The Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon can be an utterly transcendent experience even for those who never delve beyond the scenic viewpoints. The immensity of the canyon's scale, the intensity of its colors, and the shadows at sunrise and sunset all scream for superlatives. Tell me how to get there.

Recent Park History

The National Park Service continues to grapple with the dilemma of how to ensure access to one of America's greatest natural treasures while at the same time preserving the wilderness that everyone comes to experience.

Mitigating the impact of tourist traffic to protect the canyon and to ensure visitor enjoyment has been an ongoing concern. Shuttles on the South Rim encourage visitors to get out of their cars and reduce traffic. Additionally, the Greenway Plan that has been put into (slow) motion will eventually manifest itself in multiple-use, accessible paths that lead between key points on the South Rim and even into Tusayan, outside the park's South Entrance.

Grand Canyon West

Grand Canyon West is more than four hours' west of the South Rim, is its own modern conundrum. Run by the Hualapai Nation, this scenic section of the Grand Canyon has recently been bedecked with the controversial Skywalk, a glass bridge allowing visitors to walk beyond the canyon rim to actually view the maw below them.

Some see the Skywalk as a sacrilege and a harbinger of unwise development on the fragile West Rim, but most agree that its construction was a revenue-generating strategy for the struggling Hualapai Nation to keep their tribe afloat.

Though the vertiginous experience of walking on a cantilevered glass floor above the canyon is inarguably unique, what it means for the future of the West Rim and the Hualapai remains uncertain.

Getting There & Moving Around

All services and points of interest on the South Rim are accessible via free shuttle buses, a hassle-free alternative to traffic and parking, running every 10 to 15min along three routes. Hermits Rest Route accesses the stretch of rim road west of Grand Canyon Village.

This road is closed to private vehicles from March through November. The Kaibab Trail Route stops at Pipe Creek Vista, South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point, the last of which is closed to private vehicles year-round.

The Shuttle Service

The Trans-Canyon Shuttle offers rim-to-rim shuttle service from mid-May to mid-October (when the North Rim is open). It's a godsend for rim-to-rim hikers, and a good option for those who want to see both rims and don't want to bother with a car.

Moving by Car & Foot

The only way to explore the North Rim is by car, bicycle or on foot. An informal hikers' shuttle takes folk from the Grand Canyon Lodge to the North Kaibab Trailhead twice daily at roughly 05:30 and 06:30 . You must sign up for it at the lodge's front desk; if no one signs up the night before, it doesn't run.

Because roads on the South Rim are so heavily trafficked, riding a bike is not the greatest mode of transportation around this rim. However, there is some great mountain biking around Kaibab National Forest (North and South) and Flagstaff. You cannot ride a bicycle on trails in the park (except the Greenway Trail).

Hiking

Hiking is the most popular and accessible activity within the park. Riding a mule down into the canyon is a time-honored park tradition. Rides are offered year-round from the South Rim along the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails. Guided raft trips down the Colorado often sell out a year in advance.

Flyovers

Scenic flyovers are restricted to specific corridors and limited to certain hours; none are allowed below the rim (except at Grand Canyon West).
Grand Canyon National Park offers many attractions and services for travelers with disabilities. Ask for an updated Accessibility Guide when you enter the park.

You can find out more about visiting The Grand Canyon National Park at Virginholidays.