Characteristics of this area
Open 365 days a year, the South Rim offers plenty of activities, restaurants and, of course, gorgeous views.
Weather
Situated at 7,000 feet, South Rim summer temps hover around 50 and 80 degrees, while inner canyon temps often reach more than 100 degrees. Fall and spring are variable, so pack easily layered attire. Winter conditions include snowy and icy roads and trails. For a recorded message providing information about road conditions, contact Grand Canyon National Park at (928) 638-7888.
Landscape
The awe-inspiring Grand Canyon stretches 277 river miles, up to 18 miles wide and one mile deep. Clouds dance over the massive gash, their white forms and the sky’s blue expanse contrasting sharply and stunningly with the golds, oranges and reds of the canyon’s rock.
Park map
Grand Canyon panorama map
Area map
South Rim Village transit map
South Rim, including East Rim Drive and Desert View
Wildlife
California condor
Albert squirrel
Mule deer
Bighorn sheep
Bobcats
Coyotes
Beavers
Peregrine falcon
Bald eagle
Lodging
For same-day reservations call (928) 638-2631. For advance reservations call (888) 297-2757 or visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com.
Bright Angel Lodge ($70-178)
El Tovar Hotel ($178-426)
Kachina Lodge ($173-184)
Thunderbird Lodge ($173-184)
Maswik Lodge ($92-173)
Yavapai Lodge ($114-163)
Dining
The Arizona Room
Bright Angel Coffeehouse, Restaurant and Bar
El Tovar Dining Room
Maswik Pizza Pub and Cafeteria
Best views
Mather Point offers stunning views into the famous gash.
Hopi Point and Mohave Point are both great gathering spots for sunset.
Navajo and Lipan Points provide views of the Supergroup rock layers.
Grandview Point allows onlookers to peer left and right into the canyon below.
Activity options
The Grand Canyon Visitor Center (open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) is a great place to stock up on souvenirs. If you’ve got 20 minutes to spare, watch the short film, Grand Canyon: A journey of wonder. Note: The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is being renovated in 2011.
Verkamp’s Visitor Center (open daily 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.) is a renovated private residence built in 1906 featuring a book store and several exhibits about pioneer history.
Built in 1905, the Kolb Studio was once the home and workshop for two pioneers in photography.
Stop by the Yavapai Geology Museum where award-winning exhibits answer questions about the area’s geologic timeline.
Check out the Desert View Watchtower, a 70-foot tall national historic landmark boasting fantastic vistas of the Grand Canyon and the neighboring Painted Desert.
A visit to the Tusayan Museum and Ruins (open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) offers a glance 800 years into the past when the Pueblo Indians were thriving in the area.
Take a moonlit tour of the Grand Canyon’s historic Pioneer Cemetery during a ranger-guided Graveyard Walk.
Mule rides are offered year round at the South Rim and include three-hour, overnight and two-night options.
Distance from nearby park entrances and cities
60 miles from Williams, Ariz.
80 miles from Flagstaff, Ariz.
212 miles from North Rim
