Juneau Alaska is arguably the most beautifully-situated city in America.

Positioned along the scenic Gastineau Channel, it boasts some of Southeast Alaska’s best offerings at its fingertips.

Within Juneau’s reach, you’ll find a massive 1,500-square-mile ice field, craggy snowcapped mountains, abundant wildlife, evergreen forest, and sparkling blue glaciers.

Top Juneau Excursions

As one of the most popular cruise ports in Alaska, Juneau is chock full of excursion opportunities—from self-guided hikes, to bucket-list worthy helicopter adventures Head to the town’s cruise docks on a summer day, and you’ll find a number of tour operators ready to whisk you away on an adventure.

I’ve visited Juneau on numerous occasions as part of my flight attendant job. Each layover—roughly 30 hours in length—has given me a full day to tour Alaska’s capital and its surrounding wilderness.

Over time, I’ve experienced many of the top things to do in Juneau, though some activities remain on my future to-do list.

Downtown Juneau

Juneau’s downtown may be small, but its charming streets and scenic waterfront deserve more than just a passing glance.

Along the main streets of town, you find picturesque western-style buildings that house boutiques, souvenir shops, and tasty eateries.

The storefronts in Juneau’s historic district hearken to the city’s roots as a gold rush town.

Franklin and Seward are the two main streets in Juneau. The small downtown area is home to two historic churches: a Russian Orthodox church that dates back to 1895, and the Cathedral of the Nativity that was built in 1910.

Aside from the town’s well-preserved nucleus, you’ll want to head down to the docks and check out the waterfront. From there, you can walk along Egan Street—along the Juneau Seawalk—to a small city park that houses an impressive lifelike whale fountain.

Mount Roberts

Mount Roberts is one of Juneau’s most enduring landmarks.

Accessible by hiking or via cable car, it is the best place to enjoy aerial views of Juneau and the Gastineau Channel.

The tramway remains a popular Juneau activity due to its convenience and proximity to the cruise docks. It whisks tourists up to the timberline of Mt Roberts, ascending 1750ft. At the top, you’ll find a restaurants and some gift shops.

If I’m being honest, I think the Mt Roberts tramway is a bit of a ripoff—especially considering the option to hike.

Sure, the view is lovely. But, unless you have physical limitations, loads of cash, or a strong aversion to hiking, I find it hard to justify spending $50 for a short two-minute ride to the viewpoint.

Luckily, you can still soak in the beauty of Mt Roberts without paying the hefty tram fee. The trail to the summit of Mt Roberts is roughly 7.5 miles roundtrip.

At its summit, you’ll find excellent views of the Gastineau Channel, downtown Juneau, and Douglas Island.

If you spend $20 or more in the gift shop, you’ll be able to ride the tram back down the mountain for free.

Mendenhall Glacier

The Mendenhall Glacier lies just outside of the Juneau city limits. Its proximity is one of the city’s most appealing features.

Going to Juneau and not seeing the Mendenhall Glacier is like visiting Rome and skipping the Colosseum. Or bypassing the Egyptian Pyramids on a trip to Cairo. It is, quite simply, the top place to visit in Juneau and my #1 recommendation if you only have limited time to spend in Alaska’s capital.

The Mendenhall Glacier is the most famous of Juneau’s ice floes. It extends more than a dozen miles from the Juneau Icefield and cascades into Mendenhall Lake.

Like many glaciers around the world, the Mendenhall Glacier is quickly retreating. Within the next three decades, scientists predict that you’ll no longer be able to see the half-mile-long glacier face from the visitor center.

To reach the Mendenhall Glacier, you can either drive, join an organized tour, or take the public bus. The public bus stop is located about a mile from the visitor center.

If you choose to visit the attraction by organized excursion, you can join trekking tours that bring you to the edge of the ice, canoe tours that bring you to the glacier face, or excursions that include whale-watching.

The Juneau Ice Caves

No visit to Juneau is complete without a close-up look at the Mendenhall Glacier. So while seeing the sheet of ice from the visitor center is a Juneau highlight, up-close views of the ice caves will give you an entirely different perspective. The shimmering sapphire color is so intense, that it rivals the brilliant shades of blue that we had witnessed at Argentina’s famous Perito Moreno Glacier.

The Juneau Ice Caves show off the best of the Mendenhall Glacier’s iridescent blues. You can access them via the popular West Glacier Trail hike.

If hiking isn’t your cup of tea, you can join a tour of the ice caves that includes canoeing and viewing the glacier up-close.

The Mendenhall Glacier has receded almost two miles since 1958. The ice caves are, in part, a function of this glacial melting. They are continually morphing, receding, and reforming.

