Grand Canyon National Park: South Rim
Our family was driving to Phoenix, Arizona, to visit family and stopped at one of the natural wonders of the world: The Grand Canyon. None of us had ever seen it before. While standing on the south rim, my oldest son commented, “It really is just a big canyon.” My response: “Yep. Kinda like a GRAND canyon!”
There’s a lot to see and do at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. Because of limited time, we weren’t able to make it to everything. But we enjoyed a few of the viewpoints, the Visitor Center and dinner at the marketplace.
Here are a few of the things you can explore while visiting the Grand Canyon.
Desert View Watchtower
We entered Grand Canyon National Park from the east. The first stopping area we came to was at Desert View Watchtower. A friend had spoken highly of it, so we were excited to check it out.
Once parked, we walked over to the viewing area. You’re able to walk to a fence-lined edge, which is where we got our first view of the Grand Canyon. We snapped some photos, then headed inside of the Desert View Watchtower.
The first floor has some large windows you can use to see the expanse of the canyon. But if you want a higher view, start climbing the stairs. There’s no elevator here. You’ve got to climb the three stories of the building in order to reach the top. It’s worth it – just to get a higher view of the really big canyon.
The artwork on the walls inside the tower is pretty neat, too. On your way out, you can hit up the gift shop for a souvenir or informational book about the geology.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center – South Rim
As you continue your drive west toward the Visitor Center, there are a few view points you can stop at. You could also stay parked at Desert View Watchtower and hike the rim trail.
When you reach the Visitor Center, do your best to find a parking spot. It gets pretty crowded in the summer months – so plan to be there super early or later in the day.
The Visitor Center is a pretty typical place, compared to other national park visitor centers. It’s worth a stop to learn more about the forming and exploring of the Grand Canyon. You can also grab the free shuttle bus, which will take you to numerous points along the canyon rim that are ONLY accessible via the shuttle bus – like Yaki Point.
Walk north to Mather Point to get another close-up view of the Grand Canyon. There are a few viewpoints from there – one extends out on a little peninsula so you can get a 270-degree angle of the feature.
Yavapai Point and Geology Museum
Further east is the Yavapai Point and Geology Museum. It’s a small building on the edge of a cliff. Large windows allow you to look over the edge. Some exhibits teach you about the types of rock layers exposed in the canyon wall.
It’s a great opportunity to learn more about how the Grand Canyon was formed.
The rim trail extends from both directions, so if you’ve got the time, take a hike and explore the canyon more.
Services at the Market Plaza
If you need something to eat, or want to grab some groceries or souvenirs, head over to Market Plaza. We stopped at the General Store to pick up a shot glass for my son who collects those, and to grab dinner at the cafe.
They had delicious pizza, along with some loaded nachos, sandwiches and much more.
You’ll also find restrooms, showers, lodgings and a laundromat. If camping is your thing, grab a site at the Mather Campground, or one of the other spots available in the Grand Canyon South Rim area. You’ll want to book early, because it’s a pretty popular spot.
There are other areas to explore in the Village area, including a train depot, Hopi House, Kolb Studio and more. We didn’t have time to visit that area of the park on our way to Phoenix, Arizona, but that just means we get to go back another time.
The Details
Address: S Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023
Cost: A recreational use pass is required when entering the Grand Canyon National Park. It’s $35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorcyle or $20 per person (which is usually for bicyclists, and those entering without a car). The pass is valid in the park for 7 days, and works at both the North Rim and South Rim. I recommend buying an annual pass so you can visit all of the national parks throughout the country for free.
Hours: The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All of the services are available year round.
Website: https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
Phone: (928) 638-7888
PIN THIS:
Hi Jason,
We will in Phoenix for two weeks in July. We realize that is a hot month. With that in mind, any other suggestions of area destinations would be appreciated. Thank you!
Peggy and Andy
That’s a rough time of year to be in Phoenix – but it happens. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and more water. Depending on what you enjoy doing, there’s the Phoenix Police Museum and the Wells Fargo Museum in downtown Phoenix. Those are both free to visit – and you can spend roughly 30 minutes at each. Plus, they’re indoors. If you want to venture outside, there’s the Deseret Botanical Gardens (next week I’ll be publishing an article on that, so keep an eye out for it). You could also catch a star show at the Adventure Science Center as another indoor option. If hiking is your thing, Camelback is a tough climb, but so much fun. You’ll just want to start before the sun rises so you aren’t out in the heat… and even then it may be too toasty. One thing I wasn’t able to make it to was the Japanese Friendship Garden. So you could check that out, too. Have a fun trip.
Thank you so much for these ideas, Jason!