Planning a trip to Grand Canyon National Park

Getting Around

If possible, use one of these transportation options to avoid South Rim traffic jams and parking problems.

By Bus—Free shuttle buses operate on three routes within the park. The Village (Blue) Route bus circles through Grand Canyon Village throughout the day, with frequent stops at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, Market Plaza (site of a general store, bank, laundry, and showers), and other facilities. The Hermit Road (Red) Route bus takes visitors to eight canyon overlooks west of Bright Angel Lodge (this bus does not operate December–February). The Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route bus stops at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Mather Point, Yavapai Geology Museum, Pipe Creek Vista, the South Kaibab trail head, and Yaki Point. An early-morning Hikers’ Express bus to the South Kaibab trail head runs from Bright Angel Lodge, with stops at the Back Country Information Office and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, to the trail head; it operates 4am to 6am in summer, but as late as 7am to 9am in winter (for the full schedule, see park website). From March through September, the Tusayan (Purple) Route operates between the town of Tusayan, outside the park, and Grand Canyon Village, inside the park. To use this shuttle, you must have a valid park entrance pass.

Between mid-May and mid-October, Trans Canyon (www.trans-canyonshuttle.com; tel. 928/638-2820) offers shuttle-bus service between the South Rim and the North Rim. The vans leave the South Rim at 8am and 1:30pm and arrive at the North Rim at 1:30pm and 6pm. The return trip leaves the North Rim at 7am and 2pm, arriving at the South Rim at 11:30am and 6:30pm. The fare is $90 each way; reservations are required.

By Taxi—Taxi service is available to and from Grand Canyon Airport, trail heads, and other destinations (tel. 928/638-2631, ext. 6563). The fare from the airport to Grand Canyon Village is $10 for up to two adults, $5 for each additional person.

Tips for Travelers with Disabilities

The steep, rocky trails below the rim pose problems for travelers with certain disabilities. People with limited vision or mobility may be able to walk the Bright Angel and North Kaibab trails, which are the canyon's smoothest. If you need to take a service animal on trails below the South Rim, check in at the Backcountry Information Office (tel. 928/638-7875), located across the train tracks near Maswik Lodge on the South Rim. On the North Rim, check in at the Backcountry Office, located 12 miles south of the North Entrance (just north of the campground entrance). For details about the accessibility of park buildings and facilities, pick up the free Accessibility Guide at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Kolb Studio, Tusayan Ruin and Museum, the Desert View Information Center, or any of the park entrance stations.

All shuttle buses in the park are equipped with ramps and space to carry passengers in wheelchairs that are up to 30 inches wide and 48 inches long. Visitors can also indicate to the driver that they would like the bus to "kneel" to reduce the size of the step up to the front door when entering or exiting.

On the rims, many attractions are accessible to everyone. On the South Rim, Desert View Drive is an excellent activity. Four of its overlooks -- Yaki, Grandview, Moran, and Desert View -- are wheelchair accessible. The Tusayan Ruin and Museum is also accessible (ask for assistance at the information desk). At Desert View, the bookstore and grocery store are accessible, but no designated seating is available at the snack bar. Along Desert View Drive, restrooms for the mobility impaired are at Yaki Point, Grandview Point, Tusayan Ruin and Museum, and Desert View (just east of Desert View General Store).

Hermit Road has been repaved, and although the drive is closed to most private cars when shuttles are running, travelers with disabilities can obtain accessibility permits for their vehicles at the park's entrance gates, Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Yavapai Geology Museum, Kolb Studio, Verkamp's, El Tovar's concierge desk, and the transportation desks at Bright Angel Lodge, Yavapai Lodge, and Maswik Lodge. On the drive itself, Hopi Point, Pima Point, Maricopa Point, and Powell Memorial are all wheelchair accessible. The road also affords a number of nice "windshield views" from pullouts where one need not leave the car to see the canyon. To reach the gift shop at Hermits Rest, you'll have to negotiate two 5-inch steps and a route that slopes gently sideways. Along Hermit Road there are wheelchair-accessible restrooms at Hopi Point and Hermits Rest. Despite having many historic buildings, most of Grand Canyon Village is wheelchair accessible. The notable exceptions are Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio. Hopi House is accessible only through a 29-inch-wide door on the building's canyon side. Also, some hallways in Yavapai Lodge are too narrow for wheelchairs. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Canyon Village Marketplace, Yavapai Geology Museum, El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Mather Campground, and Maswik Lodge. Mather Campground has six sites for people with disabilities.

