Planning your stay at Grand Canyon National can seem daunting, especially with the park’s vast amount of activities and its ability to get jam-packed with tourists. Our team of professional RV vacation planners have spent tons of time exploring the park and finding its best activities. In this post, we’ll cover the 5 must-do activities in Grand Canyon National Park and how to make the most of each one.
Why is it important to plan your Grand Canyon vacation in advance?
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Consequentially, it is also one of the most visited places on Earth. So, knowing what to do and when to do it is key to making the most of your stay. Folks who don’t know what to do and when to do it could find themselves in massive crowds, long lines, and jam-packed shuttles.
5 Must-Do Activities in Grand Canyon National Park
1. Take a hike down the Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon National Park has thousands of miles of hiking trails. But in our opinion, Bright Angel Trail does the best job of capturing the true essence of the park, and especially the inner rim. With options to hike for multiple days or just a few miles, this well-maintained trail is great for those seeking some of the best views of the canyon.
If you’re planning on a day hike, don’t be fooled by the shorter mileage, there’s plenty of vertical feet to classify this hike as a hard one. Day hikers should consider doing out-and-back trips from the trailhead to either the 1.5-Mile Resthouse, the 3-Mile Resthouse, or to Plateau Point (only for the very courageous!).
Over the years of exploring the Bright Angle Trail, we’ve noticed that the best time to hike is during the morning when the temps are cool, the light is beautiful, and most folks are still sleeping. The trail does get hot during the middle of the day, especially during the summer, so remember to bring plenty of sunscreen and water – and fill your bottles at every opportunity.
2. See the South Rim Viewpoints
Driving from viewpoint to viewpoint on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is quite possibly one of our favorite activities to do when visiting the park. Something about spending time in the RV or shuttle with your family exploring one of the most picturesque places on Earth is just incredibly fun. Most folks who drive the South Rim Viewpoints break the trip into 3 different segments or days.
Hermit Road Viewpoints: Powell Viewpoint, Hopi Viewpoint, Mohave Viewpoint, The Abyss Viewpoint, Pima Point, Hermit’s Rest.
The viewpoints along Hermit Road begin at Grand Canyon Village and finish at Hermits Rest Viewpoint (7 miles). You can drive to each of these viewpoints, but we recommend riding the shuttle if you’re traveling during the high season. If you’re in the park during the winter, we recommend driving the route yourself. Like most activities in Grand Canyon National Park, try to do this in the early morning to avoid the crowds.
Powell and Hopi Viewpoints are our favorites in the entire park. They are pretty close to each other, so you can park at one and walk to the other. The Abyss and Pima Viewpoints offer great alternate views of the canyons, and Hermit’s Rest is a great place to grab any souvenirs before heading back to the village.
Desert View Road Viewpoints: Shoshone Point, Grandview Point, Moran Point, Lipan Point, Navajo Point, Desert View Point.
The viewpoints along Desert Road are the least travelled in the group and some do require a bit of a hike, but they are a well-deserved escape from the crowds during the high season. If you’re heading to Monument Valley, this is the perfect way to end your trip on the way out of Grand Canyon National Park. The drive from Grand Canyon Village to the Desert Point is 25 miles long and takes roughly an hour.
Grand Canyon Village Viewpoints: Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Yaki Point, Ohh Ahh Point.
During the high season (May-September), we recommend hiking from viewpoint to viewpoint on the Rim Trail around Grand Canyon Village early in the morning. This is the best way to avoid the crowds and heat, and gives you the opportunity to catch the shuttle back at any point. Ooh Ahh Point is a must-do at the park, so we highly recommend doing this viewpoint loop during your visit.
3. Take a mule ride
Riding a mule from the rim of the Grand Canyon is the perfect way to explore the park. Mules are a fun and memorable way to take in the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon. With 2 hour, 4 hour, and overnight trips available, there’s a mule ride fit for everyone.
If you have some time, we highly recommend the overnight mule ride to Phantom Ranch. The trip down and up the canyon walls is unforgettable, and riding a mule allows you to take in all of the views.
Mule trips require booking a long time in advance, so be sure to let your Pine Road Trip Planner know if this is of interest so that they can make the proper arrangements.
4. Stand on the Grand Canyon Skywalk
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a must do when visiting the park but does require a bit of planning due to its proximity far away from the Grand Canyon Village. Fit for all ages and fitness levels, the Skywalk is a 10-foot wide U-shaped bridge that extends 70 feet over the canyon rim. With a glass walkway, you can see 4,000 feet straight down to the canyon floor.
Right beside the Skywalk is the Sky View restaurant, which offers tremendous views of the canyon – plus this is a perfect place to watch for those who are scared of heights. We recommend arriving at the Skywalk right before it opens at 11:00AM to beat the crowds, then stop by the restaurant for a bite to eat.
5. Take a helicopter tour
If it isn’t on your bucket list, you should definitely add taking a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon to it. If you’re heading to Grand Canyon National Park and have the itch to get the best views of the canyon, make sure you take one of these tours. There are multiple places to begin your helicopter tour, but we recommend leaving from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, it is the closest to where the rest of the Grand Canyon activities are.
Grand Canyon National Park is truly an amazing place to vacation with your friends and family, and one every adventurer must visit in their lifetime. With a vast array of easy to strenuous activities, there’s plenty for all ages, interests, and fitness levels. Remember to plan your trip before you visit, wake up early to avoid the heat and crowds, and to have fun enjoying one of the most beautiful places on Earth.