I am sure the Grand Canyon is on many people’s travel bucket list and for good reason. There is so much to do from hikes, to scenic drives, to walking around the village. For anyone planning a quick visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon here is how to spend one incredible day there.
How to Spend 1 Day Explore the Grand Canyon
Where to Stay in the Grand Canyon
Mather Campground
If you want to stay within the Village area of the Grand Canyon South Rim I recommend you check out Mather Campground. It is in a great location, it is a quick walk to the shuttle stop that can take you wherever you want to go. The Mather Campsite is also very affordable, it cost around $18 CAD per night.
How to Get Around the Grand Canyon
The shuttle system is the best way to get around in the Grand Canyon. The shuttle system is free and easy to use, it runs every 10-15 minutes starting the hour before sunrise and runs until the hour after sunset. There are 4 bus routes, the red route is the Hermits Rest Route, the blue route is the Village Route, the orange route is the Kaibab/Rim Route, and the purple route is the Tusayan Route. The bus routes cover almost anywhere you would want to go.
Another way to get around is by car. If you prefer to drive your own car instead of riding the shuttle there are lots of parking lots around the village that you can park at. Just be aware, that if you are driving, there are lots of one-way streets in the Grand Canyon Village area.
The last way to get around the Grand Canyon is by walking or biking. The Rim Trail is a nice paved pathway that covers 12.8 miles (20.6 km) that goes from Hermits Rest and goes all the way to South Kaibab Trail. This trail covers a majority of the South Side of the Grand Canyon and has great views overlooking the canyon. So this trail is a great way to get around.
Best Hikes in the Grand Canyon
Bright Angels Trail
Bright Angels Trail is a great hike because you get to hike into the Grand Canyon. Bright Angels Trailhead is located in the village by Kolb Studio. This trail can be a long one if you go all the way down to the bottom of the canyon but there are many checkpoints along the way where you can stop and turn around.
Checkpoints:
- First Tunnel (0.2 km roundtrip = 20 minutes)
- Second Tunnel (2.9 km roundtrip = 1-2 hours)
- 1.5 mile Resthouse (4.8 km roundtrip = 2-4 hours)
- 3 mile Resthouse (9.6 km roundtrip = 4-6 hours)
- Havasupai Gardens (14.4 km roundtrip = 6-9 hours)
- Plateau Point (19.6 km roundtrip = 9-12 hours)
The last two checkpoints aren’t advised as day hikes and it is recommended to check with a park ranger before planning a day hike to the bottom. But even if you don’t go to the bottom is a nice trail and has great views of the canyon.
Rim Trail
The Rim Trail is a great one to walk if you want a less strenuous walk. This paved trail brings you along the whole rim of the canyon with great views. You can start your walk anywhere along the trail you would like but the path runs from Hermits Rest to South Kaibab Trail which is a total of 12.8 miles (20.6 km).
Activities in the Grand Canyon Village
Attend a talk or performance
In the village, there are sometimes talks or performances informing visitors about the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. Sometimes there are Indigenous speakers that come and present. If you are there for one of these talks or performances I recommend attending.
Visit the shops
Another activity that you can do while visiting the Grand Canyon is go shopping for souvenirs to remember your trip. There are lots of stores you can visit in the village.
Watch the Sunset
Another great activity to do in the Grand Canyon is to go watch the sunset. The sunset is supposed to be wonderful. Hopefully, you are luckier than we are because the night we went to watch the sunset it was very cloudy. I recommend going to watch the sunset at Hopi Point. To get to Hopi Point you take the red shuttle.
The Grand Canyon is an amazing destination and you can check it off your bucket list. Hope this gives you some ideas on how to spend your time in the Grand Canyon. Hope you have an amazing trip.