The Grand Canyon Visitor Center, on the South Rim, is tailored for people with disabilities. Walkways and doorways are wheelchair accessible. Mather Point can be reached from the visitor center via a paved walkway, and a new wheelchair-accessible ramp takes visitors out to a point offering fantastic canyon views.

Those who have difficulty walking can usually negotiate the 1.5-mile-long rim trail between Bright Angel Lodge and Yavapai Point (except when icy). An additional half-mile from Yavapai Point is a doable distance to Mather Point. Wide and smooth, the new greenway has moderate grades -- and stunning canyon views.

On the North Rim, most buildings are accessible. An accessible trail connecting Grand Canyon Lodge, its motel units, and the visitor center is under construction. The two most popular North Rim overlooks -- Point Imperial and Cape Royal -- are accessible, though neither has a designated parking space. Grand Canyon Lodge is accessible via a lift and a ramp, and the North Rim Campground has six accessible sites. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are at the Backcountry Office (assistance required), Grand Canyon Lodge (assistance may be required), the North Rim Campground, and behind the visitor center.

Xanterra (tel. 928/638-2822), with advance notice, can sometimes arrange for buses with lifts for its tours. The canyon's mule-trip operators accommodate people with certain disabilities, as do many river companies. Western River Expeditions (tel. 800/453-7450; www.westernriver.com), Arizona Raft Adventures (tel. 800/786-7238; www.azraft.com), Grand Canyon Expeditions (tel. 800/544-2691; www.gcex.com), and Canyon Explorations, Inc. (tel. 800/654-0723; www.canyonx.com) are particularly accommodating to people with certain disabilities.

The National Park Service supplies U.S. citizens with permanent disabilities a free federal Access Pass, which can only be obtained in person at a national park. Good for a lifetime, the pass admits a car with four adults, and gets holders a half-off discount on some facilities and services, such as camping.

Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

Virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. is required to show a passport. All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport. Note: U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the western hemisphere must now also present a passport or other documents compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI; visit www.getyouhome.gov for details). Children 15 and under may continue entering with only a U.S. birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship.

Australia -- Australian Passport Information Service (tel. 131-232; www.passports.gov.au).

Canada -- Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

Ireland -- Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie).

New Zealand -- Passports Office, Department of Internal Affairs, 47 Boulcott St., Wellington, 6011 (tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100; www.passports.govt.nz).

United Kingdom -- Visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency, or contact the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), 89 Eccleston Sq., London, SW1V 1PN (tel. 0300/222-0000; www.ips.gov.uk).

United States -- To find your regional passport office, check the U.S. State Department website (travel.state.gov/passport), or call the National Passport Information Center (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Visas

The U.S. State Department has a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allowing citizens of the following countries to enter the United States without a visa for stays of up to 90 days: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. (Note: This list was accurate at press time; for the most up-to-date list of countries in the VWP, consult http://travel.state.gov/visa.) Even though a visa isn't necessary, in an effort to help U.S. officials check travelers against terror watch lists before they arrive at U.S. borders, visitors from VWP countries must register online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before boarding a plane or a boat to the U.S. Travelers must complete an electronic application providing basic personal and travel eligibility information. The Department of Homeland Security recommends filling out the form at least 3 days before traveling. Authorizations will be valid for up to 2 years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first. Currently, there is one US$14 fee for the online application. Existing ESTA registrations remain valid through their expiration dates. Note: Any passport issued on or after October 26, 2006, by a VWP country must be an e-Passport for VWP travelers to be eligible to enter the U.S. without a visa. Citizens of these nations also need to present a round-trip air or cruise ticket upon arrival. E-Passports contain computer chips capable of storing biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. If your passport doesn't have this feature, you can still travel without a visa if the valid passport was issued before October 26, 2005, and includes a machine-readable zone, or if the valid passport was issued between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, and includes a digital photograph. For more information, go to http://travel.state.gov/visa. Canadian citizens may enter the United States without visas, but will need to show passports and proof of residence.

Citizens of all other countries must have (1) a valid passport that expires at least 6 months later than the scheduled end of their visit to the U.S., and (2) a tourist visa.

For information about U.S. visas, go to http://travel.state.gov and click on "Visas." Or go to one of the following websites:

Australian citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information from the U.S. Embassy Canberra, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6214-5600), or by checking the U.S. Diplomatic Mission's website at http://canberra.usembassy.gov/visas.html.

British subjects can obtain up-to-date visa information by calling the U.S. Embassy Visa Information Line (tel. 09042-450-100 from within the U.K. at £1.20 per minute; or tel. 866/382-3589 from within the U.S. at a flat rate of $16 and payable by credit card only) or by visiting the "Visas to the U.S." section of the American Embassy London's website at http://london.usembassy.gov/visas.html.

