Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, drawing millions of tourists from around the globe each year —and for good reason.

Spanning 277 miles in length, up to 18 miles in width, and over a mile deep, this iconic landmark offers breathtaking vistas, rich history, and diverse wildlife. If you have just one day to explore, the South Rim is your best bet. Known for its stunning viewpoints, accessible trails, and comprehensive visitor services, the South Rim provides an unforgettable experience.

Is one day in Grand Canyon enough?

Yes, one day in the Grand Canyon is enough. If you really want to, you can spend 5 minutes at the Grand Canyon and just take a quick peak at it from an overlook.

You will need multiple days if you want to hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, or if you want to visit both the North Rim and the South Rim. However, neither are necessary to have an incredible time at Grand Canyon National Park!

Where to stay in Grand Canyon

Luckily, Grand Canyon has plenty of lodging and camping options in and outside of the park! I stayed at Desert Campground, which was about a 30-minute drive to the visitor center. While there are many options more centrally located in the park, I loved Desert Campground because it provided a peaceful escape from the crowds.

Dining in Grand Canyon

Fortunately, Grand Canyon has many dining options! There is even a grocery store, if you want to grab supplies to make your own meals. From nice sit-down restaurants, to coffee shops, to food courts, there is something for everyone.

Is there any Wildlife in Grand Canyon?

Yes! From bats, to elk, the diversity of wildlife in Grand Canyon National Park is incredible! Even if you don’t go below the rim of the Grand Canyon, don’t be surprised if an elk crosses your path.

The Best Hikes in the South Rim

Hike Below the Rim

If you are in good shape, than there is no excuse for not hiking at least a little bit below the rim of the Grand Canyon. It allows you to enjoy the canyon from a new perspective, and get a good exercise in! On the South Rim there are two different options: the South Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail.

While both of these trails go all the way down into the Grand Canyon, there are several viewpoints along the way that are excellent places to turn around and make the trek back up. It is important to not get too ambitious on either of these hikes, because the hike down is much easier then the hike back up. Both are very steep with many switchbacks.

These hikes can get pretty crowded since there are not many hiking options in the park, but the Bright Angel Trail is typically busier since it is located closer to the main lodges and attractions.

I recommend picking only one of these hikes, since they all provide fairly similar views.

South Kaibab Trail

Ooh Aah Point: This hike is a total of 1.8-miles with 685 feet of elevation gain. This is the first named viewpoint on the South Kaibab Trail, and the most popular one. This is my favorite hike in the Grand Canyon because it gives you incredible views, without absolutely killing your legs.

Cedar Ridge: This hike is a total of 3.1-miles with 1,181 feet of elevation gain. On the South Kaibab Trail, most people stop at the Ooh Aah Point, so the crowds will likely be much thinner down at this viewpoint.

Skeleton Point: This hike is a total of 5.8-miles with 2,027 feet of elevation gain. The views here are not significantly different from Cedar Ridge, but still breathtaking nonetheless.

Bright Angel Trail

1.5-mile Resthouse: This hike is a total of 3.2-miles with 1,184 feet of elevation gain. This is a gorgeous hike with views all the way down, but the elevation is no joke.

3-mile Resthouse: This hike is a total of 6.1-miles with 2,112 feet of elevation gain. Once again, beautiful, but not terribly different from the 1.5-mile Resthouse.

Rim Trail

The Rim Trail follows along the rim of the Grand Canyon for 12.7-miles, providing never-ending views. It is paved most of the way, with plenty of access points, so it is incredibly easy to just hop on and walk a section of it. It is also super easy to get on the free shuttle and take it back to your starting point if you don’t want to walk back. These are the sections I recommend:

Yavapai Geological Museum to Verkamp’s: This is an easy, paved, 1.5-miles point to point hike. This is my favorite section of the Rim Trail because it is also known as The Trail of Time. There are signs along the trail that describe the Grand Canyon’s entire geological history, markers that depict your location in time, and so much more!

Mather Point to Bright Angel Trailhead: This hike is 6-miles out and back with 413 feet of elevation gain. It is still pretty easy and paved, just a bit longer. This takes you from the main visitor center(Mather Point is just a quarter mile from the visitor center), all the way past the Yavapai Geological Museum and through the Villiage. I think it covers just about all the best places in the main area of the South Rim, providing tons of places to stop and take a quick break.

The Best South Rim Itinerary

I have thrown a ton of information at you, so now I am going to put it all together into a perfect one-day itinerary for your trip to the Grand Canyon!

South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point

South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point is the perfect hike to start your day. It gets busier and hotter the later you go, so the earlier the better! There is no parking at the trailhead so you will have to park at the visitor center, or somewhere in the village, and take the shuttle here.

Visitor Center

This is a great place to learn more about the Grand Canyon, grab some merchandise, and get updated on anything that might be going on in the park.

Mather Point

This is an amazing viewpoint overlooking the Grand Canyon and is only a short walk from the Visitor Center.

Yavapai Geology Museum

Either take the shuttle, or hike .7-miles on the Rim Trail to get to the Yavapai Geology Museum. Check out some of the exhibits and learn more about the history of the Grand Canyon.

Trail of Time

Walk 1.5-miles on the Trail of Time to the Grand Canyon Village. Enjoy the history and views along the way!

Grand Canyon Villiage

Explore the Grand Canyon Village and grab a bite to eat at one of the many dining options in the area.

Hermit Road

Take the shuttle down Hermit Road and check out all the breathtaking overlooks along the way.

Relax

Many people come to the Grand Canyon just to relax and enjoy the views. And there is no problem with that! Grand Canyon is not really one of those parks where you have to go go go the whole time. It can be refreshing to just sit back and soak in the canyon’s vastness.