I hiked to the ice caves a few years ago.

If I were to visit them again, they would probably look entirely different.

Nugget Falls

Nugget Falls plunges 377 ft down a rugged mountainside near the Mendenhall Visitor Center. The cascade makes its descent in two tiers—99 feet and 278 feet respectively—before gushing into the frigid water of Mendenhall Lake.

It is a beautiful waterfall that deserves a closer glance, despite being overshadowed by Juneau’s nearby #1 attraction.

From the visitor center, you can see Nugget Falls to the right of the Mendenhall Glacier. The waterfall is located only 3/4 of a mile away from the glacier face.

The Nugget Falls Trail is less than a mile long. It begins at the visitor center and ends at the thundering cascade, skirting the edge of Mendenhall Lake.

Glacier Gardens

The Glacier Garden and Rainforest Adventure is a top Juneau attraction. It lies along the Glacier Highway, near the city’s airport.

Tours of the garden consist of a guided vehicle ride through the steep terrain of the Tongass National Forest. The tour passes by streams, rock gardens, and small clusters of upside-down trees. It includes a viewpoint that boasts some of the best panoramas of the Juneau Valley.

Throughout the gardens, you’ll find the park’s signature upside-down trees, known as “flower towers.” These creative flower pots have their tops buried in the ground, while their roots form a skyward basket that overflows with trailing flower arrangements.

The Glacier Gardens were the creative vision of Steve and Cindy Bowhay, who purchased the property for a stream rehabilitation project. After a devastating landslide took out large chunks of the hillside, the Bowhays transformed the area into a top Juneau tourist attraction.

The story goes something like this: Steve, a landscaper by trade, attempted to restore the stream that had been severely damaged on his property. To mitigate the damage and prevent further erosion, he created various settling ponds. During the rehabilitation work, Steve came across an inverted tree trunk with its top in the mud and roots in the air. The image inspired him to repurpose more than 20 dead trees and turn them into “flower towers.”

As with everything in Juneau, I found the $30 entrance fee to be quite steep.

Nonetheless, I’m happy to have visited.

Shrine of St Therese, Old Glacier Highway

The Shrine of St Therese is a picturesque stone chapel that lies situated on a small promontory north of Juneau. The Catholic church, commissioned by a Jesuit priest in the late 1930s, is a lovely place to visit if you have access to a car or bike.

I chose to reach the shrine by bike, since I was traveling solo and didn’t want to shell out so much money on a rental car. Rental cars in Juneau can be pricey, especially during peak summer months.

The bike ride from downtown Juneau to the shrine was approximately 45 miles roundtrip,  on undulating terrain.

Though somewhat strenuous, I found the ride to be a pleasant self-guided activity.

I probably wouldn’t recommend visiting the Shrine of St Therese if you’re traveling by cruise and only have one day in Juneau.

However, if you are sticking around for a few days, the shrine is worth a stop—not least because of its beautiful setting.

Taku Lodge with Wings Airways

Though there are tons of great things to do in Juneau, it is difficult to top a trip to the Taku Lodge.

Flightseeing tours of the Taku Glacier depart from the wharf in downtown Juneau. Operated by Wings Airways, the “flight and feast” tours last about three hours. They include a scenic float plane ride over the Juneau Icefield and a delicious salmon bake at the historic lodge.

The 35-minute scenic flight shows off the incredible scenery of the Inside Passage. You’ll have the opportunity to see glacier-carved mountains, rugged slopes, and shimmering sapphire snowmelt.

The tour flies over five glaciers: Norris, Taku, East Twin, West Twin, and Hole-in-the-Wall. The views of the surrounding mountains and Juneau Icefield are breathtaking.

Each passenger on board gets a window seat and a set of headphones that provides a recorded overview of the area.

After showcasing the five glaciers, the float plane stops in front of the historic Taku Lodge—a rustic lakeside retreat that dates back to 1923.

We lucked out with fantastic weather on the day of our Taku Glacier Tour. Following a memorable scenic flight, we had a bit of free time to walk along the waterfront, peruse the gift shop, and take in views of the glacier. Then, we sat down for a lovely salmon bake, while the staff gave us an animated presentation about the building’s 100 year history.

Staff at the lodge told us to be on the lookout for black bears (they apparently love to feast on the drippings from the salmon that is cooked outside), but we didn’t see any during our visit.

Whalewatching in Juneau

My Juneau whale-watching trip gave me an opportunity to see twelve humpback whales in their natural habitat. Outside of my trip to Antarctica and South Georgia Island, it was the best encounter I’ve ever had with marine mammals.

