South Rim

 
North Rim

 
These pages offer some suggestions for some things to see and do while visiting Grand Canyon Nation Park. There is no one way and no best way to experience the Canyon. To fully appreciate the Canyon takes time. It took millions of years to create and you cannot grasp its fully extent simply by gazing over the rim. To understand the Canyon you must become part of the Canyon. Please try not to do this by falling over the edge. Use extreme caution near the edge as in many places the rock is quite crumbly and gives way easily. It is typically not the thrill seeker who falls in but rather the inexperienced amateur who is trying to get that perfect picture. Be careful out there.

When you are trying to plan your trip please do so based on the least active member of your party. Don't plan a hike to Plateau Point with someone who's idea of exercise is walking the dog. The Canyon can be a very dangerous place for someone who is inexperienced and unprepared.

Also, if you are simply visiting the Canyon to look at the Canyon, be aware that the view from a given location changes with the time of day as well as with the seasons. The light reflected off of the various rock faces changes depending upon the angle of the sun and how clear the sky is, and causes the colors to change. The shadows themselves, which highlight the various temples and buttes within the Canyon, are longer and better defined in the early morning and late afternoon hours. If you are looking at the Canyon at noon on a summer day many of the shadows are lost and the colors tend to wash together.
 

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