10 Nature & Parks in Grand Canyon National Park That You Shouldn't Miss

March 2, 2022 Merry Kessler

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Restaurants in Grand Canyon National Park

1. Inner Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ +1 800-453-9107 http://www.hitthetrail.com/the-inner-gorge?doing_wp_cron=1341860607.0962789058685302734375
Excellent
95%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 83 reviews

Inner Canyon

Visitors can enter the inner canyon by hiking, mule or raft, and can stay overnight.

2. South Kaibab Trail

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/SouthKaibabTrail.pdf
Excellent
87%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,687 reviews

South Kaibab Trail

One of the two superhighways into the Canyon, the other being the Bright Angel Trail, this path runs along a ridge offering stunning views. During the summer, visitors are advised to bring at least two quarts of water along because it can get very hot and the trail offers no shade.

Reviewed By Traveling007Texan

My son and I hiked down the South Kaibab Trail and spent the evening at Phantom Ranch before hiking up the Bright Angel Trail the next morning. Hiking the the S. Kaibab was relatively easy as it is downhill the entire way. THERE IS NO WATER so you must carry enough with you. We took 3 liters each and that was plenty. We made it in 4.5 hours taking our time at a steady pace without breaks. It is a beautiful trail with breathtaking views around every turn. I would recommend hiking down the South Kaibab and back up the Bright Angel, as it has water along the middle and upper trail. It's very hot in July but downhill all the way!

3. Bright Angel Trail

Begins near the main Visitor Center complex, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023 +1 928-638-7888 http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/index.htm
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2,318 reviews

Bright Angel Trail

One of the two superhighways of the Grand Canyon, this well maintained and popular trail offers breathtaking vistas, some shaded areas.

Reviewed By 60Kelly - Sydney, Australia

We started the walk down at 5am knowing we'd be returning in the heat of the day. After 2.5hours we reached Indian Gardens, a luscious oasis on the canyon floor. We replenished our water bottles, ate snack and at 9am started off to the rest house about 4 miles back up the trail. The sun rose high in the sky,l shade became less and our pace slowed on the very steep climb up. we found any shade we could to take refuge and rehydrate although this slowed our return.. At the 3 mile rest house we found a little shade, slight breeze, and fresh water for our bottles, had another snack and wet our bandanas and hats and set off for the next resthouse 1.5 miles further up the trail. We found ourselves, along with many others, stopping every few hundred feet under any amount of shade. We drank more water and pushed on to the final resthouse 1.5miles from the rim to drink more water and cool down. By the time we reached the rim 10 hours after starting out we could barely put one foot after the other. So to anyone wanting to go down to the canyon floor I'd say do it, start as early in the day as possible if you go in summer, prepare well, take notice of all the warning signs about the hike, take plenty of water and snacks then enjoy the vistas on the way down, the welcoming Indian Gardens at the bottom and appreciate the friendships you will make on the way back up as you encourage each other to get back to the rim safely. It is definitely worth every step.

4. Grand Canyon North Rim

Highway 67, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (928) 638-7888 https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm
Excellent
85%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2,349 reviews

Grand Canyon North Rim

Word of mouth has that the more remote, harder to get to and therefore less crowded North Rim offers a more authentic Canyon experience and better views. However, there is no bus service on this rim and it is closed during the winter.

Reviewed By 751morganb - San Francisco, United States

A lot of people told us about the beauty of the North Rim. After a visit, we understood why. Words like spectacular and marvelous would not describe it good enough. At the same time, a lot of people told us this is worth a trip because of its remote location. We loved it, not because it was less crowded than the South Rim, but because of its beauty. When that is said, if you will not get the chance to go here, but will get the chance to visit the South or West Rim, we would say: GO! All places are amazing. If you visit the North Rim, make sure also to drive over to Cape Royal and stop on the way on the Walhalla overlook, Roosevelt Point overlook, Vista Encantada and Point Imperial. We also recommend to do the hikes Cape Royal Trail as well as Bright Angel Point.

5. Grand Canyon South Rim

Highway 64, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023 (928) 638-7888 http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 23,049 reviews

Grand Canyon South Rim

The most developed area of Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim offers amenities such as bus service, hotels and water stations, but is also more crowded than the North Rim. Scenic highlights include Pipe Creek Vista and Yavapai Point.

Reviewed By E9542BPjeffh - Toronto, Canada

Just came back from 3 days at the Grand Canyon. We did 3 wonderful tours, including the Sunset tour along the south rim to see the spectacular sunset on the canyon, the desert view tour to explore the native history, and the all day 4 by 4 inner rim tour from Williams down into the canyon to the Colorado river. What an experience....rugged beauty, hiking and wildlife....not to be missed in your lifetime!