During my whale-watching excursion in Juneau, I watched the baleens frolic about—spyhopping, blowing spray, and slapping their tails. There were so many humpbacks splashing about in the water that I had difficulty tracking the action with my camera. At one point, while I was photographing three whales, I spotted a breaching humpback elsewhere, out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t get the photo, but stepped off the boat feeling incredibly lucky.

It remains the only time I’ve ever seen a breaching whale.

The waters around Juneau are full of cetaceans. Humpbacks, orcas and blue whales feed in the area during summer. The best time to see whales coincides with peak travel season in Juneau (May-September).

Tracy Arm Fjord

Though it isn’t nearly as accessible as the Mendenhall Glacier, reaching the stunning Tracy Arm Fjord is well worthwhile if you have the time. Named after the Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Franklin Tracy, the fjord is a Juneau itinerary highlight.

Tracy Arm lies 45 miles south of Alaska’s capital and is only accessible by boat.

The tour of Tracy Arm Fjord shows off the best of Juneau’s scenery over the course of a day. The boat tour takes approximately seven hours from start to finish. It begins in the Gastineau Channel, before cruising down Tracy Arm’s turquoise waters.

On our boat trip, we admired the milky water and photographed bergy bits as we floated past. We kept our eyes peeled for wildlife—spotting seals on ice floes and mountain goats in the cliffs above the channel.

The twin Sawyer Glaciers (North Sawyer and South Sawyer) are located at the end of Tracy Arm.

Tours of the Tracy Arm Fjord leave twice a week and cost roughly $200.

Admiralty Island

The native Tlingit people call Admiralty Island ‘Kootznoowoo,’ meaning ‘Fortress of the Bears.’ The island is home to an estimated 1,500 brown bears—more than the combined total of those who inhabit the Lower 48. Most bear-viewing tours of Admiralty Island take visitors to the Pack Creek Viewing Area.

I haven’t taken the trip out to Admiralty Island yet, but a grizzly tour of the area is at the top of my Juneau bucket list. The day tour is expensive though, and will set you back nearly $1,000.

Dog Sledding on a Glacier

Dog sledding is another popular Juneau activity that I have yet to do. As with trips to Admiralty Island, Juneau’s glacier dog sledding tours are expensive.

The tours offer a multi-dimensional experience of Alaska’s wilderness—by air in a helicopter, and then zooming across the ice. Tours begin with a scenic helicopter ride above the Juneau ice field. Once at the glacier camp, you’ll traverse the remote and wild Alaskan tundra, pulled by group of huskies.

Juneau dog sledding tours promise an only-in-Alaska adventure.

One that I would love to experience at some point.

Where to Stay in Juneau

Though it is one of the major cities in Alaska, Juneau has a limited number of accommodation offerings. Many of the town’s tourists come by cruise ship, so its hotel-to-tourist-ratio is quite low. The Four Points by Sheraton and Silverbow Inn are Juneau’s most luxurious offerings, while the Aspen Suites and Juneau Hotel offer rooms at a (slightly) lower price point.

If you’re traveling to Juneau on a budget, the Juneau International Hostel offers a place to stay without breaking the bank. I stayed at the hostel on my first leisure trip to Juneau with Dan and was grateful for a cheap place rest my head, though the low rates came with a pretty large caveat. At the time of my visit, guests were required to sign up for chores and had a 10pm curfew.

Wildlife in Juneau

Wildlife thrives in and around Juneau. The area’s abundance of water, mountains, glaciers, and forest creates a rich habitat for bears, mountain goats, whales, and birds. In its forests—and even occasionally in town—you’ll find a large population of black bears. On numerous occasions, I’ve seen black bears in the fields between the airport and downtown. There are a few brown bears in the Juneau area too, but they tend to stay farther away from the population centers.

The water around Juneau teems with sea life. Humpbacks and orcas inhabit the marine-rich waters between the months of April and September, alongside a healthy population of seals . While animal-viewing tours can never guarantee sightings, your chances of seeing humpbacks on a summer whale-watching tour are virtually 100%.

Juneau Cruises

Juneau tourism depends heavily on cruise ships. The population of town—33,000 on a normal day—absolutely balloons when ships enter the harbor. This population explosion is especially evident in the evenings, when cruise tourists return to their ships and the jam-packed streets of town empty out.

Most of the major cruise lines vie for a market share in Juneau and Southeast Alaska. At any given time, the town’s docks will harbor boats from large companies like Carnival and Princess, as well as smaller expedition-style lines like Uncruise and Linblad.

