Located entirely in northern Arizona, the park encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. One of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world, Grand Canyon is unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers to visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site.

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General Information

Visitation

Close to five million a year. Peak season runs from April through October; winter holiday weekends are also crowded. Summers are extremely crowded.

Location

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Address

Grand Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Telephone

All general park inquiries should be directed to (520) 638-7888. For lodging reservations (in-park) & most other concession activities (including mule rides, Phantom Ranch, etc.) call (520) 638-2631 (same-day reservations) or (303) 297-2757 (advance reservations).

Operating Hours & Seasons

The South Rim is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The North Rim is closed from late October to mid-May.

Climate & Recommended Clothing

The South Rim is 7,000 feet above sea level, which means snow in winter and cool nights even in summer. Inner canyon hiking (below the rim) is another story, however. Summer temperatures along the Colorado River at the canyon bottom can reach 120¡F. The North Rim is 8,000 feet above sea level and can receive snow throughout most of the year. Weather is particularly changeable in spring and fall; visitors should be prepared for a variety of climates.

Directions

Grand Canyon Village (South Rim) is located 60 miles north of Interstate 40 at Williams via highway 64, and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff via highway 180. Only 10 miles from rim to rim as the crow flies, the North Rim is 215 miles (about 4 1/2 hours) from the South Rim by car. The North Rim is 44 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ, via highway 67.

Transportation

To Park: Commercial air carriers serve Las Vegas, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Grand Canyon Airport (in Tusayan, just south of the park). Bus service is available from Flagstaff and Williams via Nava-Hopi Bus Tours ((800) 892-8687). Historic steam train service is available from Williams (call (800) THE-TRAIN).

In Park: Free shuttle service is available throughout Grand Canyon Village, along the West Rim Drive, and out to the South Kaibab Trailhead during peak season only (generally Memorial Day to September). At that time of the year the West Rim Drive and Yaki Point are closed to private vehicles. Shuttle service is also available (for a fee) to Tusayan. Taxis are available (on call) from Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, call (520) 638-2631 ext. 6563.

By the year 2001, the Grand Canyon will implement a combined light rail and alternative fuel bus system to transport visitors to and within the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. After exploring several options, light rail was selected as the optimum mode for travel from the gateway community of Tusayan to the park. Alternative fuel buses were selected for connections within the park.

Fees, Costs & Rates

Entrance fees

Private vehicle - $20

Individual (pedestrians, bicycle, etc) - $10

Annual Grand Canyon pass - $40
(individual or vehicle)

Annual Golden Eagle pass - $50
(all U.S. recreation sites)

Backcountry fees

Permit Fee (per permit) - $20

Frequent Hiker (all permits annually) - $50

Nightly Impact Fee (per person) - $4

Fees for those arriving by commercial bus or tour vary. Persons holding a Golden Age Passport (available to U.S. citizens or residents 62 years of age or older for a one-time fee of $10), Golden Eagle Passport or Golden Access Passport are admitted without additional charge.

Golden Eagle Passport

The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any national park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to:

National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Room 138
Washington, DC 20242
Attention: Golden Eagle Passport

Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only.

Golden Age Passport

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase.

The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents.

The Golden Age Pass grants a 50 percent discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions.

Golden Access Passport

The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase.

The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50 percent discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions.

All passes described above are non-transferable.

Facilities & Opportunities

Visitor Center & Exhibits

The main park visitor center (South Rim) is located just east of Grand Canyon Village, approximately 6 miles north of the south entrance station. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (longer hours during peak season). Interpretive centers are also located at Yavapai Observation Station, Tusayan Museum, Desert View, and the North Rim (mid-May through late October only; located in the lobby of Grand Canyon Lodge).

Trails & Roads

The inner canyon is accessed via the so-called "Corridor Trails." The Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail from the South Rim, and the North Kaibab Trail from the North Rim are all considered "Corridor Trails." There are other less heavily traveled and more remote inner canyon trails as well. All overnight travel below the rim requires a backcountry permit. The Rim Trail on the South Rim offers vistas along the South Rim; a variety of rim trails are also available through the more heavily forested regions on the North Rim. All main park roads are paved. A large network of gravel roads exists in the Kaibab National Forest outside the park (on both rims).

Programs & Activities

The park offers free ranger-led programs throughout the year, including a wide variety of walks, talks, and a nightly evening program (outdoors in summer, indoors during cooler weather).

Lodging & Camping Facilities

All in-park lodging is available through Grand Canyon National Park Lodges; call (520) 638-2631 for same-day reservations or (303) 297-2757 for advance reservations. Camping is available in the park at Mather Campground; sites at the campground are currently available on a first-come first-served basis. Mather Campground is handled on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations) from December 1 to March 1 of each year. Beginning on March 15, 1998, advance reservations for Mather Campground will be available by calling (800) 365-2267. Camping in the park is also available at Desert View Campground (26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village; closed mid-October through mid-May), and at the North Rim Campground (after March 15 call (800) 365-2267 for reservations). Camping with hook-ups is available in Grand Canyon Village at Trailer Village (adjacent to Mather Campground; call (303) 297-2757).

