South Rim Day Trip: How to Spend One Day at the Grand Canyon South Rim

Planning a day trip to the Grand Canyon South Rim? This one day Grand Canyon itinerary shows you the best things to do at the South Rim and other practical travel information for the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and one of the top things to see in the U.S. for both foreign and domestic visitors.

Most visitors spend at least 1-2 days in the Grand Canyon National Park even though you can spend much longer at the Grand Canyon without being able to take it all in.

This one day Grand Canyon itinerary specifically talks about how to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim, including the best viewpoints, hikes and other things to do there. You will also find practical travel information for the Grand Canyon day trip to make this a perfect and smooth day!

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Facts About the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a canyon located in the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, USA. Although it is not one of the oldest national parks in the US, it is the second most visited national park in the United States with almost 5 millions visitors, behind the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It is believed that the Grand Canyon was formed by the Colorado River carving through the canyon 5-6 million years ago. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles across and about 1 mile deep. The Grand Canyon area was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years.

Even though the Grand Canyon is not the deepest canyon in the world, it is the most famous due to its overwhelming size and its colorful landscape.

There are 4 different rims at the Grand Canyon, west, east, north and south. You can read more about the difference between these four rims later in this blog, but the most popular rim to visit is the South Rim, and this blog will show you the best things to do as a day trip to the South Rim.

How to Get To Grand Canyon South Rim

There are so many ways to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim, from driving to take a tour to a helicopter ride!

Closest Airport Grand Canyon 

The closest airport to the Grand Canyon is Flagstaff, however there may not be direct flights from many cities in the US. Other airports you can consider flying in to include Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Driving to the Grand Canyon South Rim

Below are the time it takes to drive to the South Rim of Grand Canyon from different cities nearby

• Flagstaff to South Rim: 1.5 hours
• Sedona to South Rim: 2 – 2.5 hours
• Page to South Rim: 2.5 hours
• Phoenix to South Rim: 3.5 hours
• Las Vegas to South Rim: 4 – 5 hours

Tours to the Grand Canyon South Rim

Even if you don’t drive, you can still visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are daily tours departing from Las Vegas, Sedona, etc and you usually get to spend a few hours at the Grand Canyon and visit some other nearby attractions.

Here are some tours you can check out:

• Grand Canyon Tour From Sedona
• Grand Canyon Tour from Flagstaff
• Grand Canyon Tour from Phoenix
• Grand Canyon Tour from Las Vegas

If you are staying in Vegas and doing the South Rim as a day trip from Vegas, you are in luck! The Grand Canyon South Rim tour is included for free with the 3 to 5 day Las Vegas Pass.

Taking a Scenic Train to the Grand Canyon South Rim

Did you know that you can actually take a train on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams Arizona to the Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim?

This is no regular train ride, it is actually a historical ride that was first built in 1901 to bring visitors to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Now restored and managed by private investors, this tourist train ride offers entertainment onboard as well as amazing landscape along the ride during this 2 hour ride.

You will then have more than 3 hours to explore the Grand Canyon before getting back on the return train at 3:30pm.

You can book the train ticket here.

How to Get Around the Grand Canyon South Rim

The Grand Canyon National Park makes it extremely easy for visitors to get around the South Rim. Most people either drive their own cars or take the free shuttle bus or a combination of the two. The official map of the Grand Canyon South Rim shows all the bus routes.

Get Around the Grand Canyon South Rim by Bus

There are 5 official routes for the South Rim shuttle buses, but only 3 run all year round:

• Blue Route: Connects the visitor center to the Village and the lodges. It runs all year round

• Orange Route: Connects the visitor center to a few view points east and west of the visitor center. It runs all year round. This is also the shuttle bus to access the South Kaibab Trail (discussed later)

• Hikers’ Express Shuttle – Connects Grand Canyon Village to the South Kaibab Trailhead; only in the morning all year long

• Red Route: Operates from March to November, connects the western end of the South Rim at Hermits Rest to the Bright Angel Trail head west of the Village. Has scenic views of the canyon.

• Tusayan Route Park Ride (Purple Route): Runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, connects the park entrance station to the visitor center because it’s difficult to find parking during the summer months. Once you get to the visitor center, you can take the Orange Route or the Blue Route.

