Grand Canyon – South Rim

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About Grand Canyon – South Rim

The Grand Canyon is the canyon carved by the Colorado River in northern Arizona: about 447 km long, up to 29 km wide and nearly 1.8 km deep. The rock layers of the walls preserve almost two billion years of Earth’s history. The national park was created in 1919 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

The South Rim is the most visited side and the only one usually open year-round. It sits at about 2,100 meters elevation, around Grand Canyon Village, where the historic lodges, restaurants and the visitor center are located, next to Mather Point, the first overlook most visitors see.

Visits typically follow the canyon rim. The Rim Trail, a mostly paved flat trail, connects the village overlooks. To the west, Hermit Road runs 11 km to Hermits Rest, passing overlooks such as Hopi Point and Mohave Point; from March to November it is often closed to private cars and served by the park shuttle. To the east, Desert View Drive goes 37 km to the Desert View Watchtower, designed by architect Mary Colter.

Descending into the canyon is a different trip. The Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails start at the rim, and even a short hike requires preparation: the return is all uphill, and in summer the heat down below can be intense. The park recommends not attempting to reach the river and return in the same day.

Sunrise and sunset change the color of the canyon walls, and Mather Point, Yavapai Point and the overlooks along Hermit Road are especially popular at those times. In winter the rim may have snow and below-freezing temperatures; in summer, late-afternoon storms are common.