Thayer Hadfield

Article Overview: Best Things to Do at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is one of the most incredible places on earth – full on incredible experiences and things to do. Visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. The epic views here are unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else in the world.

I first visited the Grand Canyon as a 19 year old and (foolishly) backpacked to the bottom of it with no advance preparation on a whim with some friends! I made it back out and have returned many times (with more advance planning!).

If you read this you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect than I did the first time I visited the South Rim including an honest assessment of the good things and the bad.

In this article we’ll cover everything you need to know about the best things to do at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon including:

$30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months I suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). This pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

The Best Guide Book: James Kaiser is the proverbial bees knees in this department. I love all of his National Park guides and his Grand Canyon Guide is no exception.

The Best Grand Canyon Map: I like this map best for Grand Canyon National Park.

Use it. Lots of it. Especially this one which I never leave the house without because it plays nice with our dear friend, earth 🙂

Most folks think of the Grand Canyon in terms of North Rim / South Rim. There’s also an area referred to as Grand Canyon East and Grand Canyon West. In this article I’ve also included some things to do on the East Rim and West Rim because they are so close.

The best time to visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is in the Spring and Fall. I recommend the months of April and September when crowds will be down and temperatures will be pleasant.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open 24 hours a day all 365 days of the year.

Here’s my favorite spot to stay at the Grand Canyon.

Location: South Rim, North Rim, East Rim

Features: Family Friendly

Ranger talks and guided tours are the kinds of memories one savors for a lifetime. If you’re looking for a great family friendly activity at the south rim of the Grand Canyon then look no further than a classic ranger guided tour.

Every season the National Park Service changes up their offering of ranger guided tours at the Grand Canyon. Availability varies by season with summer and fall being the most popular times to participate in a ranger program.

Examples of the ranger-led activities in the Grand Canyon include:

Check out the NPS website for current ranger-led activities at the Grand Canyon.

Location: Grand Canyon East Rim

Features: Overlook, Historical

Desert View Watchtower is one of the most iconic sites at the Grand Canyon offering some of the best views in the park. Visiting this incredible site is one of the my favorite things to do at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Designed by one of the southwest’s most influential architects, Mary Colter West, Desert View Watchtower was constructed in 1932 and remains in place today.

Her buildings at Grand Canyon include: Desert View Watchtower, Lookout Studio, Hermits Rest, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Lodge, Hopi House, and two employee dormitories – Colter Hall and Victor Hall.

The design is intended to reflect elements of the native tribes and blend with the natural environment of the Grand Canyon. Inside the tower you’ll see beautiful, recently restored murals featuring tribal artwork and pictographs.

At one point the Desert View Watchtower was turned into a gift shop but has since been restored to its original purpose as a scenic rest station for visitors.

The tower is 5 stories tall with different experiences on each level.

Location: Grand Canyon East Rim

Features: Historical

Seeing the Tusayan Ruin is a great add on to your list of things to do at the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park East for cultural and historical buffs. Believe it or not, the Grand Canyon is home to more than 4000 recorded archeological sites dating as far back as 12,000 years ago!

Today, just the base of the construction that happened here is still visible but is a great connection point for people of all ages to the incredible cultural history of the park. It’s estimated that 16 – 20 people lived in this small community.

Be sure to check out the Tusayan Museum while you’re in the area for more great details and to help connect the dots about these amazing people.

Getting to this site is easy as it’s located just off Desert View Drive, 7 minutes driving (3.4 miles) down the road from the Desert View complex.

Check out this handy brochure for more information about the Tusayan Ruin at Grand Canyon National Park.

Location: Grand Canyon Village

Features: Adventure

One of the most adventurous things to do at the Grand Canyon’s south rim is riding a mule down into the canyon itself, perhaps all the way to the bottom if you’re up for it. There are mule ride concessionaires located at both the South Rim and North Rim.

At the South Rim, two different mule rides are offered by Xanterra:

While the whopping price tag for the overnight mule ride might have your wallet reeling, interested parties should know that it does come with overnight accommodations at Phantom Ranch (located at the bottom of the canyon, sack lunches, a steak dinner, and breakfast. There’s also a 2 night option for the mule ride as well.

Book here: Check out Xanterra’s website for more information and to book your South Rim mule ride down into the Grand Canyon.

Location: South Rim

Features: Adventure

For those looking for unparalleled aerial views and adventure, add taking a helicopter flight to your list of things to do at the Grand Canyon South Rim. Helicopter tours can be taken from the West Rim, South Rim, and even directly from Las Vegas.

