Organized Tours

Bus Tours

If you'd rather leave the driving to someone else and enjoy more of the scenery, opt for a bus or van tour of one or more sections of the park. Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (tel. 928/638-2631; www.grandcanyonlodges.com) offers several tours within the park. These can be booked by calling or stopping at one of the transportation desks, which are at Bright Angel, Maswik, and Yavapai lodges. Prices range from around $15 for a 1 1/2-hour sunrise or sunset tour to around $40 for a combination tour to both Hermit's Rest and Desert View.

Leave the Driving to Them -- Now, I'm not a big fan of guided tours, but sometimes they just make a lot of sense. The Grand Canyon is one of those places, especially if you are usually the designated driver. Why should you have to keep your eyes on the road when there's all that gorgeous scenery right outside the window? Why not let someone else do the driving?

If you plan on making your visit to the Grand Canyon a day trip from Flagstaff rather than an overnight stay at the park, consider taking a tour with American Dream Tours (tel. 888/203-1212 or 928/527-3369; www.americandreamtours.com). Not only will you get to enjoy the scenery more, but knowledgeable guides will fill you with fascinating information about the canyon. Tours are $88 for adults and $62 for children 10 and under (lower rates may be available on their website).

Mule Rides

Mule rides into the canyon have been popular since the beginning of the 20th century, when the Bright Angel Trail was a toll road. After having a look at the steep drop-offs and narrow path of the Bright Angel Trail, you might decide this isn't exactly the place to trust your life to a mule. Never fear: Wranglers will be quick to reassure you they haven't lost a rider yet. Trips of various lengths and to different destinations are offered. The 1-day trip descends to Plateau Point, where there's a view of the Colorado River 1,300 feet below. This grueling trip requires riders to spend 6 hours in the saddle. Those who want to spend a night down in the canyon can choose an overnight trip to Phantom Ranch, where cabins and dormitories are available at the only lodge actually in the canyon. From November to March, a 3-day trip to Phantom Ranch is offered; other times of year, you'll ride down one day and back up the next. Mule trips range in price from $148 for a 1-day ride to $401 for an overnight ride to $566 for the 2-night ride. Couples get discounts on overnight rides.

Riders must weigh less than 200 pounds fully dressed; stand at least 4 feet, 7 inches tall; and speak fluent English. Pregnant women are not allowed on mule trips.

Because these trail rides are very popular (especially in summer), they often book up 6 months or more in advance (reservations are taken up to 13 months in advance). For more information or to make a reservation, contact Xanterra Parks & Resorts (tel. 888/297-2757 or 303/297-2757; www.grandcanyonlodges.com). If at the last minute (5 days or fewer from the day you want to ride) you decide you want to go on a mule trip, contact Grand Canyon National Park Lodges at its Arizona phone number (tel. 928/638-2631) for the remote possibility that there may be space available. If you arrive at the canyon without a reservation and decide that you'd like to go on a mule ride, stop by the Bright Angel Transportation Desk to get your name put on the next day's waiting list.

The Grand Canyon Railway

In the early 20th century, most visitors to the Grand Canyon arrived by train, and it's still possible to travel to the canyon along the steel rails. The Grand Canyon Railway (tel. 800/843-8724 or 928/773-1976; www.thetrain.com), which runs from Williams to Grand Canyon Village, uses both 1950s-vintage diesel engines and, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, early-20th-century steam engines to pull 1920s and 1950s passenger cars. Trains depart from the Williams Depot, which is housed in the historic 1908 Fray Marcos Hotel and also contains a railroad museum, gift shop, and cafe. (Grand Canyon Railway also operates the adjacent Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.) At Grand Canyon Village, the trains use the 1910 log railway terminal in front of El Tovar Hotel.

Passengers have the choice of five classes of service: coach (which includes both Pullman and Budd cars), club class, first class, observation dome (upstairs in the dome car), and luxury parlor class. Actors posing as cowboys provide entertainment, including musical performances, aboard the train. The round-trip takes 8 hours, including a 3 1/4- to 3 3/4-hour layover at the canyon. Fares range from $65 to $170 for adults, $40 to $145 for children 11 to 16, and $30 to $95 for children 2 to 10 (not including tax or the park entry fee).

Not only is this a fun trip that provides great scenery and a trip back in time, but taking the train also allows you to avoid the traffic congestion and parking problems in Grand Canyon Village. When booking your train trip, you can also book a bus tour in the park, which will help you see more than you would on foot. The railway offers room/train packages as well.

In November, December, and January, there's the Polar Express with service to the North Pole and a visit from Santa.

A Bird's-Eye View

Despite controversies over noise and safety (there have been a few crashes over the years), airplane and helicopter flights over the Grand Canyon remain one of the most popular ways to see this natural wonder. Personally, I would rather enjoy the canyon on foot or from a saddle. However, the volume of flights over the canyon each day would indicate that quite a few people don't share my opinion. If you want to join the crowds buzzing the canyon, you'll find several companies operating out of Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan. Air tours last anywhere from 30 minutes to about 2 hours.

Companies offering tours by small plane include Air Grand Canyon (tel. 800/247-4726 or 928/638-2686; www.airgrandcanyon.com) and Grand Canyon Airlines (tel. 866/235-9422 or 928/638-2359; www.grandcanyonairlines.com). This latter company has been offering air tours since 1927 and is the oldest scenic airline at the canyon. Fifty-minute flights cost $99 to $119 for adults and $79 to $89 for children (including current $10 per person fuel surcharge).

Helicopter tours are available from Maverick Airstar Helicopters (tel. 888/261-4414 or 702/261-0007; www.airstar.com), Grand Canyon Helicopters (tel. 800/541-4537 or 928/638-2764; www.grandcanyonhelicoptersaz.com), and Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters (tel. 800/528-2418 or 928/638-2419; www.papillon.com). Rates range from $145 to $175 for a 30-minute flight and from $205 to $235 for a 45- to 55-minute flight. Children sometimes receive a discount (usually around $20), and discounts can also be found on the various tour company websites.

Interpretive Programs

Numerous interpretive programs are scheduled throughout the year at various South Rim locations. Walks led by rangers explore different aspects of the canyon; rangers give geology talks, offer lectures on the cultural and natural resources of the canyon, lead nature hikes, organize trips to fossil beds, and hold stargazing gatherings. At Tusayan Ruin, guided tours are offered. Evening programs are held at Mather Amphitheater or the Shrine of the Ages. Consult your copy of The Guide for information on times and meeting points.

The Grand Canyon Field Institute

If you're the active type or would like to turn your visit to the Grand Canyon into more of an educational experience, you may want to consider doing a trip with the Grand Canyon Field Institute (tel. 866/471-4435 or 928/638-2485; www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute). Cosponsored by Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Association, the Field Institute schedules an amazing variety of guided, educational trips, such as challenging backpacking trips through the canyon (some for women only) and programs lasting anywhere from 1 to 18 days. Subjects covered include wilderness studies, geology, natural history, human history, photography, and art.

Jeep Tours

If you'd like to explore parts of Grand Canyon National Park that most visitors never see, contact Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris (tel. 800/320-5337 or 928/638-5337; www.grandcanyonjeeptours.com), which offers three different tours that visit the park as well as the adjacent Kaibab National Forest. One tour stops at a lookout tower that affords an elevated view of the canyon, while another visits an Indian ruin and site of petroglyphs and cave paintings. Prices range from $45 to $104 for adults and $35 to $84 for children 12 and under.