Grand Canyon National Park

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is very overcrowded and expensive, and there is usually a shortage of parking and accommodation, but that of course doesn't matter as the canyon is the most famous natural attraction in the USA and possibly in the world. No-one forgets their first sight of the Grand Canyon and it will never fail to impress or offer something new, no matter how often they visit.

Ninety percent of tourists see only the south rim since it is easily accessible and the main road (AZ 64) parallels the canyon edge for some distance - here there is every conceivable facility, many superb overlooks and a choice of hiking trails. The north rim, 215 miles away by road, is much more remote and higher in elevation hence it is closed during the winter months by snow, but fewer people mean more peace and tranquillity and the views are just as good. The only other part of the National Park that may be approached via paved roads is Havasu Canyon, contained within the Havasupai Indian Reservation to the west, although some hiking is required.

To book a tour and see this location or any other locations in the Southwest of your choice

Call 1-800-338-4719 or Email us at Info@LasVegasBus.com.

Still further west, a few reasonable quality unpaved roads run through land of the Hualapai Reservation including the one down Peach Springs Canyon that leads all the way to the Colorado, giving access to many isolated side canyons as well as the river itself. On the other side of the Grand Canyon, the particularly remote Tuweep area to the northwest can be reached by several dirt tracks of over 60 miles starting from US 89 in Utah and offers some spectacular viewpoints, but most of the countless square miles of the canyon and its tributaries are completely inaccessible by road.

To book a tour and see this location or any other locations in the Southwest of your choice

Call 1-800-338-4719 or Email us at Info@LasVegasBus.com.

As others have said, sometimes the scale and extent of the Grand Canyon is disconcerting - too vast to take in at first sight, but a hike down beneath the rim gives a more intimate and manageable perspective. The two main south rim trails are the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab; this connects with the North Kaibab route which links to the north rim. There are also many longer (unmaintained) paths suitable for experienced hikers, leading both to the river and along the canyon, such as the Lava Falls Trail near Tuweep.