Because it’s the first canyon overlook inside the South Entrance Station, Mather Point is one of the busiest spots along the rim. Though high-season crowds can be discouraging, your perseverance will be rewarded with canyon views with a stunning foreground of limestone platforms and pillars. The paved path descends to the top of the pillars, where you can stand and take in one of the canyon’s loveliest perspectives.

For many, this is the first sight of the canyon, and it’s a beautiful introduction, well worth a return visit at sunset or sunrise. The point is named in honor of Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service.

If you’re lucky enough to get a parking spot at the overlook, leave your car and walk across the road to the Canyon View Information Plaza (CVIP). The CVIP is a complex of outdoor exhibits, shuttle stops, restrooms, a bookstore, and a visitor center—everything a canyon visitor could want, except parking, which is why you left the car across the road at the overlook.

With exhibits on hiking, geology, weather, and other canyon topics, plus daily ranger programs introducing the canyon, it’s easy to lose track of time here. Just remember the one-hour parking limit at Mather Point, and vow to return via the park’s free shuttle system or the mile-long walk on the Greenway.