Get Around the Grand Canyon South Rim by Car

Driving is a convenient and flexible way to see the South Rim of Grand Canyon. Most viewpoints long the Grand Canyon South Rim have parking lots, with the exception of Yaki Point, the South Kaibab Trail as well as Hermit Road (west of the Village).

With Hermit Road, you can drive to the different viewpoints during the winter months (December, January and February). To access the Hermit Road during March to November, you will need to take the Red Bus from the Village.

Keep in mind that the South Rim is long and it’s hard to tell the distance on the Map. But if you are trying to get to Desert View (the far east side of the South Rim) from the Village (west of the visitor’s center), that will take about 40 minutes.

Plan your travels accordingly! You can use Google Maps to help you plan and calculate travel time. I would definitely recommend having some buffer time during the summer month because there will be traffic and slow cars on the road.

Major Areas of Grand Canyon South Rim

Once you enter the Grand Canyon National Park, there are several areas you can visit and park your car. This official map of the Grand Canyon shows in detail all you need to know about the different areas of the South Rim.

Starting from the west, the areas you should know about include:

• Hermits Rest
• The Village
• Visitor Center
• Desert View

Hermits Rest

Hermits Rest is the most western part of the South Rim at the Grand Canyon. It is connected to the Village by the red bus route (not operating in the winter).

You will find a gift shop, snack bar at Hermits Rest. Between Hermits Rest and The Village, there are a number of viewpoints, giving you an amazing view of the Grand Canyon.

Since it is very east, it is not as crowded as the Village or the Visitor Center.

The Village

To the west of the South Rim is the Village. The Village is a small “town” in the South Rim that has lodging, restaurants, clinic, visitor center, several viewpoints and the trailhead to the Bright Angel Trail. There is also a blue bus that connects the Village to the Visitors Center.

There are a few lodges at The Village, and you can also park your car at the Village (and explore using the blue route bus to the Visitor Center).

Market Plaza

The Market Plaza is the business center of the Village with grocery store, bank, post office and is located right next to the Yavapai Lodge. You will find bathrooms, wifi, ATMs, and food at Market Plaza.

Market Plaza is connected to the Village and Visitor Center by the blue shuttle route.

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

The visitor center is usually the first stop at the South Rim after visitors enter the Grand Canyon National Park. There are 4 parking lots at the visitor center and it is right next to the famous Mather Point (I think the Mather Point is famous only because it’s right next to the Visitor Center).

The visitor center provides information on the park, the shuttle bus information, hiking information as well as historical information of the Grand Canyon and exhibitions. There is also a gift shop at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

You can take the blue shuttle or the orange shuttle from the Visitor Center.

Desert View

Desert View is 40km (25 miles) east of the Visitor Center. It is the most eastern area of the South Rim.

There is a watch tower at the desert view-point as well as the Tusayan Museum. This viewpoint also provides a good view of the Colorado River.

There is a gas station (one of the 2 in the Grand Canyon national Park), bathroom, gift shop and general store at Desert View. Desert View is one of the best spots along the South Rim to watch the sunset at the Grand Canyon.

There is no shuttle between the Visitor Center and Desert View, so you will need to have a car to explore this area of the South Rim.

Things to Do and See at the Grand Canyon South Rim in One Day

Below I will list everything there is to do at the Grand Canyon, but you will need to pick and choose what activities and viewpoints you want to add to your 1 day South Rim itinerary.

Viewpoints at Grand Canyon South Rim via Desert View Drive

You are probably curious on what is the best viewpoint on the South Rim, but in reality almost all the viewpoints along the South Rim are great.

From the Visitor Center going east, there are 6 major viewpoints:

• Mather Point (the most popular viewpoint because it is at the visitor center)

• Yaki Point (only accessible by the orange route)

• Grandview Point

• Moran Point

• Lipan Point

• Navajo Point

• Desert View

Besides Mather Point and Yaki Point, you will need to drive to access the other viewpoints along Desert View Drive.

However besides these major viewpoints, there are random stops along the road that you can just park and enjoy the view without much crowd. You don’t need to stop by all the viewpoints, I think 3 is probably sufficient.

