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Arizona Tourist Bureau. Check availability, rates and make reservations
The Grand Canyon
The South Rim
Open year round, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon sees the bulk of annual
visitors to the area, with most arriving during the summer months. With the stunning backdrop of the Canyon, on
the South Rim you will still have access to restaurants, shops and lodging, all nearby.
Entrance gates to the South Rim are open 24 hours a day. Park services (the visitor center and various facilities)
generally operate between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM. Park Rangers are available at the visitor center, which is
located in Grand Canyon Village. You will find a free slide show there with an introduction to and information
about Grand Canyon National Park.
On the South Rim, some of the lookouts are located near Grand Canyon Village, at Hermit's Rest and Desert View.
The East Rim Drive follows the canyon for 26 miles from Grand Canyon Village to Desert View. To access the lookouts
on West Rim Drive from spring through fall, you will need to make use of the free shuttle bus run by the Park Service
since the road is closed to automobiles during that period.
South Rim hiking.
Hinking into the Canyon can take all forms--from short day trips to multi-day treks that descend into the Inner Canyon
to the Colorado River (and back!) These trips offer varying degrees of difficulty--the key word here being difficulty.
Any hike that goes below the rim will require stamina, especially on the way out.
Mule trips.
One of the most popular activities on the South Rim are the mule trips to Phantom Ranch. Booking early is an absolute
necessity--they fill up months in advance.
South Rim camping.
All camping permits are through the National
Park Service Reservation System. As is with many lodging
and recreation facilities, the earlier you book, the better your chance will be in securing a spot.
Planning your trip.
Getting a good guide book is essential. The best we have found is Frommer's Grand Canyon National Park,
which not only gives plenty of information on the park in general, but also has extensive information on the trails--rim,
corridor and wilderness--that are available.
The Inner Canyon | The North
Rim
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