Grand Canyon Things to Do Tips by Ewingjr98

Mather Point is many visitors' first view of the canyon as it is at the south entrance to the park and next to the central Canyon View Information Plaza visitors center, the main road through the park (Hwy 64), the shuttle bus stops, restrooms, bookstore and several hiking trails.

This area was so busy when we visited that it was almost annoying. The parking lots were packed, and we had to park along the side of the road in the ditch, all the while avoiding pedestrians who were everywhere. Once we walked to the overlooks along the rim, we were often waiting in line to get a clear view over the canyon. But it was Labor Day Weekend, so bad planning on my part.

The visitors center at Mather Point is open daily from 8 to 5, and there are outdoor displays which are always viewable.

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Moran Point is one of just a few locations on th South Rim where you can see the Colorado River deep in the canyon below. From here you can just catch a glimpse of the green-brown water through a gap in the rock.

During our visit, this was one of the more quiet spots (other than some of the small road-side pull offs) where we weren't overwhelmed by other visitors and there was adequate parking.

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Address: Hwy 64
Directions: 10 miles west of the East Entrance
Website: http://www.nps.gov/grca/

Desert View, at 7,438 feet above sea level, is probably the second busiest place of the park, as it is the first overlook from the East Entrance on Hwy 64. Here is one of the few spots with plenty of parking, and there is also a gas station, campground, small restaurant and gift shop, and restrooms.

The highlight of the Desert View overlook is the historic Watchtower...it was built in 1933 of local stone in a native style to blend in with the environment.

This area is also the only overlook with a clear view of a large stretch of the Colorado River.

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Website: http://www.scienceviews.com/parks/watchtower.html

There are several small overlooks just off Hwy 64 along the South Rim. These are usually just pull offs large enough for a few cars...the good news is if there are only a few cars, there will be only a few people! the views may be a little less spectacular than the big overlooks (like Mather, Grandview, Desert View) but the solitude makes them even better.

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Address: Grand Canyon South

The Kaibab National Forest straddles the Grand Canyon with about 1,400 square miles of pine forest along the South Rim and another 1,000 square miles along the North Rim. Hwy-180 passes through the Kaibab as it approaches the Grand Canyon's southern entrance.

The forest headquarters is in Williams, Arizona.

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Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/

Covering 27,000 square miles in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Navajo Nation is larger than 10 of the states of the US. Its population of 250,000 has blended traditional way of life such as artwork with modern, including their crucial oil industry.

The Navajo Nation, like other Indian reservations in the US, is an independent, self-governing country with its capital at Window Rock, AZ. Its tribal government was formed in 1923, and today it is considered one of the most sophisticated tribal governments with three branches of government and 88 representatives from the 110 communities.

I have passed through the Navajo Nation on two occasions: the first was in 1998 on my way from Flagstaff, AZ to the Four Corners. The second time was in 2006 while on my way from the Grand Canyon to Page, AZ.

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Phone: 928-871-6417
Website: http://www.navajo.org/

The Echo Cliffs lie on the east side of Hwy 89 south of Page, AZ, and about 45 miles from the east entrance of the Grand Canyon. These sheer, red cliffs stretch for miles along the highway with hardly a break of any kind. As you approach the northern edge of the Echo Cliffs, the road cuts through the mountains, providing a beautiful view in both directions. As you head north on Hwy 89, you will also see the equally impressive Vermilion Cliffs in the distance to the northwest, on the opposite side of the Colorado River.

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Website: http://www.lapahie.com/Navajo_Map_Sh.cfm

The Vermilion Cliffs are on the north side of the Colorado River along Alt Hwy 89 which is the route the takes you between the North Rim and South Rim of the Grand canyon. This area is known as Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and contains 293,000 acres of protected, remote wilderness. The park contains hiking trails, wild animals such as sheep, antelope and California Condors, and mountain lions, and endangered plant species in this unique cool desert environment.

The areas was home to various groups of Native Americans for thousands of years. More recently, in 1776 Spanish explorers traveled the area, and in th 1870s Morons explored here and settled nearby.

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Website: http://arizona.sierraclub.org/monuments/vermilion/vermilion.html