Best Helicopter Tour from Las Vegas: Golden Eagle Tour by Papillion – $379 per person

The Best Helicopter Tour from South Rim: Imperial with Ecostar – $339 per person

Best Helicopter Tour from West Rim: GCW Helicopter Landing with Park Entry – $339 per person

Location: Tusayan, Arizona (South Rim)

Features: Air Conditioning, Family Friendly, Accessible

One of the best things to do at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for folks looking for a little air conditioning and relaxing is watching the epic Grand Canyon IMAX Movie.

While the theater is technically located outside of the park, about 10 miles (15 minutes) south of the South Entrance in Tusayan, it’s a great addition for families and folks looking for a bit more understanding and appreciation for the Grand Canyon.

Ticket Prices: Adult(Ages 11+ to 54) $13.59 Youth Tickets(6-10) $10.33 Senior(55+) $12.50 Military $12.50

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official Grand Canyon IMAX website.

Location: West Rim

Features: Overlooks, Hiking Trails, Accessible

Located on the West Rim (starts at the South Rim), Hermit Road holds some of the best viewpoints and overlooks at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. From March 1 to November 30 the road is only accessible by the park shuttle (red line). During the winter, however, the road opens up to the vehicles of regular visitors like you and me.

Hermit Road is 7 miles long and takes about 15-20 minutes to drive each way depending on how many stops you take. At the end of Hermit Road you’ll reach Hermits Rest which is a great spot to pop out and check out the amazing views.

Grand Canyon viewpoints on Hermit Road include:

Location: South Rim

Features: Historical, Geological, Accessible, Family Friendly, Air Conditioning

The Yavapai Geology Museum is one of the many great things to do at the Grand Canyon South Rim if you’re exploring the South Rim due to its central location and, let’s face it, air conditioning!

Here at the Yavapai Geology Museum you can learn about the epic geological history of the grand canyon with massive graphics and reliefs while marveling at canyon itself through giant windows. Visiting the museum is a great activity to couple with the Trail of Time (more on that below).

Location: South Rim

Features: Historical, Geological, Family Friendly, Accessible, Hiking Trail,Overlooks

The Trail of Time is one of the really great interactive things to do at the Grand Canyon South Rim that gives you a real appreciation of the canyon’s epic formation over billions of years. The paved trail starts just behind the Yavapai Geology Museum and is completely accessible.

The first portion of the trail (about 150 yards) covers a span of one million years. The second portion is approximately 2.8 miles and transports you through 2 billion years. Every meter on the second part of the trail represents 1 million years of geologic time in the Grand Canyon.

The trail takes about an hour to complete and provides you with sweeping views of the canyon along the way.

Location: South Rim

Features: Hiking Trail, Adventure, Overlooks

I still remember my first time hiking down the Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab trail as a strapping 18 year old lad. While I certainly got in way over my head back then having no clue what I was doing, backpacking to the bottom of the canyon for the night with essential items like my trusty 10 gallon cooking pot, it was a very memorable time to say the least.

The entire trail is 7.1 miles long with over 4500 feet of elevation gain but visitors should not attempt it without first visiting the rangers at the backcountry office for a required permit and honestly evaluating their own capabilities.

What makes this trail incredible is the dramatic views available here unlike any other trail in the park. The descent is steep with sweeping panoramas at places like Ooh Aah Point (more on that below).

Popping on the trail for a mile or so, however, is a great way to get down into the canyon and experience some incredible vistas. Just keep in mind that every step down means a step back up!

Location: South Rim & West Rim

Features: Overlooks, Driving, Hiking Trails, Family Friendly, Wildlife

The first time I realized that there were elk at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was seeing one cross the road while driving Desert View Drive. In fact, I didn’t even realized there was more to the national park than Grand Canyon Village and the South Rim the first time I visited.

Desert View Drive has some of the park’s most beautiful scenery and attractions including Desert Viewpoint (one of the best in the park), Desert Watchtower, Navajo Point, Lipan Point (another great one), The Tusayan Museum, Moran Point, Grandview Point, Shoshone Point, Yaki Point, & access to the South Kaibab Trial including Ooh Aah Point.

Location: South Rim

Features: Hiking Trails, Adventure, Overlooks

The Bright Angel Trail is the ultimate Grand Canyon South Rim trail and one of the greatest, most famous trails in the entire world. Hiking at least a small portion of this trail should be in consideration for everyone’s list of the best things to do at the Grand Canyon.

This trail has been used for a very long time – first by Native Americans, then miners, pioneers, and finally tourists. At one point, a toll gate charging $1 admission to the trail was set up on Bright Angel by a nefarious fortune seeker who went on to become a US Senator.

