PLannING YOUR TRIP Grand Canyon National Park PROVIDED BY GRAND CANYON TRIP PLANNER A WHAT’S INSIDE About this Guide 1 Lodging Outside the Park 8 Grand Canyon Association 1 Hiking 9 Grand Canyon National Park 2 Other Popular Activities 10 Getting to the Park 3 Grand Canyon Association Field Institute 12 General Park Information 4 Seasonal Information 13 Visitor Centers and Museums 5 Grand Canyon Association Park Stores 14 Lodging Inside the Park 6 Attractions Outside the Park 15 Camping in the Park 7 Other Helpful Trip Planning Resources 16 B GRANDCANYON.ORG ABOUT THIS GUIDE Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular places on earth. We are excited you are thinking about visiting, and we want to help you make the most of your experience. Grand Canyon Association has developed this guide to provide general information that you may find useful as you make your plans. It is not intended to be the only resource with which you plan your trip. An abundance of helpful materials are available, including many in our online store at www.grandcanyon.org. GRAND CANYON ASSOCIATION Grand Canyon Association is the nonprofit, planning kits, maps, books, gear, clothes, gifts, philanthropic partner of Grand Canyon National and more, both online and at our stores in the Park. Federal dollars support baseline operations park. You’ll also receive a 10 percent discount at and activities at the park, however, these funds lodge gift shops at Grand Canyon National Park, do not cover all of the park’s needs, including discounts on most Grand Canyon Association trail preservation, educational programs, and the Field Institute classes, and early registration protection of wildlife in their natural habitat. opportunities. But the best part for most of That’s why we work with supporters and visitors our supporters is the satisfaction of knowing to raise private funds to benefit the park. you’re helping to preserve this iconic park for generations to come! For more As you begin planning a trip, it’s the perfect information, click here. Or, sign up time to consider becoming a Grand Canyon for our monthly e-newsletter, “Call of Association supporter. You will enjoy wonderful the Canyon,” to get insider information benefits that will enhance your Grand Canyon about what’s happening at Grand experience, like a 15 percent discount on trip Canyon. To subscribe, click here. GRAND CANYON TRIP PLANNER 1 ABOUT GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Grand Canyon. An iconic American landscape that inspires art, music, poetry, a love of nature, and sheer awe for millions of people around the world. One of the crown jewels of the National Park System, Grand Canyon is home to some of our nation’s greatest natural, historic, and cultural treasures. It is a powerful and memorable experience for those who visit and a beacon for those who have not been yet. Grand Canyon is among the top twenty most “liked” destinations in the world, according to Facebook. Visitors come to the canyon from every state and more than 150 countries. Spanning 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent lands, Grand Canyon is located entirely in northern Arizona. Most visitors choose to see the park from the overlooks along the South Rim, which includes historic Grand Canyon Village, Hermit Road, and Desert View Drive. The South Rim is open all year long, even on holidays. If you’re the more adventurous type, the North Rim is 10 miles across the canyon from the South Rim, and is seen by only 10 percent of all Grand Canyon visitors. Driving from the South Rim to the North Rim by car is a five-hour drive of Photo courtesy NPS 220 miles. The North Rim has a shorter season, with lodging and restaurants open from May 15 to October 15 each year. 2 GRANDCANYON.ORG GETTING TO THE PARK Airports and Drive Times INSIDER TIP There are several ways to arrive at Grand Canyon National Park. Most visitors Walk the Trail of Time drive, while others fly into Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. There are also A good walk along the limited flights arriving in Flagstaff, Arizona. You will need to rent a car from these rim provides an intimate airports, reserve a shuttle to the park from Phoenix or Flagstaff, or take the Grand experience with Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona (30 miles west of Flagstaff). Canyon. Walk 100 yards in either direction of a main Drive time to South Rim viewpoint or bus stop, and you will be surprised at Albuquerque, New Mexico 393 miles/approximately 6 hours the quiet solitude in Denver, Colorado 656 miles/approximately 10.75 hours a place that sees Flagstaff, Arizona 81 miles/approximately 1.5 hours almost six million Las Vegas, Nevada 278 miles/approximately 4 hours annual visitors. Los Angeles, California 494 miles/approximately 8 hours Phoenix, Arizona 231 miles/approximately 3.5 hours If you have limited Salt