Viewpoints at Grand Canyon South Rim via Hermit Road

The Hermit Road is a 7 mile scenic drive west of the Village to Hermit Rest. You have to take the red shuttle bus to Hermit Rest between March and November (and drive yourself between December and February).

Along Hermit Road, there are a number of viewpoints and overlooks as well, with the most famous one being Hopi Point. Other viewpoints on Hermit Road include:

• Powell Point
• Mohave Point
• The Abyss
• Pima Point

Hiking Trails at the Grand Canyon South Rim

The Grand Canyon is beautiful when seen from above but it’s even more beautiful when you hike down towards the bottom of the canyon. I read somewhere that 95-97% of the visitors at the Grand Canyon only stop by the different viewpoints and I think they are missing out (and you don’t have to miss out).

I don’t think most visitors realize that they can actually hike down the Grand Canyon, or they are intimidated by the thought of hiking. But actually there are easy hikes at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and you can just hike a little bit (less than 2 miles) to get the views of the Grand Canyon.

Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail is currently closed until April 14th due to waterline replacement work.

Bright Angel Trail is the most popular hiking trail at the Grand Canyon South Rim.

The trail is about 11 miles roundtrip, and lets you descend steeply into the inner canyon. The recommended day hike is a 9 mile round trip with the lowest viewpoint at Indian Garden with water available.

Other viewpoints along the trail include: Resthouse at 1.5 miles (one way), Resthouse at 3 miles before the Indian Garden at 4.5 miles. It is not recommended to go past the Indian Garden on a summer day.

You can certainly turn back around at Resthouse and explore other viewpoints and museums during your one day at the South Rim. Do keep in mind that it is a steep downhill so you may think it’s easy, but you have to come back up.

South Kaibab Trail

South Kaibab Trail is another super popular hiking trail at the South Rim. The trailhead is located near Yaki Point and it is only accessible by the Orange Shuttle Bus from the Visitor Center.

Similar to the Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab Trail is a steep downward sloping trail going into the canyon. There is no shade and no water on the trail at all so be sure to bring tons of water and sunscreen for the South Kaibab Trail.

The South Kaibab Trail has 3 stops: Ooh-Aah Point at 0.9 mile (one way), Cedar Ridge at 1.5 mile (with a bathroom), and Skeleton Point at the 3 mile mark. It is recommended to turn around at Cedar Ridge on a hot summer day and in cooler weather one should go no further than Skeleton Point.

Even hiking to the Ooh-Aah Point is a great way to experience the South Kaibab Trail and certainly should be added to your day trip to the South Rim at the Grand Canyon.

If you want to hike from the South Rim to the North Rim, you can take the South Kaibab trail all the way down, but you either need a guide or a camping permit to camp in the inner canyon. You cannot hike back and up within one day.

Rim Trail

The Rim Trail is a 13 mile hike that pretty much connects Hermits Rest to the South Kaibab Trail head (east of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center). It’s the easiest “hike” you can do at the South Rim and is the only trail on the top of the rim. This trail is more of a walk than hike since it’s pretty much flat.

The Rim trail is paved and under the shade and you can stop to catch a bus along the trail to get back to the visitor center. The Rim Trail is great for families with children or the elderly. You can also bike along the Rim Trail. There is no water on the rim trail.

Hermit Trail

Hermit Trail starts 0.25 miles east of Hermits Rests and goes to Santa Maria Spring (5 mile round trip) and Dripping Springs (7 mile round trip).

According to the Grand Canyon official website, this trail is not maintained like the South Kaibab Trail or the Bright Angel Trail and is more difficult than those. There is no drinking water along this trail and the water at the spring should be treated. It’s not recommended for beginning hikers.

Grand View Trail

Grand View Trail offers some of the best views of the Grand Canyon but is very steep and unmaintained. Only highly experienced hikers should do this trail.

The few stops on the Grand View Trail include Coconino Saddle (2.2 mile round trip), Horseshoe Mesa (6 mile round trip), Viewpoint (7.6 mile round trip) and Page Spring (7.4 mile round trip).

Hiking is an amazing way to experience the Grand Canyon for a day but one should use caution when hiking on a hot summer day. Most of the trails do not have water or shade and since they go down from the top of the rim, they can be deceivingly easy.