The trail is 8 miles long (nearly 10 to Phantom Ranch) with a staggering 4,380 feet of elevation each way. For reference, that’s significantly more than two One World Trade Centers in elevation!

Hiking any extended (or not so extended) portion of this trail is strenuous and should be done with caution. The way down is deceivingly easy and the way back up can be grueling. Water stations are available at the 1.5 mile and 3 mile rest stations as well as Indian Gardens which is basically the halfway point to the Colorado River.

As compared to the South Kaibab Trail which as wide open, panoramic views, the first several miles of Bright Angel offer a more narrow view of the canyon, albeit still spectacular. The good news is that the trail is shaded in the morning and afternoons providing hikers with coverage from the sun.

NOTE: Keep in mind when hiking Bright Angel is that every step down is one that must be taken up. A good rule of thumb is that however long it takes you to hike down it will take at least double that amount of time to hike back up.

Location: South Rim

Features: Hiking Trails, Adventure, Overlooks

Ooh Aah Point is one of the coolest overlooks from the Grand Canyon South Rim that has a cool and most fitting name. From here, sweeping panoramic vistas can be achieved unlike any others in the park as the views here are from within the canyon itself.

Getting to Ooh Aah Point requires a bit of effort and returning from it requires about twice as much as it’s all uphill. The point itself is located about .9 miles down the South Kaibab Trail from the trailhead, roughly 600 feet below the canyon rim. A wooden sign marks the spot that can’t be missed.

Location: Canyon Floor

Features: Hiking Trails, Adventure, Overlooks

The ultimate South Rim Grand Canyon adventure is hiking all the way down to the bottom, and then of course back up. To do so requires an overnight trip on the canyon floor which can be really epic and the memory of a lifetime.

For me, I attempted this many moons ago as a strapping young 18 year old not having any clue what I was doing and now have all the wisdom of what not to do, which includes: starting late in the day, packing 80lbs of mostly useless junk in your backpack, wearing terrible sandals, jumping in the river at the bottom, and more!

We hiked down the incredible South Kaibab Trail which features a steep descent with dramatic sheer drop offs and back up the historic Bright Angel Trail. I’d recommend this route for folks with good knees!

Staying overnight at the bottom of the Grand Canyon requires a special permit and lots of planning. If you’re interested you should first chat with a ranger at the backcountry office!

You can either camp at the bottom or rent a room/cabin at the historic Phantom Ranch lodge.

NOTE: Temperatures at the bottom of the canyon are often 20 degrees hotter than those at the rim so plan accordingly!

Location: South Rim

Features: Overlooks, Family Friendly

Stepping out onto Mather Point for the first time and getting “the view” of the Grand Canyon is a right of passage for every national park lover out there. Mather Point is a quintessential American viewpoint featuring one of our most prized national treasures. As far as the best things to do at the Grand Canyon go, this is an absolute must for everyone visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time.

With that being said, the South Rim is chocked full of stunning overlooks and viewpoints, most of which are far less crowded than Mather Point which can feel like the opening seconds of Walmart on Black Friday.

Other South Rim Viewpoints include:

Location: East Rim

Features: Overlooks, Family Friendly, Sunset

Maybe this one is a bit sentimental for me but I think there’s no better way to cap a day at the Grand Canyon than soaking in an epic sunset from Desert View. I recall doing this with my brother and dad many years back and thinking that it was the absolute perfect evening.

From Desert View you can see all the way down to the Colorado River in the distance. During sunset the canyon lights up with vivid hues of red and purple that seem to last forever.

For the best views I recommend going just past the Desert View Watchtower where you’ll see benches and a railing. Be sure to show up about 30 minutes before sunset to soak in the whole show and get the best spot.

Depending on which parts of the Grand Canyon you’re trying to see will determine the best place place to stay in the park. There are hotels, lodges, and campgrounds located on the North Rim and South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

There are two campgrounds at the South Rim run by the National Park Service:

At the South Rim of the Grand Canyon there are two options if you’re looking for hotels. The first, more expensive option is staying at one of the premiere lodges that are located inside the national park at Grand Canyon Village. For those Grand Canyon hotels see the Xanterra page.

The more affordable option is getting a hotel in Tusayan (5-10 minute drive). I’ve compiled a full listing of the best Tusayan hotels.

At it’s deepest point the Grand Canyon is 6,000 feet deep while it averages a depth of 4,000 feet.

At it’s widest point the Grand Canyon is 18 miles across from rim to rim.

Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long with varying widths and depths throughout.

Grand Canyon National Park consists of 1,218,375 acres making it one of the largest national parks outside of Alaska.

Despite being roughly 10 miles as the crow flies across the canyon, the drive to the north rim from the south rim takes about 4 hours.

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