Food & Supplies

Groceries and supplies are available on the South Rim at Babbitt's General Store (both in Grand Canyon Village and at Desert View). There is a small camper store on the North Rim, adjacent to the North Rim Campground.

Other Concessions & NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities & Opportunities

Mule trips and bus tours are available throughout the year. In addition to the main park visitor centers, historic Kolb Studio is open to the public for most of the year and features a variety of canyon-related exhibits. The park offers free ranger-led programs 12 months a year. There are six lodges in the park (including the historic El Tovar Hotel) and a wide variety of eating establishments (from cafeterias to formal dining at the El Tovar Hotel).

Handicap Accessibility

Facilities vary a great deal. Write for a copy of the park's free eight-page Accessibility Guide.

Recommended Activities & Park Use

The canyon may be viewed from the rim at a number of overlooks along the East Rim Drive (26 miles from Grand Canyon Village to Desert View) and the West Rim Drive (9 miles from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest; closed to private vehicles from Memorial Day through September, when it may be accessed by free park shuttles). Visitors may also hike along the rim on the Rim Trail or below the rim on a number of inner canyon trails. All hiking at Grand Canyon is strenuous, due to altitude (the South Rim is 7,000 feet above sea level) and extreme temperatures (up to 120F in the inner canyon). A trip from rim to river and back is a two-day trip for most; visitors may spend the night at Phantom Ranch (with advance reservations) or camp at Bright Angel Campground, adjacent to Phantom Ranch (with a backcountry permit). Phantom Ranch is also accessible by mule (a two-day trip). The park offers free programs throughout the year. The concessionaire offers a variety of activities (mule trips, bus tours, etc.) throughout the year.

Reservations & Permits

Reservations for camping and lodging must be made in advance, particularly during peak season. Permits are required for all overnight hikes; permits must be obtained in person or by written request (phone reservations are not accepted). Write and request a copy of the park's Backcountry Trip Planner for additional information on backpacking in the park. Permits are not required for day hikes.

Basic Visit Recommendations

Grand Canyon is heavily visited for most of the year and it is imperative to plan ahead for lodging, backcountry permits, or mule trips. Persons planning day visits only should arrive early in the day, as parking is limited.

Special Events & Programs

Regularly scheduled special events at Grand Canyon include the Grand Canyon Chamber Music Festival each September, regularly scheduled theatrical productions in summer, art exhibits at Kolb Studio on the rim (April through October), and others. Check THE GUIDE upon arrival for details and schedules of current activities.

Adjacent Visitor Attractions

The town of Tusayan is just outside the south entrance station and offers additional opportunities for lodging, dining, and shopping. The Grand Canyon IMAX theater is located in Tusayan. Just south of Tusayan is Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Ten-X Campground (U.S. Forest Service) is also located just south of Tusayan.

Additional Information

Write Trip Planner, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 or call (520) 638-7888.

A more comprehensive on-line Trip Planner for Grand Canyon National Park is available (http://www.thecanyon.com/nps/tripplanner/mainmenu.htm). Books, maps, and other educational materials may be obtained through the park's cooperating association. Write Grand Canyon Association, P.O. Box 399, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 or call (520) 638-2481.

Grand Canyon Field Institute

Explore the natural and cultural history of the Grand Canyon region with a variety of outdoor educational opportunities, including seminars, backpacking trips and river trips. For information write Grand Canyon Field Institute, P.O. Box 399, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 or call (520) 638-2485.

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History

Grand Canyon was largely unknown until after the Civil War. In 1869, Major John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War veteran with a thirst for science and adventure, made a pioneering journey through the Canyon on the Colorado River. He accomplished this with nine men in four small wooden boats (only six men completed the journey). His party was, as far as the history books show, the first ever to make such a trip.

In the late 19th century there was interest in the region because of its promise of mineral resources (mainly copper and asbestos). The first pioneer settlements along the rim came in the 1880s. Early residents soon discovered that tourism was destined to be more profitable then mining, and by the turn of the century Grand Canyon was a well-known tourist destination. Many of the early tourist accommodations were not so different from the mining camps from which they developed, and most visitors made the grueling trip from nearby towns to the South Rim by stagecoach.

In 1901, the railroad was extended from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim, and the development of formal tourist facilities at the South Rim increased dramatically.

By 1905, the El Tovar Hotel stood where it does today, a world class hotel on the canyons edge. The Fred Harvey Company, known throughout the west for hospitality and fine food, continued to develop facilities at Grand Canyon (including Phantom Ranch, built in the inner canyon in 1922). Although first afforded federal protection in 1893 as a forest reserve and later as a national monument, Grand Canyon did not achieve national park status until 1919, three years after the creation of the National Park Service. Today Grand Canyon National Park receives close to five million visitors each year - a far cry from the annual visitation of 44,173 that the park received in 1919.