Most tourists tend to book Juneau shore excursions with their cruise company, but you’ll have tons of options to book elsewhere as well (often for a reduced rate).
Outside of the cruise docks near the Mt Roberts tramway, dozens of kiosks sell same-day tours to Juneau’s top attractions.

When to Visit Juneau

Tourism season in Juneau is mostly limited to summer months. In summer—when daylight can last up to 18 hours—high temperatures tend to hover around 60 degrees.

Juneau is perpetually wet. Even in summer, you can expect rainfall about 50% of the time.

Juneau’s tourist season effectively shuts down in winter and most tours and excursions remain inaccessible outside of the May-September window.

If you’re looking to travel to Alaska in winter to see the northern lights, you might want to look toward Fairbanks instead. Juneau’s notoriously overcast skies and southerly position make aurora-viewing difficult.

Getting to Juneau

There are no roads connecting Juneau to the rest of Alaska. To reach the state capital, you’ll either have to fly or travel by boat along the Alaska Marine Highway that stretches from Bellingham to the Aleutians.

Sailing to Juneau from Bellingham Washington along the Alaska Marine Highway takes three days.

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In the 1880s, prospectors descended upon Juneau in search of gold.

Today, you can still go panning for gold, but the town has become a gateway to something even better: Some of the most untouched and pristine wilderness in the world.

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Antelope Canyon is the most famous slot canyon in the world. Located in the Navajo Nation near Page Arizona, the narrow sandstone wonderland has captured the imaginations of nature-lovers and photographers worldwide.

Wind and water have sculpted the area’s sandstone into an unearthly masterpiece of movement and light. Sensuous curves define Antelope Canyon’s glowing walls, creating a textured canvas of fiery hues.

It’s a spectacular place that has graced travel brochures and Instagram feeds in recent years.

Arizona’s Antelope Canyon

Arizona’s Antelope Canyon is split into two parts: Upper and Lower.

When people refer to Antelope Canyon, they are usually referring to its above-ground portion, Upper Antelope Canyon. With its light beams and high canyon walls, the upper portion receives a bulk of the area’s tourists. Some consider it to be the more photogenic of the two (though most of my favorite pictures are actually from the lower canyon).

While the two sections of Antelope Canyon differ slightly, each offers comparable experiences that will leave you awestruck.

Both the upper and lower canyon are incredibly beautiful. Both are packed to the brim with tourists. And both will fill your camera roll with brochure-worthy photos.

What is a Slot Canyon?

Just as the nearby Grand Canyon is the pinnacle of canyons worldwide, so too is Antelope Canyon the apex of slot canyons.

But what is a slot canyon?

Slot canyons are long and narrow chasms that slice through soft layers of sedimentary rock. Named for their paper-thin widths, these narrow gorges are often just wide enough to walk through single-file.

The United States contains the highest concentration of slot canyons in the world. In the red rock desert of southern Utah and northern Arizona, there are over 1,000 of them.

Prior to visiting Antelope Canyon, we’d explored a smaller slot canyon in the Canyonlands Needles District and peered into the entrance of another along the Burr Trail Road in Utah.

Yet nothing prepared us for the sheer beauty of Arizona’s world-renowned slot canyon.

Visiting Upper Antelope Canyon

Upper Antelope Canyon is often the default when choosing which part of the slot canyon to visit. Shaped like an upside-down “V,” it is narrow up top and wide at its base.

Upper Antelope Canyon is usually more crowded than its lower counterpart and tours are more likely to sell out in advance. Its popularity stems from the fact that it is the canyon most often shown in photos. It is also the one that features shining beams of light.

The ability to see light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon depends on the timing of your visit.

Despite visiting at midday, we visited the canyon too early in the year to see the light shaft.

But the experience was still nothing short of magical.

• Upper Canyon Tours

Antelope Canyon is not a place you can travel to independently. All areas of the canyon are only accessible via guided tour.

Tours of Upper Antelope Canyon last 1.5 hours. They include a 15 minute Jeep ride to and from the canyon entrance, plus an hour-long guided tour.

We visited the canyon with Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours. Tickets cost us $100 each, inclusive of the tour and Navajo fee. Young kids and infants do not receive a discount, so we took turns visiting the canyon while the other watched Elio.

Other tour operators for Upper Antelope Canyon include Tsebighanilini Tours, Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours, Antelope Slot Canyon Tours, and Antelope Canyon Tours Inc.

While tour prices might vary slightly from company to company, the experience seems to be quite similar between service providers.

