Welcome to Travel Tuesday! Grand Canyon National Park may well be one of, if not the most famous of the national parks. I technically went here once upon a time when I was in junior high, but I was too young to truly appreciate it then, so back we came!
One Day in Grand Canyon National Park
Address: S Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023
Parking: Find out more on parking here. (Use the free shuttles to save on fuel!)
We started off the day by going on a bike tour (more on that at next week’s Travel Tuesday!) After we ate lunch, we walked along the Trail of Time, an interpretative walking timeline trail. The trail gives you amazing views along the way and as you walk west, each meter represents ~10 million years. The one-way distance is only 2 miles, paved and flat–you can take the shuttle back to avoid retracing your steps!
Next up, we checked out Yavapai Point overlook + the geology museum, which includes lots of informative exhibits, huge viewing windows, and a bookstore/museum shop. There’s a daily 20-minute introductory talk here on how the Grand Canyon formed!
Desert View Trading Post + Watchtower
You can climb the watchtower to get an aerial view of the canyon. (It’s open from 8am – 6:30pm to climb!) They also have a deli/market, an ice cream shop (so of course we got ice cream), souvenirs, a gas station, and restrooms. There are nightly sunset talks there in the summertime starting at 6:30pm in the Desert View Amphitheater too!
You can climb the watchtower to get an aerial view of the canyon. (It’s open from 8am – 6:30pm to climb!) They also have a deli/market, an ice cream shop (so of course we got ice cream), souvenirs, a gas station, and restrooms. There are nightly sunset talks there in the summertime starting at 6:30pm in the Desert View Amphitheater too!
Navajo Point
This is a South Rim overlook that gives you beautiful views of the watchtower and the Colorado River from the highest elevation!
This is a South Rim overlook that gives you beautiful views of the watchtower and the Colorado River from the highest elevation!
Lipan Point
A vista point on Desert View Drive with views of the canyon’s inner gorge.
A vista point on Desert View Drive with views of the canyon’s inner gorge.
Tusayan Ruin
The archaeological ruins of 800-year-old ancestral Puebloan village – there are ranger-led tours here that start daily at 11am and 2pm (lasting 20 min)
The archaeological ruins of 800-year-old ancestral Puebloan village – there are ranger-led tours here that start daily at 11am and 2pm (lasting 20 min)
Moran Point
Desert View Drive viewpoint that showcases both the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon’s ancient rock formations.
Desert View Drive viewpoint that showcases both the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon’s ancient rock formations.
Grandview Point
Viewpoint overlooking the canyon and the Colorado River!
Viewpoint overlooking the canyon and the Colorado River!
The North Rim was a bit too far for us to want to drive to during this trip, but it’d be cool to go see that someday too.
- Have you ever been to Grand Canyon National Park? South Rim or North Rim?
- Do you like to do one big hike or a bunch of little ones when you go somewhere new?
22 comments
Skip to comment form
I’ve been to the Grand Canyon but haven’t heard about the Trail of Time. It sounds really cool!
Author
If you love history, it’s an especially cool trail! :]
I have loved visiting Grand Canyon and its so massive & beautiful. Both the South & North Rim is spectacular. Next time I would love to return for more days to enjoy my long hikes.
Author
Ahh, me too! We only got a day but I’d love to hike to the bottom the next time I go! *-*
Same here, I’ve been to Grand Canyon few years ago but obviously there is a lot to see. I wouldn’t mind visiting it again some day as it is simply breathtaking. The watchtower looks pretty cool too.
Author
I’d love to go back to check out the North rim someday! :D
Beautiful photos! I’ve been to the Grand Canyon but so much more I’d like to experience. I’m all about history so would love to hike the the Trail of Time to learn more.
Author
Thanks so much! You’d definitely love the Trail of Time though! It was super informative + a really cool concept! :]
Woww the Grand Canyon looks totally incredible. The beautiful coloured rick must be breathtaking in person. The Trading Post + Watchtower looks super cool too! Love an old stone building!
Author
Agreed! It was really cool to see! :]
I’ve been as well, but I was so young I hardly remember. We’d love to go and take the kids to see!
Author
Ooo, I hope you all get to go sometime! :]
Oh the Grand Canyon is definitely one on my bucket list! I’m really hoping to get there someday soon. The landscapes look incredible! It sounds like you had an amazing trip!
Author
Ahh, yay! I hope you get to go sometime! It was a super fun trip! :]
I love the Canyons! Wonderful post, saving it for when borders open
Author
Thank you! Fingers crossed that things will get under control sometime soon..
These photos are so lovely!! The Grand Canyon is so high on my list! I’m hoping to plan a road trip this summer!
Author
Thank you! I hope you have a fun road trip — where are you planning on going? :D
I would love to explore this national park, the landscape looks incredible. Glad to know you can get a lot done in a day there!
Author
We tried to pack as much as we could in! :P I hope you get to go sometime! :]
We visited the south rim back in the 1983 when we were driving home from Utah during our move back to Virginia. We visited the north rim in 2019 when we returned for vacation. We took a couple of really cool hikes down into the canyon. I’d love to hire a guide and hike from the south to the north rim some day!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Bernie Stamm, 2020 Virtual World Champion in Javelin
Author
Ooo, that’s awesome that you’ve been to both! I’d love to do the same someday (+ hiking from both would be a fun adventure too!)!