Most people find it much more difficult to hike back up as the trails can be steep. The general rule is that every hour you hike down, it takes 2 hours to hike back up. There are warning signs all over the South Rim warning visitors of the potential dangers of attempting to hike too far deep into the Grand Canyon.

Yavapai Point and Geology Museum

Yavapai Point and Geology Museum is a museum dedicated to the geology of the Grand Canyon. The museum is located at Yavapai Point, near the Visitor Center.

At the museum, there are different displays explaining the different rocks that formed the Grand Canyon and various history and information regarding the Grand Canyon. Inside the museum you will also find a bookstore and bathrooms.

One amazing feature of the Yavapai Point and Geology Museum is its unobstructed view of the Grand Canyon and its myriad rock formations.

The Grand Canyon Visitor Center & IMAX Movie

The Visitor Center is great for those who want more information on the Grand Canyon, including hike trails, maps, viewpoints, etc. There is a bookstore inside as well as exhibits and a snack shop.

There are 4 different parking lots at the Visitor Center, so many people park their cars here before hopping on the free park shuttle bus to explore different areas of the South Rim.

The famous Mather Point is not too far from the visitor center. You can actually walk along the Rim Trail from Mather Point to Yavapai Point and visit the Geology Museum.

Another new thing available at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center is the IMAX theater, which was put into operation in 2023. Y

ou can watch the IMAX film Grand Canyon Rivers of Time to learn more about the Grand Canyon and the human history behind it. This is a must-do for your Grand Canyon itinerary if you are traveling with older kids.

Lunch can be optionally included in the experience and you can book your tickets here.

Renting and Riding Bikes at the South Rim

At the Bright Angel Bikes & Cafe near the Visitor Center, you can rent a regular bike or e-bike to bike along the road. This is a fantastic way to explore the South Rim without hiking. In fact you can reserve the bikes online ahead of time, and ride from the Visitor Center to Yaki Point.

There are well maintained bike trails at the South Rim, making it a really nice experience to bike and see the views. The staff will give you a safety briefing and show you the routes and even recommend viewpoints and rest stops.

This is the only place inside the South Rim that you can rent bikes. You can rent the bikes and ride around yourself or hire a guide to take you around, making this one of the best activities to add to your South Rim day trip itinerary.

Explore Grand Canyon Village

Grand Canyon Village is a nice little area to stop for lunch (or if you are staying there overnight). You will find restaurants, shops, a visitor center, public bathrooms and even a church here.

Some of the things you can do at the Grand Canyon Village Include the Hopi House, Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio, Kolb Studio, Grand Canyon Railway train depot, viewpoints along the Rim Trail, access to Bright Angel Trailhead, Grand Canyon Conservancy gift shop, etc.

Helicopter Ride at the Grand Canyon

A very thrilling way of exploring the Grand Canyon in one day is to take a helicopter tour. The 45 minute helicopter ride will take you above the canyon with views of the Colorado River, the watchtower, Marble Canyon, Point Imperial etc. You not only fly over the South Rim but the also the North Rim.

You can book your helicopter ride here.

Grand Canyon South Rim One Day Itinerary

Below is an example of how you can spend one day at the Grand Canyon South Rim. I will provide you some options so you can swap out things based on your interest.

Morning: Arrive at the Visitor Center + Mather Point

If you are staying near the Grand Canyon, I recommend getting in super early to watch the sunrise from one of the viewpoints. Otherwise, assuming you are driving in from Flagstaff or Sedona, you will arrive around 9 – 10am.

Park your car at the visitor center and check out the beautiful view at the Mather Point before it gets crowded with bus tours.

Note that the visitor center doesn’t open until 10am, but you can always get parking and check out viewpoints first.

Morning: Hike at the Grand Canyon or Museum

Option 1 – Hiking

If you are planning to hike, you can arrive quite early since you don’t need to go inside the visitor center. As mentioned above, the most popular hikes at the South Rim are Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail.

Personally I hiked the South Kaibab Trail so I would recommend that hike specifically. The first stop of the hike is Ooh Aah Point, a nice viewpoint about one mile downhill. You can literally turn around here if you want, and still have most of the day ahead of you. Or if you want, you can continue down to Cedar Ridge at the 1.5 mile mark and go back up.

