Coming to the Grand Canyon? Here’s the stuff we would tell our own friends to do.
Of course, we’ll tell you about the famous places worth seeing. But we’ll also tell you where to escape some of the crowds, which stops are actually worth your time, what works with kids and teenagers, and the little things that can make a Grand Canyon trip so much better,
This sounds obvious, but it causes a surprising amount of confusion when people plan a Grand Canyon trip.
The South Rim is the main and most visited area of Grand Canyon National Park and where you’ll find Grand Canyon Village, Mather Point, Bright Angel Trail, Yavapai Point and many of the places people picture when they imagine visiting the Grand Canyon.
Wish Tree’s Grand Canyon properties are in Valle, about 25 minutes from the South Rim entrance.
Some of our favorite experiences are away from the biggest crowds.
Wish Tree Tip: Use Mather Point as your introduction to the canyon, then start exploring.
Best for: First-time visitors
How long: 20–30 minutes if you’re only stopping for the view, longer if you combine it with the Rim Trail.
This is one of the easiest ways to actually experience the canyon without committing to a strenuous hike below the rim.
You can walk as much or as little as you want, and you’re getting spectacular canyon views along the way.
A great family option is the section between Mather Point and Yavapai Point.
Wish Tree Tip: This is especially good for groups where everyone has different hiking abilities. You don’t have to be a serious hiker to get an incredible Grand Canyon experience.
Allow: About 1–1.5 hours for a relaxed family walk between Mather and Yavapai.
If you want something that feels completely different from the busy main viewpoints, put Shoshone Point on your list.
There’s an unmarked parking area along Desert View Drive between mile markers 244 and 245, followed by an easy walk through the pine forest to a secluded overlook.
This is one of the places we love for sunset because it can be remarkably peaceful compared with the major viewpoints.
Wish Tree Tip: Bring a flashlight if you’re staying for sunset. The walk back through the forest after dusk is beautiful, but you’ll be very happy you have a light.
One thing to know: Private events can sometimes affect access, particularly during the warmer months, so check current park information before heading out.
Don’t treat the drive toward Desert View Watchtower as simply transportation.
Make it part of the day.
There are multiple overlooks along the way, and this is where you’ll find some of our favorite alternatives to the busiest Grand Canyon viewpoints.
Moran Point gives you panoramic views of the canyon and Colorado River and is generally quieter than the most famous viewpoints.
Wish Tree Tip: Golden hour can be especially beautiful here. Keep your eyes open for ravens and California condors.
This is another favorite, particularly if you want a good view of the Colorado River.
It’s easy to access from a small parking area and can have fewer people than the major stops.
The main overlook is beautiful, but here’s the trick:
Wish Tree Tip: Walk just a few minutes down the trail. You’ll get a completely different perspective that many visitors never see.
Remember that hiking back up is harder than hiking down, even when you’ve only gone a short distance.
The Watchtower itself is worth seeing, but the views from this end of the South Rim are another reason to come.
It’s a very different experience from simply staying around Grand Canyon Village.
Wish Tree Tip: Combine this with Moran Point, Lipan Point, and other Desert View Drive overlooks instead of making a separate trip.
That turns the drive into a Grand Canyon experience of its own.
Sunset at the Grand Canyon is spectacular.
Sunset with hundreds of people packed around the same railing? Slightly less magical.
That’s why we created an entire guide to 7 Stunning Grand Canyon Sunset Spots Without The Crowd.
It includes Shoshone Point, Moran Point, Lipan Point, Grandview Point, Yavapai Point, Desert View Watchtower, and other places to consider, along with parking and access information.
Wish Tree Tip: Don’t leave the second the sun goes below the horizon. Some of the best colors can happen afterward.
You don’t have to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to experience what it feels like to go below the rim.
If conditions are appropriate for your group, even a short hike down can completely change your perspective.
For families, one option is to walk only the first portion of Bright Angel Trail and turn around.
Don’t Make This Mistake: Going down feels easy. Coming back up doesn’t.
Heat and trail conditions can also be dramatically different from conditions on the rim, so always check current National Park Service information before hiking.
