South Rim

Submitted by bog on Thu, 07/05/2012 - 12:23

Mather Point on the South Rim

Panoramic Map of the South Rim. Zoom in to view details.

Most Grand Canyon visitors go to the South Rim, which includes the village of Tusayan and Grand Canyon National Park Airport outside the park, and Grand Canyon Village and Desert View inside the park. The South Rim also features many rim viewpoints accessible from the Desert View Drive and Hermit Road.

Free Shuttle Buses

Free shuttle bus service operated by the park provides transportation around Grand Canyon Village, the Hermit Road, to Yaki Point and the Kaibab Trailhead, and to Tusayan.

Amenities

The South Rim has most of the Grand Canyon's amenities, including restaurants, lodging, and camping both within the park and outside of the park. Seasonal park shuttles operate between the airport, Tusayan, and Grand Canyon Village, and taxi service is available all year. Market Plaza features a general store which sells groceries as well as camping, hiking, and backpacking equipment. Equipment rentals are also available. There is also a bank and ATM, self-service laundry, showers, and post office.

Trails

The Grand Canyon's main trails, the Kaibab and Bright Angel, start from the South Rim, as do many of the unmaintained backcountry trails.

When to Visit

The South Rim is open all year. Summer is the most popular time to visit and the high elevation of the South Rim, 7,000 feet, keeps the weather mild. Days are warm and the nights cool. Late summer typically brings afternoon thunderstorms which often create dramatic skies and stunning sunsets. Fall is the best time to visit- nights are crisp, often dropping below freezing, but the days are pleasant and the weather stable.

Winter is the least popular and often the most rewarding time to visit the South Rim, as the occasional snow storm drapes the canyon terraces with snow, emphasizing the colors and forms of the canyon. Winter nights are cold and the days chilly, but there are long sunny periods between the occasional storms. Spring has changeable weather with windy storms and even some snow alternating with calm, mild periods.

Getting Around the South Rim

Use the Free Shuttles

From March through October, roads and parking in the Grand Canyon Village area are congested. The best way to get around the village is via the free shuttle bus, which operates year-round in the village, to the Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point, and seasonally along Hermit Road and to Tusayan and the airport.

Park Away From the Rim

It is easiest to find a parking spot near the Backcountry Information Center at the west end of the village, or near Park Headquarters at the east end of the village. There are also large parking lots at Market Plaza and Canyon View Information Plaza, but these tend to fill early.

Download the South Rim Transit Map, which shows the shuttle bus routes and stops, as well as parking, in relation to the facilities in Grand Canyon Village.