Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon is 446 kilometres long, up to 29 kilometres wide, and 1,800 metres deep in its deepest sections. The Colorado River carved it over roughly 5 to 6 million years, though the rock exposed at the bottom is nearly 2 billion years old. These facts do not fully prepare you for seeing it. The scale defeats comprehension from the rim: what appears to be a small river far below is actually 15 metres wide, and the buttes that look close are hours of hiking away.

The South Rim is open year-round and handles about 5.5 million visitors annually. The North Rim, higher in elevation, is open mid-May through mid-October. The two rims are 17 kilometres apart as the crow flies and about 340 kilometres by road.

2026 Entry Fees

Standard vehicle entry: $35 per vehicle for 7 days. Motorcycle: $30. Per person: $20.

Non-resident surcharge: From January 1, 2026, every non-US resident aged 16+ must pay an additional $100 surcharge on top of the standard entrance fee. The America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass is $250 and covers this. Annual passes purchased in 2025 or earlier are honoured under their original terms.

No reservations required for standard day visits to the South Rim.

South Rim Viewpoints

Mather Point, immediately inside the south entrance, is the first viewpoint most visitors reach and the most photographed – genuinely excellent views. The rim trail runs 21 kilometres along the South Rim; sections are paved and accessible by shuttle. Desert View at the east end, with Mary Colter’s 1932 Watchtower (architecturally the most interesting structure in the park, with a 360-degree view), is less crowded.

Hiking Into the Canyon

No permit required for day hiking. The Bright Angel Trail is the standard descent route from the South Rim (15 km to the Colorado River, 1,400 metres elevation change). Rangers consistently warn against attempting the full trail in summer, when canyon-bottom temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Safe day-hike turnaround points: 1.5-Mile Resthouse (3 miles round trip, 2-3 hours) or 3-Mile Resthouse (6 miles round trip, 4-5 hours). Both have water in season.

Important 2026 closure: Bright Angel Campground and Cottonwood Campground are currently closed for infrastructure improvements, significantly reducing below-rim overnight capacity. If planning an overnight hike, verify current status at nps.gov/grca before booking permits.

Backcountry permits for overnight camping cost $10 per permit plus $24 per person per night below the rim. Apply through the NPS lottery.

Staying and Eating

Accommodation within the park (Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel) books out months ahead. Grand Canyon Village has a small grocery and several cafeterias. Tusayan, just outside the south entrance, has chain hotels. Flagstaff, 90 kilometres south, is the most practical multi-night base.