Grand Canyon became a national park in order to give it the best protection we, as a nation, have to offer. The mission of the National Park Service, here and elsewhere, is to preserve the park and all of its features, including the processes that created them, and to provide enjoyment for park visitors in a way that will leave the canyon unspoiled for future generations.

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Reservation Information

Lodging

Lodging in the park is completely booked well in advance. Be sure to make reservations as far ahead as possible.

All lodging within the park on the South Rim is handled through Grand Canyon National Park Lodges. Call (303) 297-2757 for reservations, fax (303) 297-3175, or write AmFac Parks & Resorts, 14001 East Iliff, Aurora, Colorado 80014. Prices range from $45 to $285 per night for two people. There is no youth hostel in Grand Canyon National Park.

Overnight lodging is available on the North Rim through AmFac Parks & Resorts; call (303) 297-2757 for reservations. Prices range from $65 to $105 per night for two people. As with the South Rim, lodging on the North Rim is booked well in advance. Make reservations as far ahead as possible. Grand Canyon Lodge has a dining room and snack bar. There is no diesel fuel available. Shower and laundry facilities and a small general store are located at the North Rim campground.

Camping

Mather Campground offers tent and RV camping (no hook-ups) in Grand Canyon Village; reservations are strongly recommended and available by calling (800) 365-2267, for updated camping reservation information call (520) 638-7888. Reservations are accepted for the period of March 1 to November 30. Fees range from $12 to $15 per site depending on the season.

There is a maximum of 2 vehicles and 6 people per site. Sites may be reserved up to five months in advance. Campsite reservations are booked well in advance; make reservations as far in advance as you can. Mather Campground is handled on a first-come, first-served basis from December 1 to March 1 of each year (reservations may not be made for this period). Cost: $10 per site.

Trailer Village (adjacent to Mather Campground) offers RV sites with hook-ups; call (303) 297-2757 for reservations. Cost: $18 per site.

Desert View Campground (26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village; no hook-ups) is open mid-May through mid-October and operates on a first-come, first-served basis only. Cost: $10 per site (maximum of two vehicles and six people per site).

All overnight camping below the rim requires a permit from the Backcountry Office. This is true for undeveloped areas on the rim as well (camping in developed areas is restricted to existing campgrounds). Permits are required and must be made in person or by mail or fax using the permit request form (telephone requests are not accepted). Applying well in advance is recommended although a small number of permits are sometimes available for the same day. There is a fee of $20 per permit plus an additional fee of $4 per night per person. Address requests for Backcountry permit information (which includes permit form) to:

Backcountry Office
Grand Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
or call (520) 638-7888 for more information.

Persons arriving without permits may put their names on a waiting list for cancellations; go to the Backcountry Office as soon as you arrive in the park. Backcountry Office is open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Names are accepted for the waiting list in person only.

There is a campground (no hook-ups) in the park a mile from the North Rim. Reservations are strongly recommended and available through the National Park Reservations Service. Call (800) 365-CAMP (2267). Callers from outside the United States should call (301) 722-1257.

You can also mail your reservations request to:

National Park Reservations Service
PO Box 1600
Cumberland, MD 21501

Reservations may be made up to, but not more than, three months in advance. $15 per night. Check in and check out time is 11 a.m. Late arrivals should call (520) 638-2151 at LEAST 24 hours in advance to ensure spot will be held. Maximum number of six people per site. No more than seven nights stay is allowed. The campground is open May 15 - October 15 annually.

Mule Trips

Mule rides from the South Rim are arranged through AmFac Parks & Resorts (303) 297-2757. It is a two-day round-trip to the Colorado River at the canyon bottom. A one-day trip is also offered which goes part way to the river. Overnight riders stay and eat at Phantom Ranch.

Mule trips may be booked 11 months in advance and fill up early. A waiting list is maintained for cancellations, but chances of obtaining reservations on the waiting list are slim. If you wish to make a trip into the canyon on mule, plan ahead! There are restrictions: mule riders must be over 4 feet 7 inches in height, weigh less than 200 lbs. and cannot be visibly pregnant. Mule riders must be able to understand English.

Mule trips are available from the North Rim (one-day and half-day trips) but do not go all the way to the river. Call Grand Canyon Trail Rides for reservations (435-679-8665).

Bus & Air Tours

Persons wishing to take a guided bus tour may make arrangements through Grand Canyon National Park Lodges. Call (303) 297-2757 or write AmFac Parks & Resorts, 14001 E. Iliff, Aurora, CO 80014 for more information. Visitors arriving in the park should proceed to the Bright Angel Lodge Transportation Desk to make arrangements. A variety of different tours are available throughout the year.

All scenic air tours operate from outside Grand Canyon National Park. Local commercial air tour operators are located in Grand Canyon Airport (just south of Tusayan). For a list of air tour operators, write Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 3007, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.

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