Visiting Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon is slightly less popular than its upper counterpart, but its twists and turns are no less impressive. Shaped like a rightside-up “V,” it is narrow at the bottom and wider at the top. The lower canyon lies below ground, so you’ll have to descend into its red-rock chasm using steep metal stairs.

In general, the lower canyon didn’t really feel more treacherous than Upper Antelope Canyon. You’re still required to visit by tour, where you’ll be corralled—shoulder to shoulder and ever so slowly—through the narrow canyon.

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, the path is mostly flat and sandy.

Still, if you are mobility impaired or unsteady on your feet, I’d probably suggest visiting the upper canyon instead.

• Lower Canyon Tours

Lower Antelope Canyon has only two tour operators—Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours and Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours. They are brother/sister companies (literally owned by a brother and a sister).

Despite lack of competition between tour operators, Lower Antelope tours cost roughly half of what the upper canyon tours cost. Children can enter at discounted fees, while infants 0-3 years old do not have to pay.

Antelope Canyon tours do not require a Jeep ride to and from the tour offices to the canyon entrance.

Instead, you’ll walk down a small pathway to the start of the trail.

Upper Vs Lower Antelope Canyon

The upper and lower sections of Antelope Canyon in Arizona are both extraordinary. So which one should you choose if you’re short on time or don’t feel like shelling out more than $200 per person for both?

The answer isn’t exactly cut and dry. Varying factors can influence your decision one way or another.

If you’re on a budget or traveling with young kids under two, I recommend Lower Antelope Canyon. But if you struggle with uneven surfaces or want to photograph the light beams, I recommend Upper Antelope Canyon.

At the end of the day, both sections are spectacular. Both will give you plenty of Instagram-worthy photo ops. And both will likely remain etched in your memories long after your visit.

Where to Stay in Page Arizona

Page Arizona is the gateway to Antelope Canyon. Located just south of the Utah-Arizona border near Lake Powell, the small town sits smack dab in the middle of red rock country.

Accommodations in Page range from cozy rental homes to international chain hotels. Canyon Colors Bed and Breakfast is a solid choice if you’re looking for a house to rent in Page. It offers clean spacious rooms, a central location, an affordable price point, and superb reviews.

For internationally-recognized name brand hotels, you’ll find the Country Inn and Suites by Radisson, as well as the Hyatt Place.

When to Visit Antelope Canyon

Though Antelope Canyon in Arizona is a memorable destination no matter the time of year or day, a bit of advanced planning will ensure that you are able to maximize your visit.

Due to the position of the sun, there are certain times of year in which the canyon’s lighting is particularly special.

Similarly, the time of day you choose to visit can affect the light that enters the slot canyon.

• Best Time of Year

Summer can be unbearably hot in the desert of America’s Southwest, but it is an optimal time to visit Antelope Canyon. If you want to see the famed beams of light in the canyon’s upper section, you should plan on traveling to the area between April and October. May and early June offer a bit of relief from the scorching summer heat, while affording some of the best lighting.

When we visited Antelope Canyon during mid-March, we were too early in the year for the light shaft.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Arizona’s monsoon season lasts from June to September. Monsoon season can bring heavy rain that increases the risk of flash flooding. Your tour company will keep an eye out on weather forecasts and close the canyon if inclement weather is anticipated.

• Best Time of Day

The best time of day to visit Arizona’s Antelope Canyon is around noon, when the sun shines directly overhead. Planning your visit between 11 am and 1:30 pm—when the sunlight is perpendicular to the canyon—will give you the best chance of seeing the famed Upper Antelope Canyon light beam for yourself.

If it’s too cloudy or not sunny enough, the sun’s rays won’t poke through the canyon.

Tours during peak time of day are often more expensive than morning tours.

Beyond Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon may be the reason most people travel to Page Arizona, but it is by no means the only place to visit in the area.

Just a stone’s throw away from the canyon, you’ll find Horseshoe Bend—a spectacular U-shaped portion of the Colorado River. Often confused with Deadhorse Point State Park (a similarly impressive state park in Utah near Island in the Sky), Horseshoe Bend has become a distinct symbol of Arizona’s red rock country.

Other noteworthy places to visit in and around Page include Lake Powell, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, and the southern reaches of Grand Staircase Escalante in Utah.

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Antelope Canyon is an otherworldly destination. Its folds and textures bounce the sunlight in a game of hide-and-seek, like a rippling velvet curtain.

The Arizona slot canyon deserves every bit of the attention it receives. Though there are more than 1,000 similar slot canyons in the United States, none eclipse Antelope Canyon in their beauty.

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Few places on the planet inspire more awe than Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park.

The cavernous river gorge—277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 5,000 ft deep—slices through the vast Colorado Plateau in dramatic fashion.

