Bright Angel Trail

near Kolb Studio, just west of Bright Angel Lodge, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023 928-638-2631

Description: SOUTH RIM. Probably the most well-known and oft-followed trail of the Grand Canyon, Bright Angel was originally used by the Havasupai and then by prospectors. One miner eventually co-opted control of the trail for profit until the National Park Service obtained it in 1928. The trail follows a natural fault line into the canyon and descends approximately 9 miles to the Colorado River. Thanks to rest stations set intermittently along the way (which offer opportunity for water replenishment) and shaded routes, the trail is one accessible to most visitors. Rangers, however, do not recommend descending to the river and coming back to the rim in one day. Rather, folks are advised to go part way and come back up or to camp at the Canyon's base (reservations and permits required). Depending on time and fitness, some visitors descend the South Kaibab Trail (which is steeper and offers neither water nor shade), camp, and then ascend Bright Angel, which is kinder to weary hikers. Rangers can provide the best advice for your skill level.
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Desert View and Watchtower

Desert View Dr, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023 928-638-2736

Description: SOUTH RIM. At this outlook, you'll find many traveler conveniences, including a restaurant, general store, and service station. However, the highlight is the watchtower, a stone edifice designed by Mary E.J. Colter and built in 1932. Rising 70 feet above the Canyon rim, the tower was intended to mimic ancient architecture and accommodate early tourists. It affords incredible vistas of the Canyon, the Colorado River, the San Francisco Peaks, and the Painted Desert from roof-top observation points. The tower also boasts murals, recreations of Native American petroglyphs, a gift shop, and demonstrations of Hopi weaving. A must-stop while in the park.
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Lipan Point

Desert View Dr, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023 928-638-7888

Description: SOUTH RIM. Many visitors claim that Lipan Point offers one of the most spectacular Canyon vistas in the entire park. Westward views seem to stretch outward forever, and Canyon walls present a tapestry of colors and textures. The Colorado River cuts through the deepest part of the Canyon near here, and sunset views are incredible as well. Far below the rim, cradled by the river, is the Unkar Delta, a rich alluvial accumulation that supported the farming efforts of early Native Americans.
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South Kaibab Trail

off Desert View Dr, trailhead near Yaki Point, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86023 928-638-7888

Description: SOUTH RIM. Along with Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab is one of the Canyon's most popular trails, thanks to fantastic scenery and well-maintained paths. South Kaibab was created by the National Park Service as a free alternative to the then-for-profit Bright Angel. Its steep descent runs approximately 7 miles to the Colorado River where a suspension bridge then connects it to the North Kaibab Trail, which is a 14-mile hike from the river to the North Rim of the Canyon. Rangers do not recommend going into the Canyon and coming back out in a single day. Rather, folks are advised to go part way and come back up or to camp at the Canyon's base (reservations and permits required). Depending on time and fitness, some visitors descend the South Kaibab Trail (which is steeper and offers neither water nor shade), camp, and then ascend Bright Angel, which is kinder to weary hikers. Rangers can provide the best advice for your skill level.
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Vermilion Cliffs

Hwy 89A, Marble Canyon, AZ 602-417-9200

Description: MARBLE CANYON. Part of the recently created Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, these awe-inspiring cliffs rise majestically thousands of feet from the landscape. Stunning red, orange, and purple pigments give credence to the name of the formation, which sits alongside the Paria Plateau, home to Anasazi tribes in the 12th century. Early Spanish and American explorers also made their way through this region in earlier centuries. These days, the area is known as being home to California condors released to the wild for repopulation. Permits are required to hike in Paria Canyon and the Coyote Buttes area. Phone number to call: 435-688-3246; permits are limited and awarded on a lottery-based system.
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