If this is your family’s first trip to Grand Canyon, you can combine learning about the canyon with nature walks during a ranger program or on a private outing with an instructor from the Grand Canyon Field Institute. Many ranger programs are suitable for children, and some are specifically designed with kids in mind. The park’s Junior Ranger Program is a good way to keep kids focused as they participate in hikes or activities to earn a certificate and badge. Five different awards and program levels target age groups from 4–14.

Though all hikes leading into the canyon are steep (with drop-offs that will terrify most parents), many destinations partway down the trail are manageable day-hikes for kids. The Rim Trail is relatively level and easy to hike a section at a time, making it an ideal place to teach younger children about nature. Trail brochures picked up near Yavapai Observation Station can be used to identify plants or animals. Seeing a squirrel or a mule deer can stimulate a conversation about why it’s important not to feed animals or to get too close while taking a photo.

If wild animals are making themselves scarce, mules are a sure thing. Head for the Old Stone Corral near Bright Angel Lodge to see mule riders saddle up in the morning, or take an afternoon walk to the historic barns to watch the mules eat their dinner. Mule trips to Phantom Ranch don’t have an age limit, but they do require that all riders be at least 4 feet, 7 inches tall. On the North Rim, hour-long mule tours are suitable for kids as young as seven.

If your youngster is crazy about trains, the Grand Canyon Railway has daily departures between Williams and Grand Canyon, a trip of just over two hours. If a train ride isn’t on your agenda, you can watch the train arrive or depart from the depot in the afternoon. Or try a smooth-water float on the Colorado River, a half-day suitable for kids as young as four.

Kids love climbing the winding staircase to the top of the Watchtower at Desert View, the highlight of a 25-mile scenic drive along the canyon’s South Rim. En route is Tusayan Ruin, an 800-year-old pueblo that can be viewed from a gentle loop trail.

The South Rim in particular has so many activities and sights that it’s easy for kids (and adults) to get overwhelmed. Plan to disengage from the bustle for some quiet time, whether it’s a shady rest in the ponderosa pine forest around the village or a nap in your room. If all else fails, take the kids to the Grand Canyon IMAX movie in nearby Tusayan, guaranteed to mesmerize them for 34 whole minutes.