SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS

THE SOUTH RIM

Grand Canyon Village

You’ll enjoy not only many great views into the depths, but also a series of historic buildings along the rim. Once you’ve found a parking spot, head out on the Rim Trail to experience them. Kolb Studio, at the start of the Bright Angel Trail, exhibits art in a hall where Emery Kolb entertained tourists with a river-running movie from the early 1900s to 1976. A bit to the east, the 1914 stone Lookout Studio seemingly grows out of the Canyon rim; you can admire the architecture and walk out to the observation platform. The nearby 1935 Bright Angel Lodge is worth a look for its rustic log lobby; also see the exhibits in the Bright Angel History Room and the Hopi murals in the lounge. Scout the skies and depths behind the lodge for California condors that often visit. A short stroll farther east leads to El Tovar, the grand hotel of the South Rim since 1905; step inside to see the lobby. Next door, the Hopi House reflects Hopi architecture influences inside and out; sales exhibits on two floors have the best selection of Native American work at the Canyon.

The crowds thin a bit as you continue east on the Rim Trail to Yavapai Observation Station. Panels inside identify many of the Canyon features from this breath-taking vantage point; you can also look at the geology exhibits and shop for books. Mather Point, perhaps the best known of all in the park, is an easy walk farther east on the Rim Trail; Canyon View Information Plaza, with the visitors center and a large book store, lies just to the south.

Hermits Rest

From the edge of Grand Canyon Village, Hermit Road winds west eight miles along the rim (with many fine viewpoints) to Hermits Rest, an atmospheric stone building. The handy shuttle lets you hop on and off to admire the Canyon perspectives and to walk sections of the Rim Trail.

Desert View Drive

More viewpoints, including the South Rim’s highest, lie along this 25-mile drive east of Grand Canyon Village. On the way you can stop at Tusayan Ruin, a prehistoric pueblo; a self-guided trail and a small museum tell about the people who lived here. The magnificent stone Watchtower, patterned after those found in the Southwest, provides a lofty viewpoint; interior chambers house sacred Hopi artwork and replicas of ancient petroglyphs.

THE NORTH RIM

Bright Angel Point

Your North Rim adventure can begin here at road’s end. A short trail with some steps continues out to the very tip with an amazing view down the long and deep Bright Angel Canyon. The South Rim lies just beyond, and the peaks of the San Francisco Volcanic Field break the horizon. On the way back, turn left on the Transept Trail for more views into this tributary of Bright Angel Canyon. Climb up the steps into the spacious Sun Room and lobby of the 1937 Grand Canyon Lodge, a magnificent log and stone structure. The North Rim Visitor Center is just north of the lodge.

Cape Royal Scenic Drive

This paved drive leads to lofty viewpoints, short hiking trails, a prehistoric pueblo, and a huge natural arch. There’s enough to see and do for an entire day. Point Imperial, on a side road to the left, commands a view of the eastern Grand Canyon from an elevation of 8,803 feet. It’s the highest viewpoint of the Grand Canyon, and it will take you a while to absorb the spectacle.

Continuing out to Cape Royal, you’ll pass viewpoints, Wahalla Glades Pueblo, and several short hiking trails. A .6-mile-round-trip trail at the end of the road continues past Angels Window to a fantastic panorama at Cape Royal above a great curve of the Colorado River.

Point Sublime

With a sense of adventure and a high-clearance vehicle, you can drive out to this aptly named viewpoint 17 miles west of Bright Angel Point. Here you’ll see a Canyon panorama that’s unsurpassed! Geologist Clarence Dutton and artist William Holmes came here in the 1880s; you can read Dutton’s description of this spot and see Holmes’s three-part Panorama from Point Sublime in the book Tertiary History, reprinted by the University of Arizona Press.

Toroweap

Sheer canyon walls drop nearly 3,000 feet from rim to river at the overlook here. It’s not a place that you’ll ever forget! Volcanoes and lava flows at Toroweap recall the Canyon’s fiery past. Toroweap lies far to the west of Bright Angel Point (145 miles) and you’ll have a long drive on unpaved roads (about four hours). Bring all supplies, including water. It’s best done with a high-clearance vehicle, but cautious drivers can make it in a car.