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Grand Canyon South Rim
Our first trip to the Grand Canyon was while on vacation in Arizona. During our visit to Arizona, we drove a little over 3 hrs. from Phoenix to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. My husband was a little hesitant to make the trip. However, what the wife wants…😉
Within minutes of arriving, we were both glad we made the trip. The views are breathtaking!
The Grand Canyon south rim is accessed through Grand Canyon National Park. Being part of the National Park is definitely one of the park’s strengths. The park is well marked and organized. The fees into the south rim are reasonable, and passes are valid for seven days. Food, drink, and bathrooms are available in the visitor centers.
The views along the rim are relatively easy to access. You can take the time to walk the sidewalk along the canyon rim. However, there is a lot to see, especially if you only have one day. I highly recommend using the free shuttle bus. The shuttle stops at the many viewing spots along the canyon rim. Accessing the shuttle is easy and stops are every 10-15 minutes. We rarely waited long for a shuttle.
A visit to the south rim is a great day trip. However, this visit could instead be a multi-day adventure. There are lots of activities including hiking trails, tubing down the Colorado River, and helicopter tours. While we didn’t stay in the area, there are multiple lodging options near the park including hotels, resorts, and campgrounds.
Grand Canyon West Rim
The west rim of the Grand Canyon is approximately 2 hours from Las Vegas and is accessed through the Hualapai Reservation. The west rim allows visitors to experience traditions of the Hualapai tribe. This is a fun addition to the trip.
The west rim park fees are a little more than the south rim, and park passes are for 1-day only. Like the south rim, the shuttle bus to the viewing spots is included with a park pass. There are multiple amazing viewing spots such as the Eagle Point and Guano Point.
The west rim of the canyon offers some unique experiences as well. For an additional fee, visitors can view the canyon from the skywalk. The skywalk is a glass-bottom bridge extending high above the canyon floor. Helicopter tours are also available for an additional fee. Another fun thing to do is take photos at a reconstructed western frontier town.
If you are in the area, I recommend visiting the Grand Canyon. Both the west and south rims of the Grand Canyon make for a great vacation adventure. And each rim offers its own unique experience. However, if I had to choose which rim to visit, I’d chose the south rim.
I probably don’t need to say it but, when visiting the canyon be sure to bring your camera! The Grand Canyon is one big photo opportunity. I recently purchased this camera backpack to more easily carry my camera (and my laptop so I can download all my great pictures). I can’t wait to take it on my next adventure.