This will take you 2 – 3 hours to do, essentially taking most of your morning.

Option 2 – IMAX Movie & Yavapai Geology Museum

If hiking is out of the question, don’t worry, you have a few other options.

You can arrive a bit later and watch the IMAX movie at the Visitor Center to learn more about the history of the Grand Canyon and about the native people that used to live in the area.

After watching the IMAX movie and exploring Mather Point, take a leisurely walk (or the shuttle) to Yavapai Geology Museum to learn more about the rocky formation and geology of the Grand Canyon.

If you don’t have mobility issues, then I think it’s better to walk than to take the shuttle, since you will have a really nice view of the Grand Canyon on your right hand side.

Be sure to stop by Yavapai Point before the museum, another panoramic viewpoint that gives you an amazing view of the Grand Canyon.

Lunch: Grand Canyon Village

Take the shuttle to the Grand Canyon Village, where you can find a few different restaurants, such as El Tovar Dining Room, Arizona Steakhouse and the Fountain.

Check out the gift shop and Hopi House at the Grand Canyon Village after lunch and buy some souvenirs before continuing with your day trip to the South Rim.

Afternoon: More Adventurous Activities at the Grand Canyon

In the afternoon, you have a few options.

If you want something unique, then take a scenic helicopter ride above the Grand Canyon. This is really an experience of a lifetime and something most people don’t get to do.

Another option is to rent a bike to explore the park. This is perfect for someone who does not want to hike and just wants to take it casually.

If you want to rent a bike, it may be better to grab a bite from the Bright Angel Bikes & Cafe instead of going to the Grand Canyon Village to eat. This will save you time since the bike place closes at 5pm.

Late Afternoon: Catch Sunset

If you couldn’t get up to watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon, don’t worry, now it’s your chance for some beautiful sunset views.

I would recommend driving east towards Desert View Watchtower before sunset. I don’t really think there is a so-called “best spot for sunset” at the Grand Canyon, since the view is majestic regardless. Our goal originally was to watch the sunset from Desert View Watchtower but we actually didn’t make it there.

Instead we pulled over at Moran Point and it was still a really nice view. As I said before, it takes longer than you think to drive from place to place, so if you want to watch the sunset at the Grand Canyon South Rim, it’s better to go earlier, park the car and wait.

And this concludes your amazing one day in Grand Canyon South Rim!

Grand Canyon Entrance Fee (And Free Days)

The South Rim entrance is open 24 hours 365 days a year. You need to pay a fee or have a park pass to enter. Note that if you pay in person, they only take credit cards and debit cards, no cash!

• Private Vehicle (up to 15 people inside) – $35 for 7 days, access to both South Rim and North Rim
• Motorcycle – $30 for 7 days
• Individual: $20 for 7 days for hikers, bicyclists, pedestrians

There are a few days of the year that entrance to the Grand Canyon is free:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 15, 2024)
• First Day of National Park Week (April 20, 2024)
• Juneteenth (June 19, 2024)
• Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (August 4, 2024)
• National Public Lands Day (September 28, 2024)
• Veterans Day (November 11, 2024)

For more information on the cost of visiting the Grand Canyon, please visit the official website.

Which Rim at The Grand Canyon?

Since the Grand Canyon is a huge hole in the ground, it has 4 different rims visitors can visit: North, South, West, and East.

Grand Canyon West Rim

The West Rim of the Grand Canyon is the closest point from Las Vegas (2.5 hours from Las Vegas) and therefore easier to get to compared to the other rims at the Grand Canyon.

Best things to do at the West Rim:

• Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends out over the canyon with a 4000 feet drop.

• As a day trip from Vegas, many people also couple it with a visit to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

• Havasu Fall Hike: the hiking trail is close to the West Rim

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Grand Canyon East Rim

There is not really an “official” East Rim and most people refer to the Desert View point in the east side of South Rim. However, this is not really a true East Rim compared to the North or South Rim. The East side of Grand Canyon is the most difficult to access and it has a pretty low elevation of 4000 ft.

Things to do at the East Rim:

• Little Colorado River Gorge: The little Colorado River is responsible for carving some smaller canyons near the Grand Canyon.

