5-Walk the Rim trail near Mather Point
As soon as you arrive in Grand Canyon National Park you will want to get to the rim! Easily accessible from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center parking lot or any of the in-park lodges is the Rim Trail. The vastness of this geologic wonder just can not be grasped until you view it for the first time in person.
4-Spend the night
There are a variety of lodging options to choose from inside Grand Canyon National Park. Since the drive from neighboring Flagstaff is an hour and a half, staying in the park is a great way to maximize your time here. There are two distinct sections at the south rim. The Visitor Center and Market Plaza area include Yavapai Lodge which is operated by Delaware North. Another concessionaire, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, operates Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, and Maswik Lodge in the Historic District. We chose to stay at Yavapai Lodge East for its family-friendly accommodations and economy.
3-Drive out to Desert View Watchtower
Located at the easternmost entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, the Desert View Watchtower is 25 miles from Canyon Village. After a day of hiking and biking, this drive is a relaxing finish.
The Watchtower was built in 1932 as a way to improve depression-stunted tourism in the area of the Grand Canyon. It was designed by architect Mary Colter whose Native American inspired structures are found throughout the Southwest.
2-Sunset at Grandview Point
Watching the setting sun illuminate the rocky layers of the canyon is a sight not to be missed. We settled on Grandview Point for the place to watch the show. This area was less crowded than the bustling Mather Point. It also provided the opportunity to walk the Grandview Trail a bit to find further seclusion. After the sunset, it was only a 12-mile long drive back to Canyon Village on Desert View Drive.
1-Bright Angel Bicycles Hermit Road Tour
Our favorite family activity was the not-to-be-missed Bright Angel Bicycles Hermit Road Tour! Starting from the Bright Angel Bicycles cafe and shop right next to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, this tour provided bicycles, helmets, shuttle service to and from starting and stopping points, and a very knowledgeable guide. If you are undecided about what tour to take while visiting the Grand Canyon and your family likes biking, this is definitely the tour to take.
The Hermit Road Tour begins at Hopi Point and continues along 5.5 easy peddling miles to Hermit’s Rest. Along the way, stops are made at many of the view points and the interpretive guide is with you the whole time to share their extensive knowledge of the park’s history, geology, flora, and fauna.
It took about 3 hours from start to finish, but we felt we were able to see so much more on bikes than we could have by walking or even driving. Some of the roads were closed to private motor vehicles so other than the occasional park shuttle, we had the road to ourselves. This tour is great for all ages. Trailers or tagalong bikes are available for those who are too young to peddle on their own.
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I’ve hiked many times in the Grand Canyon but I didn’t know of all these cool things to do on the rim. I’d love the bike tour and see the watchtower. I’m going to the north rim in May but I’ll keep these ideas in mind if we make it to the other side.