The Grand Canyon is the gold standard of canyons around the world. Close to 5 million annual visitors descend on the sparsely-populated corner of Northern Arizona to peer down into its abyss. It is one of nature’s crowning achievements, one of the seven wonders of the natural world, and an unmissable North American travel destination.

South Rim of the Grand Canyon

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the national park’s most accessible section. It contains a bulk of the park’s tourism amenities and showcases its most awe-inspiring viewpoints. The South Rim is located more than three hours away from the North Rim by car.

The Grand Canyon’s South Rim contains dozens of overlooks to choose from, all located along the 32 miles of road from Hermit’s Rest to the Desert Watchtower.

These viewpoints lie along three main touring routes: the Red Line to Hermit’s Rest, the Orange line that connects Yavapai Point with Yaki Point, and the self-drive road to the Desert Watchtower.

The park’s Blue Line connects various destinations within the Grand Canyon Village, but it does not contain any of the South Rim’s most noteworthy panoramas.

South Rim Viewpoints: The Red Line

The Grand Canyon’s red line links nine spectacular scenic vistas. The route showcases panorama’s of the park’s western reaches and ends at the historic Hermit’s Rest.

Shuttle service along the Red Line runs from early March through late November. From December 1 to February 28, the road is open to private vehicle traffic.

You can access the Red Line  from the Village Route Transfer stop on the Blue Line.

• Trail Overlook

 Trail Overlook, the first stop along the Red Line, provides the best aerial views of the Bright Angel Trail’s sinuous switchbacks.

At the overlook, you can see everything—from where the trial starts just west of the historic village, to where it finally disappears into the depths of the inner gorge 3,000 ft below.

During our visit, we saw a few people attempting the Bright Angel Trail, but ice and snow obstructed much of the pathway.

• Maricopa Point

At Maricopa Point, a narrow promontory juts out into the canyon, affording 180 degree views of the sprawling abyss. If you look closely, you might be able to see a tiny slice of the Colorado River, though you’ll get better views of the waterway at other spots along Hermit’s Road.

West of Maricopa Point you’ll find ruins of the former Orphan Lode Mine, which operated from 1891 to 1967.

• Powell Point

Powell Point lies right next to Hopi Point, along the Hermit’s Rest bus route. As with the other stops along the route, it offers spectacular views of the Grand Canyon.

A large stone monument near the bus stop commemorates the 1869 Powell Expedition. Powell was the first known European explorer to map the river’s course by boat. He traveled along the Green and Colorado rivers, charting much of the American Southwest.

• Hopi Point

Hopi Viewpoint is a breathtaking stop along Hermit Road. An ideal location for sunrise or sunset, Hopi Point also offers views of the Colorado River below.

Hopi Point lies a stone’s throw away from Powell Point. It is only served by shuttles in the westbound direction.

• The Abyss

The Abyss offers a steep vertical view into the Monument Creek drainage area. Its sheer vertical drop is the longest and most precipitous along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

As you peer 3,000 ft into the depths of the canyon, you’ll be rewarded with views of Monument Creek, the Tonto Plateau, and the Colorado River.

• Pima Point

Pima Point is the westernmost viewpoint along the Grand Canyon’s Rim Drive (though the road ends at Hermit’s Rest, 1.5 miles beyond).

From Pima Point, uninterrupted vistas showcase 40 miles of chiseled rock—From the Great Scenic Divide to Bright Angel Canyon.

Pima point is one of the only places from which you can hear the thunderous roar of the Colorado River, conditions permitting.

Unfortunately, on the rainy and windy day that we visited, we didn’t get so lucky.

• Hermit’s Rest

Hermits Rest is the final stop along the Red Line. A historic rest stop, it is a popular place to recharge during a day of exploration.

While the views at Hermit’s Rest aren’t particularly noteworthy, the area serves as the gateway to magnificent backcountry hiking trails.

The historic stone structure at Hermit’s Rest, designed by architect Mary Colter, dates back to 1914. With its stonework, giant alcove fireplace, and front porch, it was built to resemble an old miner’s cabin.

Today, Hermit’s Rest offers a gift shop, a snack bar, and somewhat obstructed west end views of the Grand Canyon.

South Rim Stops: The Blue Line

The Grand Canyon National Park’s Blue Line connects the visitor center with the South Rim’s lodges, restaurants, and shopping areas.

Its end points are also the transfer stations for the Red Line and Orange Line (Hermit’s Rest Route Transfer for the former, Grand Canyon Visitor Center for the latter).

