Nº 17
The Grand Canyon
Arizona, USA 36.06° N · 112.14° W
A mile-deep canyon carved by the Colorado River, exposing layer upon layer of red, orange and violet rock across hundreds of kilometres of Arizona.
“Walking up to the rim in the dark, then watching the first light spill into the canyon and reveal ridge after ridge glowing red below you.”
Nothing quite prepares you for the moment you reach the edge. The ground simply ends, and in front of you opens a chasm more than a kilometre and a half deep, stretching as far as you can see. Cliffs, towers and buttes rise from the depths in bands of red, orange, cream and purple. Far below, a thin thread of green marks the Colorado River that carved it all. This is the Grand Canyon.
It belongs on the list because it’s a lesson in time you can see. Each layer of rock represents a different chapter of Earth’s history, stacked up over hundreds of millions of years and then cut open by the river. As the sun moves, shadows shift, colours deepen and the canyon seems to change shape before your eyes.
And the best moments are simple: sunrise with a coffee on the rim, a sunset that sets the whole canyon on fire, or a hike down a switchback trail where the world above slowly disappears. It’s one of the most famous views on Earth — and still one of the few that truly lives up to it.
From someday to a real plan
- Days needed
- 2–3 days
- Best months
- Mar – May · Sep – Nov
- Budget
- US$150–300 per person per day
- Getting there
- Straightforward
- Crowds
- Busy
One full day on the South Rim covers the main viewpoints; two or three days add a sunrise, a sunset and a hike partway below the rim. Most visitors combine it with a Southwest road trip.
Mild temperatures on the rim and safer conditions for hiking. Summer is busy and dangerously hot inside the canyon.
Lodging inside the park books out months ahead; nearby Tusayan and Williams are alternatives. Park entry was US$35 per vehicle for 7 days, and since January 2026 non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra US$100 per person at this park. Orientation ranges — verify before booking.
The South Rim is about 1.5 hours from Flagstaff, around 3.5–4 hours from Phoenix and 4.5 hours from Las Vegas by car. The more remote North Rim is seasonal.
Main viewpoints near Grand Canyon Village are busy much of the year. Walk along the Rim Trail or use the Hermit Road and Desert View drives to find space.
The year at a glance
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Winter brings snow on the South Rim, cold nights and few crowds; the North Rim is closed in winter. Summer rim temperatures are pleasant, but the inner canyon can pass 40 °C and July–August bring afternoon thunderstorms.
What you'll remember
- 01
Sunrise at Mather Point or Yaki Point
The classic moment when the canyon turns from grey to gold and red.
- 02
The Rim Trail
A mostly flat path along the South Rim linking viewpoints, easy to walk in sections.
- 03
Below the rim
The Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails drop into the canyon. Even a short descent changes your sense of scale — remember the climb back is harder.
- 04
Desert View Watchtower
A stone tower at the eastern end of the South Rim with views of the Colorado River bend.
- 05
Sunset on Hermit Road
West-facing viewpoints like Hopi Point are popular for sunset, reached by park shuttle much of the year.
- 06
Rafting the Colorado
Multi-day river trips through the canyon are the ultimate experience and must be booked far ahead.
How the trip fits together
- 1 night
Flagstaff or Williams
Mountain towns on the way in, with Route 66 history.
- 2 nights
South Rim
Sunrise, the Rim Trail, Hermit Road sunset and a short inner-canyon hike.
- Half day
Desert View Drive
Eastern viewpoints on the way out.
- +1–2 days
Page or Monument Valley (optional)
Continue the Southwest road trip.
Put it on your list if…
- You want to see one of the most famous landscapes on Earth with your own eyes.
- A road trip through the American Southwest sounds like a dream.
- Sunrises, sunsets and big views are worth planning your day around.
Maybe skip it if…
- You'd only see it on a rushed day trip from Las Vegas in midsummer.
- The new fees for international visitors make it poor value compared with nearby parks for your trip.
- You'd want to hike to the river and back in one day — the park warns strongly against it.
- Check current entrance fees on the official National Park Service website, including the surcharge for non-US residents and the international annual pass option.
- Don't attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day, and avoid inner-canyon hiking in summer heat. Follow NPS safety guidance.
- Check the current status of North Rim facilities and roads before planning a visit there.
- Check US entry requirements (ESTA or visa) for your passport on official government sources.
