Apart from appreciating the breathtaking views, the Grand Canyon National Park offers plenty of things that you can do. These activities will make you feel that there is more to life than just staring at the view! Here are some of the exciting adventures that you can take while in the park.
Walking or Hiking
Well, the area is a great place to go walking or hiking. You can do a day hike in and around the surrounding areas of the canyon. A backcountry permit will be required if you prefer having a backpack overnight hike. Beginners may start with The Canyon Rim Trail, where it begins from the Visitor Center in Mather Point. This trail extends up to Hermit Road, where you may find a free shuttle bus for easier access to the other areas of the park. The same road is now closed to private vehicles to give way for bikers or those who are walking. When it comes to walking, you may follow the Trail of Time. It is a self-guided walking tour that shows the geological changes that happened on the Grand Canyon. The starting point is on the Yavapai Geology Museum and may take up to an hour, depending on the portals you would like to enter.
Bicycling
Speaking of bicycles, there are specific areas in the Grand Canyon National Park. Apart from the Hermit Road, the South Rim has open areas for bicycles and e-bikes. Please take note that some areas may be closed for biking for your safety. It is also important to remember that e-bikes without pedaling are not allowed in specific areas to give way to other bikers and also for safety purposes.
River trip
Exploring the Colorado River is a fun idea for those who seek thrilling adventures. If you would like to do this activity, you can start by checking river concessioners that can meet your expectations and offer you the best prices. There are options for a 1-day river trip or those that can last for more than 3 days (but do not exceed 18 days). Permit for these trips are required, and some are made available to the public through a weighted lottery.
Park Ranger Programs
There are plenty of activities and tours offered by park rangers. When you arrive at a visitor center, check for the bulletin boards or ask for the programs currently offered. Please note that the current situation may impose limits on capacity, reduced operation timings, and modified operations. If you did this program before, there could be significant changes that already happened.
Camping
Like most of the national parks, it is exciting to do some camping in an area with breathtaking views. Just make sure that you have an advanced reservation as they are required. It can be done by calling the National Recreation Reservation Service or through recreation.gov. RV (Recreational Vehicles are most welcome, but the permit will also be required, and there are no RV hook-ups available throughout the park except on the Trailer Village.
Helicopter Tours
Ready to go extra? There are private companies that offer helicopter tours where you can see the Grand Canyon on top of it. It can range from 20 to 45 minutes with most of them starting from Las Vegas. Yes - since it is from Vegas - prepare to pay hundreds of dollars to avail of this service.
As additional information, some may be confused on what rim of the Grand Canyon National Park would be much more preferable for them. Note that most visitors go to the South Rim since it is open all year round and easier to access. As a result, it can get very busy, especially during the summer season. Therefore, reservations are highly recommended during this period. On the other hand, the North Rim is for thrill-seekers. It is only open for a specific time period every year and can only be reached by road. Since it can only welcome visitors in a specific season, reservation is also strongly recommended.
There are plenty of things that can be done in the park aside from these activities stated above. You can also try out new dishes in the wide array of restaurants available in a specific location. Whether opting for a relaxing day or are in for a restless adventure, the Grand Canyon National Park got you covered.