Though you likely won’t utilize the Blue Line for the South Rim’s best panoramas, the line is a logistical necessity for getting around the Grand Canyon—especially in the summer months when the park restricts private vehicles.

• Grand Canyon Village

Grand Canyon Village is the hub of lodging inside the national park.

It is the largest example of town planning in the US national park system. At the village, you’ll find restaurants, shops, hotels, and connecting buses that will whisk you away to various viewpoints.

• Hopi House

The historic Hopi House, located right on the rim of Grand Canyon, is among the most noteworthy structures in the park. The building, designed by Mary Colter, dates back to 1905. Its large, multi-story stone structure was modeled after the 1,000 year old pueblo in Old Oraibi, Arizona.

Originally designed as the main sales rooms for Fred Harvey Indian Arts, the building continues to house a gift shop filled with native handicrafts.

South Rim Viewpoints: The Orange Line

The Orange Route, also known as the Kaibab Rim Route, travels in a figure-8 loop between the Yavapai Geology Museum and Yaki Point. The route is about 50 minutes long and encompasses some of the canyon’s most jaw-dropping vistas.

While the bus drops tourists off at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center in both directions, the majority of its eastbound and westbound stops differ.

I recommend you map out your Orange Line itinerary before your visit, in order to maximize your time in the area.

Highlights of the Kaibab Rim include Mather Point, the Yavapai Museum, and Yaki Point.

• Mather Point

For many, Mather Point offers the first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. And what a glimpse it is.

Mather Point lies about five minutes away on foot from the park’s visitor center. It was the first viewpoint that we visited, and the one that remains most impressed in my memory.

Thanks to its unobstructed views and ideal location, it is a favorite place to watch sunrises and sunsets.

• Yavapai Point

Yavapai Point is the northernmost stop along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It boasts breathtaking sightlines of the area’s chiseled red rock.

The viewpoint is home the Yavapai Museum of Geology. The museum offers interactive exhibits, a small gift shop, and a canyon-viewing area.

If you don’t feel like waiting for the shuttle, you can reach Yavapai Point via the Rim Trail from Mather Point.

• Yaki Point

Yaki Point lies at the end of the Orange Line.

From its viewing area, you can look down at the South Kaibab Trail as it weaves its way to the Colorado River. It also boasts some of the park’s best eastward views.

Yaki Point is the only stop along Desert View Drive that is closed to private vehicles. The scenic overlook can be reached using the park’s Orange Route.

Desert View Drive

Desert View Drive is open to vehicle traffic year-round and cannot be accessed using the national park’s tourist shuttle.

A lot of people skip this part of the park, which is a shame. Its lookouts are every bit as magical as those along the red and orange lines.

• East Drive Viewpoints

Desert View Drive highlights awe-inspiring panoramas of the Grand Canyon’s eastern reaches. While it is slightly less trafficked than other areas of the park, it is every bit as dramatic.

Popular points of interest along Desert View Drive include Grandview Point, Moran Point, Lipan Point, and Desert View.

Though we managed to make a quit pitstop at all the overlooks, this self-drive part of our itinerary was a bit rushed due to Elio’s nap schedule.

• Desert View Watchtower

Desert View is the easternmost point along the developed portion of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

Aside from its spectacular vistas, the site is noteworthy for its 1932 lookout tower designed by Mary Colter. The tower, modeled after an Ancestral Puebloan structure, stands guard over the canyon.

Access to the top of the tower is free of charge. It is open daily from 9am-5pm.

Getting Around the Grand Canyon South Rim

During winter months, you can bring your own vehicle to the park’s main viewpoints and places of interest.

However, during peak tourist season, you’ll have to rely on the national park’s efficient tourist shuttle.

Free Shuttle buses operate in and around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. They link most of the major tourist areas, excluding Desert View Drive.

The South Rim buses provide transportation between the visitor center, lodges, campgrounds and viewpoints.

Alternatively, you can get around the Grand Canyon by bike or on foot. The 13 mile Rim Trail connects most places of interest along the South Rim.

Grand Canyon Tours

While I’m personally a big fan of DIY travel, I realize that not everyone wants to deal with logistics and planning. Luckily, there are hundreds of Grand Canyon tours that can help you make the most of your visit.

Even if you’re planning on taking the park shuttle around, tours can provide a way of seeing the Grand Canyon from a different vantage point.

Scenic helicopter tours are a popular option for travelers who wish to take in the canyon’s awesomeness from the sky. There are also options for backroad safaris, rafting tours, and hiking tours.

Where to Stay near the Grand Canyon South Rim

You’ll find a combination of national park lodges, campgrounds, hotels and cabins both inside and outside the Grand Canyon National Park’s borders.

