One-Day Grand Canyon Trip Itinerary Planner
- Stop by the Visitor Centers, Museums, and Historic Buildings.
- Grand Rim Adventure: Explore With Us.
- Spend the Day in Desert View.
- Take the Shuttle Bus Around the Rim.
- Walk the Trail of Time.
- Take a Bike Tour.
- Take a Ranger-Guided Tour or Program.
- Take a One-Day Hike.
Pricing: The cost of the ride is $125.27, including tax, and is subject to change without notice. Water and water bottles are included. Rain jackets are provided. Reservations: Mule rides may be reserved by calling 1-303-297-2757 or toll-free within the United States at 1-888-297-2757.
The historic Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams, Arizona and travel 65 miles to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Distance-wise, it's about 9.5 miles (15.5 km) each way but with an elevation change of over 4,300 ft (1300+ m) and it's really that elevation change that makes it a tough hike. The hike down generally takes 3-5 hours while the hike up, after a good overnight rest, will typically take 5-9 hours.
About 12 deaths happen each year at the Grand Canyon, including from natural causes, medical problems, suicide, heat, drowning and traffic crashes. On average, two to three deaths per year are from falls over the rim, park spokeswoman Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski says.
The best times to visit the Grand Canyon are March through May and September through November when daytime temperatures are cool and the crowds are thin. If you decide to visit during the summer (the park's peak season), be prepared for hordes of tourists and very limited lodging availability.
The only camping option is at Bright Angel Campground at the very bottom of the trail, by the Colorado River. Is the South Kaibab Trail dangerous? The trail isn't especially dangerous and is at least 4 feet wide for its entire length. If you are no prepared or don't plan your hike correctly it can be dangerous.
The walk to Phantom Ranch is approximately 7.5 miles down the South Kaibab Trail (average hiking time is 4-5 hours down) and 10 miles on the Bright Angel Trail (average hiking time down is 4-6 hours, average hiking time up is 6-10 hours).
Most of the things worth seeing near Page are in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (except Antelope Canyon which is part of Navajo Tribal Parks). That means one of your best resources for more details is the National Park Service homepage. Detailed maps of the area are available at Glen Canyon Visitor Center.
1. Re: How many days are needed to really see Page. AZ? Probably 3 days 2 nights, but not at the expensive of national parks.
Until recently the real answer to this question has been yes you can but there was no real easy way to make it happen. You would have to shop around and contact the different Upper and Lower Vendors individually and then try to find time slots that complemented each other.
Because of the new roads and bridge built for use during construction, it has become the gateway to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, attracting more than 3 million visitors per year. Page is also the home of two of the largest electrical generation units in the western United States.
Best free things to do near Page, AZ 86040
- Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours. 0.9 mi. 204 reviews.
- Horseshoe Bend. 3.1 mi. 613 reviews.
- Antelope Canyon Tours. 0.8 mi. 419 reviews.
- John Wesley Powell Museum. 0.9 mi. 11 reviews.
- Antelope Canyon Boat Tours. 4.2 mi. 38 reviews.
- Glen Canyon Dam Overlook. 1.2 mi.
- Glen Canyon Dam. 2.3 mi.
- Dixie Ellis Lower Antelope Canyon Tours. 3.1 mi.
6 Things Not to Miss at the Grand Canyon
- Grand Canyon Village.
- Grand Canyon Skywalk.
- Historic District.
- Havasupai Falls.
- Desert View Drive.
- North Rim.
The Grand Canyon's Best Scenic Viewpoints
- Mather Point, South Rim.
- Redwall Bridge, North Rim.
- Hopi Point, South Rim Trail.
- Plateau Point, Bright Angel Trail.
- Shoshone Point, South Rim.
- Desert View.
- Angel's Window, North Rim.
- Black Bridge or Silver Bridge view from the River.
The North Rim area has far fewer amenities and overlooks, and requires more time driving to overlooks. Yes, it's less distance to Zion from the North Rim. On the other hand, the South Rim has a lot more amenities, overlooks and things to do. Easy to moderate to extreme hiking are available at both.
Entrance FeesGrand Canyon National Park Vehicle Permit - $35 (U.S. Dollars). Admits one individual when entering by foot, bicycle, park shuttle bus, Grand Canyon Railway and private rafting trip. Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge.
You'll have loads of amazing photos and a lot more money in your wallet. Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk would be worth it if they reduced the entrance fees and allowed photography on the Skywalk. Until then, the South Rim is the most accessible (and much more spectacular) portion of the Grand Canyon to visit.
By far the best location to stay at the Grand Canyon National Park is the Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim. Staying here gives you easy access to the most beautiful viewpoints (also at sunrise and at sunset) and to some of the best hikes.
The two major cities closest to the Canyon are Phoenix and Las Vegas. Flagstaff, AZ is only 1.5 hours from the South Rim and although it is a smaller city, it does have an international airport. Tusayan is the closest town to Grand Canyon Village and also has a small public airport.
Sedona is very touristy and Flagstaff is more of a college town with some great restaurants, shopping, etc. I have visited both and my choice would definitely be Flagstaff. It's cheaper to stay in Flagstaff, but if you want a good night's sleep stay in Sedona. Trains run through Flagstaff 24/7 and they are loud!
Grand Canyon National Park's SOUTH RIM (open all year) is located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona (via route 64 from Interstate 40) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via route 180).
Grand Canyon Lodging options at the South Rim
- El Tovar – Grand Canyon lodging.
- Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins – Grand Canyon lodging.
- Maswik Lodge – Grand Canyon lodging.
- Yavapai Lodge – Grand Canyon lodging.
So here are 10 eye-popping places you can visit instead of (or in addition to) the Grand Canyon.
- Antelope Canyon, Arizona.
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona/Utah.
- Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.
- Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah.
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