Lake City, Utah 380 miles/approximately 6 hours time in the park, a fun and educational option For directions, click here. is to walk the Trail of Time. You’ll enjoy stunning vistas Free Shuttle Bus Service and almost 50 large rock From Outside the Canyon samples illustrating Grand The Tusayan Route provides free direct shuttle bus service, between the gateway Canyon’s geologic history community of Tusayan and Grand Canyon Visitor Center from mid-May to early through time. For more September. Tusayan, Arizona is located seven miles south of Grand Canyon Village information, click here. on the South Rim. To board the bus, you must present a valid park entrance pass. Entrance passes may be purchased at park entrances or at various businesses in Tusayan. Within the Canyon There are several free shuttle routes within Grand Canyon National Park, connecting lodges, campgrounds, restaurants, and shops with Market Plaza, the Visitors Center, and Grand Canyon Association Park Stores. For maps of shuttle bus routes and more information about specific routes, availability, or how to effectively combine hiking with shuttle bus stops, click here. Grand Canyon Railway The Grand Canyon Railway travels 130 miles round-trip from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim, with daily departures scheduled from both locations. For more information, click here. GRAND CANYON TRIP PLANNER 3 GENERAL PARK INFORMATION Fees Pets Private Vehicle: $30 Pets are permitted in the park if leashed, but not below Motorcycle: $25 the rim, in park lodging, inside buildings, or on buses, Pedestrian, Bicyclist: $15 with the exception of service animals. If you have a Admission is for seven days and includes entrance to service animal and want to take it below the rim, you both the South and North Rims. must check in at the Backcountry Information Center For information on Annual, Active Military, Senior, and in Grand Canyon Village. Access passes and fees, click here. A kennel is available for dogs and cats at the South Free Entrance Days Rim, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. The National Park Service offers free entrance days Learn more here. several times a year. Typically, days with free entrance are holidays like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day Weekend, Veterans Day, and others. For more information, click here. INSIDER TIP Reduce, Reuse, Refill! Park Hours and Seasonality Did you know that disposable plastic Park Entrances: Open 24 hours bottles at one time comprised an North Rim Facilities: Open mid-May through mid-October estimated 20 percent of Grand Canyon’s Desert View Campground: May 1 through mid-October waste stream and 30 percent of the South Rim Facilities and Grand Canyon Village: Open park’s recyclables? In 2012, in order to year-round reduce plastic waste originating at the While park entrances are open 24 hours a day, stations are not always manned. canyon, litter along trails and walkways, and greenhouse gas emissions, Grand Canyon National Park eliminated the Accessibility sale of water packaged in individual Many of the facilities at Grand Canyon are historic, disposable containers. and were built before current accessibility standards were set. The terrain is rugged, with narrow, rocky Remember to bring a reusable water trails and steep cliffs. Visitors using wheelchairs or who bottle or buy one at any Grand Canyon have visual impairments may need assistance. For more Association Park Store when you arrive. Water refilling stations are located throughout the park information, click here. for your convenience. 4 GRANDCANYON.ORG VISITOR CENTERS AND MUSEUMS South Rim Desert View INSIDER TIP Grand Canyon Visitor Center Desert View Watchtower Family Activities at Grand Canyon LOCATION: By Mather Point LOCATION: 25 miles east of 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. daily Grand Canyon Village Junior Ranger: Stop by a visitor center (summer hours) Kiva Shop open 8:00 a.m.– to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet. 7:00 p.m. daily Children four and older attend a free Backcountry Information Watchtower Stairs open ranger program and complete activities Center 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. daily to become Junior Rangers. LOCATION: In the Village Historic District just east of Maswik Tusayan Museum and Park ranger program: Attend a fossil walk, Lodge Tusayan Ruin geo-glimpse, or condor 8:00 a.m.–noon; LOCATION: Three miles west of talk and have your kids 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. daily Desert View get their Junior Ranger 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily booklet signed. Verkamp’s Visitor Center Free admission LOCATION: Just east of El Tovar Stroll the village: Walk Hotel and Hopi House with your family along the canyon rim through historic 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.