there, make sure to take the spit to Point Imperial, which will probably be pretty packed but which still has an awesome view.
Hike to Cape Final
Not far from Cape Royal is the trailhead for the hike to Cape Final, which also reveals the river in the inner gorge. If you can plan for an extra few hours on your journey to Cape Royal, you’ll enjoy the mostly easy hike to this beautiful, uncrowded spot.
Point Sublime
If you really want to get away from people inside the North Rim area, drive the 18-mile dirt road to Point Sublime. The view of the Grand Canyon from there will absolutely explain the name of this place. High clearance is recommended, and you plan for an hour of driving each way.
Toroweap
Toroweap on the North Rim offers one of the most spectacular views of the Grand Canyon you can get to by motor vehicle. Not many ever see this view because it’s a long, bumpy drive on dirt roads starting near the tiny, remote town of Fredonia. Although the canyon isn’t as deep here as it is in the main North and South Rim areas, it’s much narrower, and the walls drop a sheer thousand feet.
Stay Overnight in the Inner Gorge
Getting into the inner canyon is a great way to experience the Grand more intimately. Most people doing so use the South Kaibab and/or Bright Angel Trail (from the South Rim). On this route, there’s a campground down at the river level. You can also hike north up the Bright Angel Trail a bit to Phantom Ranch, a hostel-like lodging option.
Hike to Indian Gardens and/or Plateau Point
If hiking to the river and back up is too much for one day or if it’s inadvisable because of extreme heat, Indian Gardens on the South Bright Angel Trail makes a nice day hike. There’s water there, and shade, so it’s a nice place to relax and cool off before making the steep hike back up. If you have the time and energy, hike from Indian Gardens on the spur to Plateau Point, which has a stunning overlook of the inner gorge.
Hike the Grandview Trail
Steep, rugged, and often narrow in places, the Grandview Trail departs the South Rim and descends to Horseshoe Mesa. It gets way less traffic than the Bright Angel-Kaibab corridor does, and it also lacks the Bright Angel’s mule trains, which bring riders and supplies to Phantom Ranch (and often leave the trail smelling really bad due to all the manure left behind).
Hike the Rim Trail
The Rim Trail is an easy trail that parallels the developed portions of the South Rim. It’s a lot less crowded than the roadside overlooks, and you’ll often have vantage points to yourself.
Bike Hermit Drive
Hermit Drive is the western end of the main road along the South Rim. From March through November, vehicular access to it and its overlooks is by shuttle bus only, but it’s open to pedestrians and cyclists. The round-trip distance is 14 miles.
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