• Inside Grand Canyon National Park

If you’ve booked early enough to secure a spot and your budget allows for a bit of a splurge, there are a number of different lodging options along the South Rim. These include the Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins, Thunderbird Lodge, and Maswik Lodge.

The historic El Tovar Hotel is the most renowned place to stay within the national park’s boundaries. It is widely considered to be the crown jewel of national park lodges.

• Near the South Rim Entrance

Tusayan is the closest town to the national park entrance. It offers a combination of independent and international chain hotels. Due to Tusayan’s proximity to the park, the prices can be quite high for what you’re getting. We found better prices farther south, in the town of Valle.

During our visit, we stayed at the Grand Canyon Inn and Motel in Valle. And while it wasn’t anything particularly fancy, we found that the room suited our needs (and price point).

If you’re looking to stay in Tusayan for proximity’s sake, you may want to consider the Grand Hotel or the Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Entrance Fees

Entering Grand Canyon National Park costs $35 per vehicle or $20 per person (for those who travel on foot or by bike). Annual interagency passes are also accepted and can be obtained online or at the park’s entrance kiosks. The interagency passes a great value for travelers who plan on visiting multiple U.S. national parks within a calendar year.

Since we frequently visit federal lands, Dan and I always make sure we have an up-to-date interagency pass. The pass has always paid for itself.

When to Visit the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a year-round tourist attraction. Peak season encompasses summer months and school holidays. During these times, expect large crowds, traffic jams to enter the park, and hotels booked to capacity.

Spring and fall are great times to visit the park due to pleasant weather and thinner crowds.

Winter is the Grand Canyon’s off-season. Between November and March, low temperatures bring fewer visitors. When we visited in March, ice still covered many of the park’s trails—impeding our descent below the canyon’s rim.

If you’re looking to hike below the Grand Canyon’s rim, you should probably avoid the winter months.

Grand Canyon Sunrises and Sunsets

Mather Point is one of the most popular sunrise-viewing destinations within Grand Canyon National Park. The viewpoint’s proximity to the park entrance and visitor center is an added bonus.

Others have recommended Ooh Aah Point, Yavapai Point, and Yaki Point for sunrise.

However, since we were traveling with a toddler and staying outside of the park’s entrance gates, we don’t have first hand recommendations for sunrise-viewing.

Sunset over the Grand Canyon is magical, too.

As the sun sinks lower in the sky, it ignites the canyon walls in fiery shades of red and orange. Top sunset viewpoints on the South Rim are Mojave Point, Hopi Point, and Pima Point.

Other Ways to Experience the Grand Canyon

Going from viewpoint to viewpoint is the easiest way to visit the Grand Canyon, but it is by no means the only option. Adventure-lovers and thrill-seekers can experience the canyon in a plethora of different ways.

• Hiking

The Bright Angel Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Grand Canyon. It starts on the canyon’s rim and ends 9.5 miles later at the Colorado River. Most people hike just a few miles below the rim before turning back. Popular stopping points are the 1.5 Mile resthouse, the 3 Mile resthouse, and the Indian Garden.

• Rafting

The Colorado River is one of the world’s top bucket list rafting destinations. Over the course of a week, rafting trips will take you through the canyon, along the Colorado River. Those who choose to raft the Grand Canyon say that it is a trip of a lifetime.

• Biking

Bicycles and e-bikes are allowed on all paved and unpaved roads on the South Rim. You can rent wheels at Bright Angel Bicycles, adjacent to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

Beyond the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon lies in northern Arizona, amidst a red rock wonderland that includes some of the most stunning geological marvels in the world. Just two hours south of the Grand Canyon, you’ll find the red rock paradise of Sedona Arizona.

Two hours to the northeast, sits the small Page—gateway to Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons.

Beyond Page, you can easily incorporate the Grand Canyon into a larger road trip around the American Southwest. Petrified Forest National Park and Monument Valley are just a few hours away to the east. And the five incredible national parks in Utah (Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands) lie a few hours to the north.

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The Grand Canyon isn’t the deepest canyon in the United States (that title belongs to Hells Canyon on the Oregon/Idaho border), but it is certainly the most famous.

Arizona’s cavernous river gorge is one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Other famous canyons (the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa, the Colca Canyon in Peru, for example) all use Arizona’s massive river gorge as their standard of comparison.

It’s truly a place that needs no introduction; one that is perhaps more renowned than any other geographic landmark in North America.

Whether you’re hiking to its depths, photographing its sunset hues, or peering over its cavernous abyss, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is sure to fill you with wonder.

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