Last week, we were lucky enough to spend about 40 hours with E’s parents at the Grand Canyon! It’s a big national park, so here are my recommendations for having a great time while you’re there (especially if you’re only there for a little while).
1. Visit the North Rim of the Canyon (and camp there or stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge). This area is a little less crowded than the South Rim, but the views are still incredible. About a decade ago, I visited the Grand Canyon with my parents, and we visited the South Rim. My favorite part of that experience was seeing the Colorado River, with visible rapids, and while it wasn’t as easily visible from the North Rim, which worried me, you can find views from the North Rim if you drive/hike a little bit.
2. Sunrise. While I make it my mission to avoid waking up early, this sunrise was worth waking up at just before 5 a.m. to witness. There are no crowds (although it’s hard to avoid a few people) and it’s quiet and peaceful. It’s incredible to watch the sun light up the Canyon layer by layer.
3. Moonlit hike. After we watched a sunset (see below!), we hiked down from the lodge to an easy trail in the moonlight. It was surreal–walking along the edge of the Canyon with only the light of the moon to guide us? I’ve heard a hike with just the stars is fairly awesome, too, but alas, we had a moon. I didn’t mind, because otherwise I would probably have walked off the trail. My night vision is not the strongest…
4. Find a squirrel. On the North Rim, the finger of land is fairly isolated so there are a few unique species to the area. I was a little freaked out when if first saw the Kaibab squirrel because they look like weird mutated squirrels. Once we learned what they were, I definitely nerded out over them and took a million pictures every time we saw one. You’re welcome for not including them all.
5. Sunset. While the sunrise was a little more special because it was easier to escape the crowds, sunset over the Canyon is definitely worth it. We grabbed some cocoa, kicked back, and just took in the view!
6. Bright Angel Point. This hike is just a short walk from the Grand Canyon Lodge & Visitor Center. It’s a great introduction to the Canyon!
7. Stop by the Grand Canyon Lodge. While we camped instead of staying in the Lodge’s (adorable) little cabins, I enjoyed stopping by the Lodge for more information about the area and history of the Canyon, and for the beautiful views. I love me some views with my coffee!
8. Drive the Cape Royal Road. From the parking lot, take a short trail (about 15 minutes) to both Angel’s Window and Cape Royal. Angel’s Window might have been one of my favorite views of the entire trip, both from a spot where you can view the actual window, and the point over the window finally gave me a glimpse of the river. Just past Angel’s Window is Cape Royal, a must!
^^Angel’s Window!
9. Drive to Point Imperial. If you drive the opposite way from Cape Royal, you can hit Point Imperial, the highest point on either of the rims of the Grand Canyon. It’s a very short hike but it feels like you can see the entire canyon from here. The roads to both the points also have many vista points, so take your time…and stop for a restroom when you see it! (Trust me).
10. Hike Kaibab trail. While we only hiked a very small portion of this trail, I would love to go back and hike to the bottom of the Canyon. I can’t even imagine! Plus, it’s supposed to be hot at the bottom of the Canyon, which is weird because it definitely was cool at our campground.
Linking up for Travel Tuesday with Bonnie, Van, Kaelene & Sammy, as well as Erica for Listed Tuesday!
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The sunrise shots are really amazing! Looks so peaceful.
It really was, which is a little difficult to find in such a touristy spot 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!!
Your photographs are amazing! The trip sounds incredible. My dad and brother want to head out to the Grand Canyon sometime in the next year so I forwarded your post to them. 🙂 Thanks so much for all the great recommendations. Have a good one! 🙂
Thanks! I hope they find it helpful! If they need any other recommendations just tell them to shoot me an email :). They will have a great time! And thanks for your kind words about my pictures…I think it’s hard to get a bad shot of the Grand Canyon 🙂
I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon since i was about 10 but your photographs are just as beautiful as I remembered it being! xx
That’s the last time I went to! It hasn’t changed much but it still blew my mind 🙂
I’ve also not been since I was 10 or 12, but I do want to go back. I feel like I would appreciate it much more, too.
I think I definitely appreciated it more as an adult! I just didn’t care that much when I was 10 haha.
So beautiful! I hope to make it to the Grand Canyon one day, I would love to watch the sunrise!
It’s so amazing! Sunrises anywhere are kind of the best:)
I would also like to head to the Grand Canyon. So many places to visit, so little time!! That’s why I love Travel Tuesday so much 😉 thank you for taking me with you!
I love Travel Tuesday too, although it really does just make my must-see list grow and grow!
Oh my gosh! I just love your pictures!!!! And a moonlight hike must be gorgeous! I would certainly be up for it although I may be afraid to accidentally step into the canyon when it’s dark 😀
Thank you so much! It’s a gorgeous site so it’s not too hard to get gorgeous photos 🙂 I was scared to step into the canyon too, but luckily it was almost a full moon so it was really bright out. Otherwise I would have safely watched the sunset/stars from the balcony! 🙂
AHHHH. Please do a post just on the squirrels!!! I’m dying to see more pictures of them!!
Ha maybe I will do a feature…unfortunately they are FAST so I didn’t get that many good photos of them!
Those views!! Phenomenal. I’ve always wanted to hit up the grand canyon… I will one day! My problem is that my to-visit list is incredibly long. Too many places, not enough time! 🙂
I hear ya on that one! so many awesome places to see…TOO many! but the grand canyon is a must, I think 🙂
so pretty! and i love the squirrel shot, how cute yet funny looking are they?!
I seriously thought they were some weird anomaly when I first saw them! I think they are cute after you get over how different from other squirrels they look 🙂
I actually grew up in AZ and love the Grand Canyon! It is such a beautiful site!
It is so beautiful! I’m so glad I got to see it 🙂 how lucky you grew up nearby! Well, kind of…Arizona is pretty big haha.
That’s amazing! Gorgeous photos! I love to be taken on trips like these through photography and retelling! The Grand Canyon is one of those place I never really expect to visit, but if I do one day it will be just breath taking I’m sure!
Thanks for visiting! I’m glad I could take you there virtually 🙂
I can’t wait to visit one day! I always find it so weird that it gets so cold there it can SNOW. I always picture it being the hottest place on Earth!
It was SO HOT when we were there so I can’t imagine it snowing, either! I guess at the bottom of the canyon it is so warm it never does snow. So, if it’s snowing at the top of the canyon, it will melt at the bottom! I hope you do get to visit one day, it’s majestic 🙂