Irish citizens can obtain up-to-date visa information through the U.S. Embassy Dublin, 42 Elgin Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (tel. 1580-47-VISA [8472] from within the Republic of Ireland at €2.40 per minute; http://dublin.usembassy.gov).

Citizens of New Zealand can obtain up-to-date visa information by contacting the U.S. Embassy New Zealand, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (tel. 644/462-6000; http://newzealand.usembassy.gov).

Staying Connected

Telephones

Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50. Many public pay phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. Local calls made from most pay phones cost either 25¢ or 35¢. Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. To make calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the number you are calling.

Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, "dating" services, and so on) can be expensive -- charges of 95¢ to $3 or more per minute. Some numbers have minimum charges that can run $15 or more.

For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial the number 0 then the area code and number; an operator will come on the line, and you should specify whether you are calling collect, person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator.

For directory assistance ("Information"), dial 411 for local numbers and national numbers in the U.S. and Canada. For dedicated long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code plus 555-1212.

Mobile Phones

There is reliable cellphone coverage on the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Coverage in Grand Canyon Village has greatly improved among most carriers, and there's typically good service between Maricopa Point and Yaki Point. However, cellphone coverage remains weak or nonexistent outside the South Rim, although some will be able to pick up a weak signal on the North Rim if they are located near the rim itself. Coverage does not generally exist within the canyon, so don't expect to use your phone on any hikes below the rim. A park ranger audio cellphone tour is available for free on the South Rim by dialing tel. 928/225-2907.

Internet & Wi-Fi

Wireless Internet access is increasingly available on the South Rim, including in the public areas of South Rim hotels, as well as in the Park Headquarters Building (open from 8am-5pm year-round). Free Wi-Fi should also be available in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center by early 2012. On the North Rim, the only place to get Internet (via free wireless connection) is at the General Store adjacent to the North Rim Campground. It's possible to access the Internet from one of the outdoor tables even after the store is closed.

Tips for Families

The park's Junior Ranger Program will engage your kids. Register for it on the South Rim at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Verkamp's Visitor Center, or Tusayan Ruin and Museum, or on the North Rim at the North Rim Visitor Center. Your child will receive a Junior Ranger Activity Book outlining the needed steps to complete the Junior Ranger program (including attending a ranger-led program, completing educational puzzles, and picking up litter). When completed, bring the booklet back to any of the places listed above to obtain a Junior Ranger certificate and badge.

In summer, there are additional children's programs. For a complete listing of kids' activities, consult the park's free newspaper, The Guide, available at all park entrances.

Kids may also enjoy the following activities:

• Look for deer. At sunset, take a quiet walk in the grass along the train tracks by Grand Canyon Village, or watch a meadow along the entrance road on the North Rim. See how many deer you can count. But please don't feed or approach them.

• Hike a rim trail. If your kids are too young to make the steep descent into the canyon, take them walking along the canyon's rim. This gets them away from the car and into less crowded areas. On the South Rim, the rim trail from Grand Canyon Village to Mather Point is a nice option. On the North Rim, the Transept and Cliff Springs trails are fun for kids.

• Go birding. During the daytime, sit on the rim and watch raptors and ravens ride the thermals. See if you can identify eagles, hawks, or vultures -- and perhaps even California condors. You'll also likely see swifts and swallows darting around the rim.

• Watch wranglers prepare mules for the trip into the canyon. At 8am daily (9am in winter), wranglers bring mules to the corral on the South Rim (just west of Bright Angel Lodge). While the mules entertain the kids, the wranglers entertain adults with a humorous lecture on mule-ride protocol. A word of caution: Certain tourist-weary mules will bite when petted.

• See the canyon on the big, big screen. If the canyon fails to dazzle your young ones in person, show it to them on the 82-foot-high screen at the IMAX theater outside the park in Tusayan.

Fast Facts

Accessibility—Check The Guide for park programs, services, and facilities that are partially or fully accessible. You can also get the Grand Canyon National Park Accessibility Guide at park visitor centers or on the park website. You can pick up an accessibility parking permit at park entrances, visitor centers, and transportation desks. The national park has wheelchairs available at no charge for temporary use inside the park; inquire at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. All park shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible tours can be arranged at any lodge transportation desk or by calling Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (tel. 928/638-2631).

ATMs—There’s an ATM at the Chase bank (tel. 928/638-2437) at Market Plaza, near Yavapai Lodge.

