Grand Canyon Village is the hub of the South Rim of the canyon, which is by far the best-known and most popular area of the national park. Before beginning a tour, get a copy of
The Guide, which is handed out at the park's entrance. It's invaluable for current trail information, maps and park activities.
The village is home to the main park visitor center as well as hotels, shops and other services. It's a National Historic District, containing many vintage buildings in addition to the spectacular view. Many of the structures employ wood and stone and are designed to blend with the natural surroundings.
Two scenic routes begin near the village. Both offer glorious panoramas from numerous overlooks.
Hermit Road, formerly known as West Rim Drive, attracts so many visitors that it's closed to auto traffic March-November. During that time, you have to take one of the free shuttle buses that make stops at each overlook. The shuttles run from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset and depart every 15-30 minutes. The shuttles stop at eight canyon overlooks on the way out to Hermits Rest but stop only at Mohave and Hopi Points on the return. A shuttle takes about 75 minutes to go to the end of the line and return to the village, but plan on spending at least a half day on Hermit Road to admire its many viewpoints. Simply get off the shuttle at any overlook, and catch the next shuttle when you're ready to move along. It's also possible to walk between overlooks, using the Rim Trail that skirts the canyon. Check with a shuttle driver for suggestions on the best walking segments, and be sure to hike on the trail, not the roadway.
Almost every overlook is worth seeing, but we have a few favorites. The Trailview Overlook near the beginning of Hermit Road provides a bird's-eye view of the hikers and mules far below on the Bright Angel Trail. The Rim Trail from there to the next shuttle stop at Maricopa Point is a pleasant, nearly level stroll. Powell Overlook has a monument to Major John Wesley Powell, the famous explorer who led a boat expedition through the canyon in the 1860s. From Powell Point and Maricopa Point, you can look down on the remains of the Lost Orphan Mine that operated between 1893 and the 1960s, a source of both copper and uranium.
From Hopi Point, vast stretches of the canyon are visible, making this a favorite spot for sunset viewing. Far below, it's possible to see small sections of the Colorado River, along with the Tonto Trail, which is located just above the inner gorge of the canyon. At the last stop on Hermit Road, Hermits Rest, there are restrooms, a gift shop and a snack bar housed in a building designed by famed architect Mary E. Colter.
Desert View Drive, formerly called East Rim Drive, is not as heavily trafficked as Hermit Road. With the exception of Yaki Point, it's open to private cars year-round. Parking at the major overlooks can be a problem in summer, however. The route stretches for 26 mi/42 km from Grand Canyon Village to Desert View. To access Yaki Point, take the Kaibab Trail Shuttle from the Canyon View Information Plaza at the eastern edge of the village. It stops at Pipe Creek Vista, the South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point, with departures every 15 to 30 minutes, beginning an hour before sunrise and ending an hour after sunset.
Heading out to Desert View Drive from Grand Canyon Village, you'll first encounter Mather Point, where the Canyon View Information Plaza is located. East of Mather Point is Yaki Point. Fine views are available from this busy spot, and the point is also close to the trailhead for the South Kaibab Trail that descends into the canyon.
Along Desert View Drive, before Moran Point, there are several picnic areas set slightly off the road. Grandview Point, with the trailhead for Horseshoe Mesa, is also in this area. Moran Point and Lipan Point are protruding terraces that provide expansive vistas of the canyon and the Painted Desert to the east.
When you reach the end of the scenic drive, at Desert View, be sure to climb the 70-ft/20-m Desert View Watchtower that seems to teeter on the very edge of the canyon. The 360-degree views of the Painted Desert, the Inner Gorge and the Colorado River are fabulous. The tower is decorated throughout with native southwestern themes and is designed to resemble Pueblo structures found at Mesa Verde, Cedar Mesa and Chaco Canyon (except this building has a TV antenna on top and a curio shop within). A general store, trading post, gas station and campground are also located there at the eastern end of the park. The road continues out of the park (as Highway 64) and extends to the east, meeting Highway 89 at the town of Cameron. This is the typical route for those driving from the South Rim of the canyon to the North Rim.
The village of Tusayan (pronounced TOO-say-yon) is 7 mi/11 km south of Grand Canyon Village. This is the closest community to the park. A number of hotels, restaurants, gift shops, outfitters and tour companies are located there. Grand Canyon Airport is situated just south of the village.