This is a relatively quick stop and makes what you’re looking at much more interesting because you begin to understand how the canyon actually formed.
It also has spectacular views.
Wish Tree Tip: Pair it with your Rim Trail walk rather than treating it as a separate excursion.
Allow: About 20–30 minutes.
Stop at the Visitor Center and ask about the Junior Ranger program.
It gives kids something to actually do while they’re exploring rather than spending the entire day hearing adults say, “Isn’t that beautiful?”
Wish Tree Tip: Pick up the Junior Ranger materials early in your visit so the kids can work on them while you’re exploring.
Don’t automatically head home after sunset.
Northern Arizona has incredible dark skies, and seeing the stars can be one of the best parts of the trip.
And when you get back to Wish Tree, the experience doesn’t have to end. Our Grand Canyon properties are away from the bright lights of town, which makes sitting outside under the stars part of the adventure.
The Grand Canyon is the reason most people come here.
But it isn’t the only thing worth doing.
We LOVE Bearizona.
And if you have teenagers, don’t skip it because you assume it’s for little kids.
We’ve taken teenagers who don’t like anything, and even they loved Bearizona.
You drive your own vehicle through the wildlife park and see animals in large, naturalistic habitats. Afterward, there’s an additional walk-through section to explore.
Don’t Make This Mistake: Don’t leave when the drive-through portion ends. There’s more to see afterward.
Best for: Families, kids, teenagers and animal lovers
Allow: About 2–3 hours
Pair it with: Route 66 and dinner in Williams.
The train leaves from Williams and travels to Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.
This isn’t necessarily the way we’d recommend everyone see the Grand Canyon, because having your own vehicle gives you more freedom to explore. But if you’ve got someone in your group who LOVES trains, or your kids would enjoy the whole Old West experience, this can be an adventure in itself.
Wish Tree Tip: Think of this as an experience rather than transportation.
Williams is fun to wander around, especially in the evening.
You’ll find old neon signs, Route 66 nostalgia, restaurants, shops and plenty of Americana.
Wish Tree Tip: Don’t necessarily devote an entire day to Williams. Combine it with Bearizona for a really easy day:
Bearizona → Explore Route 66 → Dinner in Williams → Home to Wish Tree
If you’ve got animal-loving kids, this is another fun stop near Williams.
Visitors can get much closer to the animals than they would in a traditional zoo setting.
Best for: Families with younger children and serious animal lovers.
Have teenagers who have reached their scenic-overlook limit?
Here’s your answer.
The mountain coaster in Williams gives them something completely different to do.
Best for: Older kids, teenagers and adults who want a little adrenaline.
Wish Tree Tip: This is another easy activity to combine with Bearizona and Route 66.
Start at the Visitor Center and Mather Point.
Walk the Rim Trail toward Yavapai Point and stop at the Yavapai Geology Museum.
Explore more of the South Rim during the afternoon.
Then head toward one of our favorite less-crowded viewpoints for sunset.
And don’t rush home the second the sun disappears. Stay for the changing colors and, if you have the energy, the stars.
Spend the morning or early afternoon at Bearizona.
Then head into Williams, wander historic Route 66, grab dinner and enjoy the town before heading back to Wish Tree.
It’s a completely different Northern Arizona experience from Day 1, which is exactly why we like the combination.
Don’t come all this way just to drive to Mather Point, take a picture and leave.
Give yourself time.
Walk somewhere.
Find a quieter overlook.
Stay for sunset.
Look at the stars.
Go see the bears at Bearizona.
Explore a little of Route 66.
The Grand Canyon is obviously the main attraction, but some of the moments people remember most happen around it.
After a day of exploring, come back, spread out, slow down and enjoy Northern Arizona.
Our Grand Canyon properties in Valle put you about 25 minutes from the South Rim entrance, close enough to make the Grand Canyon the center of your trip while giving you a comfortable place to come home to at the end of the day.
Explore our Grand Canyon stays and start planning your adventure.
From hidden viewpoints to family-friendly activities, discover more ways to experience the Grand Canyon.
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