Guide to The Grand Canyon

Dave and I took a road trip through the American Southwest desert in October 2017, visiting six national parks and one national monument. Every year millions of people travel from all over the world just to stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon. Its monumental landscape spans 277 miles with a depth of over 6,000 feet. Typically when David and I visit a national park, we cram in as many hikes as we can; but here our focus was little different. We looked forward to learning about its history and culture, which plays as big of a roll as the canyon itself. We put together this guide to share some of our favorite sights and where we ate/slept inside the park.




DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER | The 70-foot stone structure was designed by Mary Colter, one of the few female architects in the 1900’s, to resemble an ancient Puebloan watchtower. Inside, the walls are decorated with colorful murals and ornate petroglyphs. We climbed the winding staircase to the top floor, where we were greeted with a perfect panorama of the canyon.

KOLB STUDIO | Once owned by two brothers that made a living photographing tourists descending the Bright Angel Trail. Today it shows their silent films and photographs from their careers. 

LOOKOUT STUDIO | Another building designed by Colter, modeled after the stone dwellings of SW Pueblo Native Americans. It’s located right on the rim’s edge, with a patio overlooking the canyon.

TRAIN DEPOT | This beautiful train station has kept its 1900’s charm, and still operates to this day. It departs just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, and travels through the Colorado Plateau to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

HERMIT’S REST | Built in 1914 as a rest area for tourists going in and out of the canyon. Inside is a very large, and very impressive stone fireplace; a perfect spot to relax and put up your feet after a long canyon expedition.

CONDOR SIGHTINGS | There are approximately 70 condors that inhabit the Utah/Arizona area, many of which frequent the Grand Canyon. We actually spotted three during our stay!

GIFT SHOPS | In the late 1800’s the Grand Canyon Village was made up of concession tents selling souvenirs to visiting tourists. Eventually buildings replaced the tents, with some still standing today. Each shop is different, offering a variety of little trinkets and souvenirs ranging from Native American jewelry to Western-inspired art. 





HORSESHOE BEND | Travel time: 1hr 45min. A horseshoe-shaped canyon sculpted by the Colorado River, located just outside of the town of Page, Arizona. We actually debated on including this in our guide. It is an awe-inspiring place that showcases the power of nature – but it was also a bit scary. There are no railings or buffer from the 1,000ft drop, and we were horrified at how close people got to the edge just to take a selfie. 

ANTELOPE CANYON | Travel time: 2hrs. An unrivaled treasure of the American Southwest. Located on Navajo land just east of Page, this narrow slot canyon was formed by erosion from flash flooding, carving its renowned flowing waves into the rock. The only way to see the canyon is by a guided tour. We made reservations through Ken’s Tours, and had a fantastic guide named Darrell. 

MONUMENT VALLEY | Travel time: 2hr 25min. A small cluster of sandstone buttes that has defined the image of the Wild West for decades. The park is located on Navajo land near the Utah/Arizona border, and requires a $20 entrance fee. Be sure to have a pretty capable car or join a jeep tour, as the road is unpaved and riddled with potholes. Nearby is a great visitor center with a gift shop and restrooms.

SEDONA | Travel Time: 2hrs. We spent two days in Sedona to rest and recharge. This desert town has great food, beautiful hiking trails, and plenty of vortex energy if you’re into that sort of thing. 





Unlike most national parks, the Grand Canyon has a variety of restaurants, cafés and markets to chose from.

HARVEY HOUSE CAFÉ | A relaxed, casual restaurant inside the Bright Angel Lodge. Its rustic decor features the signature colors of architect Mary Colter.

EL TOVAR DINING ROOM | Since it opened its doors in 1905, the hotel has hosted notable guests such as Theodore Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. Over 100 years later, it has managed to maintain its rustic elegance. And the dessert alone is reason enough to pay it a visit.




KACHINA LODGE
Pretty much all accommodations on the south rim are located in the Grand Canyon Village. There are several lodges and a campground to choose from. We stayed at the Kachina Lodge, which was recently renovated and had a sort of modern/retro motel vibe. It was super comfortable and had an incredible panoramic view of the canyon right outside our window – we almost didn’t leave our room! Protip: parking is limited – once you find a spot do not move your car. You can walk or take a shuttle to pretty much everything in the park.