• Horseshoe Bend: Located near Page, you must’ve seen this on social media. It’s one of the only locations where you can see the Colorado River clearly, but it’s actually not located in the Grand Canyon (it’s located in one of the smaller canyons).

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• Antelope Canyon: Located east of Page, AZ, the Antelope Canyon is a popular destination for both tourists and photographers. There are 2 sections of the Canyon, the upper and lower part that one can visit. There are plenty of tours that visit this spot and it’s good for families.

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Grand Canyon North Rim

The Grand Canyon North Rim is one of the highest spots to visit in the Grand Canyon, situated at around 8000 ft (2438m). It is one of the harder rims to reach due to the distance from major cities and highways as well as the accumulation of snow.

The North Rim of Grand Canyon is only open for visitors between mid May and mid October due to the snowfall in the winter. Only 10% of all visitors to the Grand Canyon go to the North Rim, so it’s perfect for those who would like to enjoy a more quiet and peaceful experience.

However, besides the short season, another reason that fewer visitors go to the North Rim is because there are fewer viewpoints and activities to do.

Grand Canyon South Rim

The South Rim is the most popular rim to visit at the Grand Canyon. The view of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim is also what you see in magazines and on social media. The South Rim at the Grand Canyon receives about 90% of the visitors to the Grand Canyon.

What makes Grand Canyon South Rim so popular? There are way more viewpoints of at the Grand Canyon South Rim than at other rims and you can easily see the depth of the Grand Canyon compare to the view from other rims.

The South Rim is open all year round, and it’s at around 7000 feet (2133m) above sea level. There are also more things to do for families and kids in the South Rim.

Another reason the South Rim is popular is due to the proximity to nearby cities. It is 4.5 hours drive from Las Vegas and Phoenix, about 2 hours from Sedona and 1 hour from Flagstaff.

Most tours from Las Vegas or Phoenix will take you to the South Rim as the multiple viewpoints along the South Rim offers unique viewing points and attributes of the canyon. You can also take a helicopter ride or airplane tours over the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.

Best Time (and Worst Time) to Visit the Grand Canyon South Rim

Since the Grand Canyon South Rim is open all year round, you can technically visit any time of the year. But the best time to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim is early May or mid/late September when the temperature is more mild and dry.

Grand Canyon South Rim Monthly Weather

Grand Canyon Inner Canyon (Bottom of Canyon) Temperature

The outer canyon (the top of the canyon) has a comfortable temperature between April and May as well as October with low rainfalls. Summer months of June to August are 80 – 90 degrees on a daily basis, making these the worst months to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim.

In addition, the Grand Canyon gets quite cold at night. Even in the summer the night time temperature is about 55 degrees. So regardless of when you go to the South Rim, you should bring jackets for the evening.

If you are planning to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you should only do it in November or April, otherwise it’s over 100 degrees, making it too hot and dangerous to hike.

Where to Stay to Visit at the Grand Canyon

If you are only visiting the Grand Canyon for one day or two, I highly recommend that you stay somewhere nearby to get the most out of your time in the Grand Canyon National Park.

I stayed in Sedona which is about 2 hours away from the South Rim the day before I visited. If you can, try to stay in Flagstaff the night before you visit since it’s much closer. There are also historical lodges situated at the South Rim Grand Canyon Village to decrease traveling time.

Other Useful Information for Visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim

Can I fly a drone in the Grand Canyon?

No. There are signs in the Grand Canyon National Park clearly stating that no drones are allowed .

What camera lens should I bring to the Grand Canyon?

I highly recommend bringing a wide-angle lens as well as a zoom lens. The Grand Canyon is so vast that even a wide-angle lens cannot do its justice (but it helps!). A zoom lens can help you take some close up photos of the canyon walls and the Colorado River.

Are there gas stations in the Grand Canyon?

There are 2 gas stations according to the official website. However the only one I saw was at Desert View. I would recommend getting gas outside of the Grand Canyon National Park for a cheaper price. The closest town we got gas from was Cameron, southeast of Desert View.

Do I need hiking sticks to hike the Grand Canyon?

If you are steady on your foot then I don’t think hiking sticks are necessary. However if you are scared of the steep downward slope then I would recommend you bring at least one hiking stick.

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