6. Lava Falls

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ http://Tourwest.com
Excellent
92%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
8%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 12 reviews

Lava Falls

Located on the Colorado River, Lava Falls has very challenging rapids.

7. Toroweap Point

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm
Excellent
90%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 88 reviews

Toroweap Point

Acrophobes may want to avoid this overlook, on the remote part of the North Rim, which provides awesome Canyon views from sheer cliffs nearly 3,000 feet high above the Colorado River.

Reviewed By tm212 - Grimes, United States

When fires closed the access to the north rim of the Grand Canyon we were forced to get creative. This is a dirt/gravel road for 61 miles. The road gets worse the last 13 miles and ridiculous the last 3 miles. In the last 3 miles you will need a 4WD with some ground clearance. Many reviews recommend "high clearance" without saying what that mean. We drove a Toyota Highlander with a 8.1" ground clearance. We did fine with some creative driving across the boulders. Some of the reviews said that they did the drive in vehicles with as little as 5.1" of ground clearance which I wouldn't suggest. Lastly, check the weather before you go. Don't go if rain is in the forecast, When you get the restroom at the end park there if you can find a space. Just kidding, you'll likely be the only ones there. We only encountered five cars on the 122 mile round trip. Anyhow leave your vehicle by the restroom stop. If you drive down to the picnic tables you will likely bottom out. Just look at the scrapes on the rocks. This is a far different experience than the crowded South and North Rims. Of approximately 6 million annual visitors to the Grand Canyon, only about 20,000 go to Toroweap (aka Tuweap). There are no railing, only nature in it's splendor.

8. Colorado River

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ +1 800-477-7238 https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/rivers.htm
Excellent
90%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
2%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 60 reviews

Colorado River

This is the river that flows through the Grand Canyon.

Reviewed By Teanker85

We chose Grand Canyon Whitewater for our rafting experience through the Grand Canyon. We chose the 7 day motorized trip departing from Lee's Ferry (river mile 0) to Whitmore Wash takeout (mile 187). At Whitmore Wash a helicopter met us and transported us to the Bar 10 Ranch where we then showered and boarded a small fixed wing plane back to Lee's Ferry. Gear provided to us was a sleeping bag, pillow, sheet, tent and cot(s), dry bag for personal affects and day use dry bag for use during the day. Price for trip includes gear, all food and soft drinks, helicopter and plane transportation. We were a party of 28, 2 rafts with 2 staff per raft. The crew were experienced, professional, FUN, and extremely knowledgeable about the history of the canyon, the geology and river lore. The crew not only takes care of safely seeing you down the river, but guiding us on hikes to waterfalls, playing in the Little Colorado and with all that they pull off 3 amazing meals a day with all the snacks you want while on the raft. The food exceeded our expectations. Every meal was delicious with plenty of everything; meat, fresh veggies, fruit and desert. They accommodate vegetarian and gluten free diets. The company will answer all questions before and after reservations are made and I thought it particularly fun that we received instructional videos and invitations to our trip social media site in the weeks before the trip. Please consider this company for your rafting trip. They are well established, competent and fun and the trip is WELL worth the cost. The crew could not have made it better.

9. Bright Angel Point

North Rim Dr. AZ State Route 67, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86022 +1 928-638-7888 http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/day-hiking.htm
Excellent
84%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 642 reviews

Bright Angel Point

One of the highlights of the less crowded North Rim, this spot offers a breathtaking view of Bright Angel Canyon.

Reviewed By jimmD7990PN - Sedro Woolley, United States

We only spent an afternoon seeing the Grand Canyon, and this is one of startlingly gorgeous views we found. There are many more spots like this, all of them unique and mesmerizing.

10. Rim Trail

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ +1 928-638-7888 http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/RimTrail.pdf
Excellent
86%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,503 reviews

Rim Trail

Scenic and level walking trail, which is easy enough to bring the kids.

Reviewed By royv647 - Traralgon, Australia

This is truly a great walk to do , there are so many beautifull viewspots for taking photos, We spent a couple of nights in the Village and walked the trail a lot , it is easy going , a lot of it is paved .. We walked some and also used the shuttle buses that are going along the route all the time. There is a lot of information to read along the way, helps you understand the history of the place and learn about the people who made it all happen Their are toilet facilities at some of the main view spots which are very handy. This is a must thing to do , you will take home visions of a lifetime , do it

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