Hospitals & Clinics—The North Country Grand Canyon Clinic (tel. 928/638-2551) is on Clinic Dr., off Center Rd. (the road that runs past the National Park Service ranger office). The clinic is open daily 8am–6pm (shorter hours Oct–May). It provides 24-hour emergency service as well.

Laundry—A coin-operated laundry is located near Mather Campground in the Camper Services building.

Lost & Found—Report lost items or turn in found items at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center; tel. 928/638-7798. For items lost or found at a hotel, restaurant, or lounge, call tel. 928/638-2631.

Police—In an emergency, dial tel. 911. Ticketing speeders is one of the main occupations of the park’s police force, so obey posted speed limits.

Post Office—The post office (tel. 928/638-2512) is at Market Plaza near Yavapai Lodge. It’s open Monday through Friday 9am–3:30pm.

Road Conditions—For information on road conditions in the Grand Canyon area, call tel. 888/411-7623 or 511.

Safety—The most important safety tip to remember is to be careful near the edge of the canyon. Footing can be unstable and may give way. Keep your distance from wild animals, no matter how friendly they may appear. Avoid hiking alone if at all possible, and keep in mind that the canyon rim is more than a mile above sea level (it’s harder to breathe up here). Do not leave valuables in your car or tent.

Wi-Fi & Internet Access—Wi-Fi access is limited in the park. Free Wi-Fi is available at the Visitor Center 8am–5pm, with some computers available for public use; at the Canyon Village Market Deli 8am–6pm; and at the Community Library 11:30am–5pm Monday through Saturday.

Getting There

In summer you can expect at least a 20- to 30-minute wait at the South Rim entrance gate just to get into the park. If at all possible, travel to the park by some means other than car. Alternatives include taking the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, flying into Grand Canyon Airport and then taking a taxi, taking the Arizona Shuttle from Flagstaff, or joining a guided tour to the park. You can walk to plenty of scenic overlooks, hiking trails, restaurants, and lodges in the Grand Canyon Village area, and free shuttle buses operate along both Hermit Road and Desert View Drive.

By Car—The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 60 miles north of Williams (and I-40) via Ariz. 64 and U.S. 180. Flagstaff, the nearest city of any size, is 80 miles southeast. From Flagstaff, you can take either U.S. 180 directly to the South Rim or U.S. 89 to Ariz. 64 and the park’s east entrance (the second route has much less traffic). Be sure you have plenty of gasoline in your car before setting out for the canyon; there are few service stations in this remote part of the state, and what gas stations there are charge exorbitant prices. There are no gas stations in the national park itself. You’ll find service stations outside the park’s south entrance in Tusayan, at Desert View near the east entrance (no cash sales in winter), and east of the park at Cameron.

Extended waits at the entrance gates, parking problems, and traffic congestion have long been the norm at the canyon during the popular summer months, and even in spring and fall there can be backups at the gates and limited parking space. However, extra ticketing lanes and additional parking lots built in recent years have somewhat alleviated the congestion at the south entrance.

By Plane—The closest airport with commercial service is in Flagstaff. From there, you’ll need to arrange other transportation the rest of the way to the national park. At the Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, 6 miles south of Grand Canyon Village, the only regularly scheduled flights are day-tours from Las Vegas on Scenic Airlines (www.scenic.com; tel. 800/634-6801), Grand Canyon Airlines (www.grandcanyonairlines.com; tel. 866/235-9422 or 702/835-8484), and Maverick Airlines (www.maverickairlines.com; tel. 800/962-3869 or 702/405-4300). Tours of an hour or two cost $140–$160, while longer ones can last from 6 1/2 to 8 hours and cost up to $400.

By Train—The Grand Canyon Railway operates excursion trains between Williams and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

For long-distance connections, Amtrak (www.amtrak.com; tel. 800/872-7245) provides service to Flagstaff and Williams. From Flagstaff, bus service goes directly to Grand Canyon Village. From Williams, you can transfer to the Grand Canyon Railway excursion train. Note: The Amtrak stop in Williams is on the outskirts of town—from there, you’ll need to catch a shuttle to the Grand Canyon Railway.

By Bus—Arizona Shuttle (www.arizonashuttle.com; tel. 877/226-8060 or 928/226-8060) buses connect Phoenix, Sedona, and Williams with Flagstaff, where passengers can board shuttles to Grand Canyon Village. One-way adult fares to Flagstaff are $49 from Phoenix, $45 from Sedona, $24 from Williams; the fare from Flagstaff on to the Grand Canyon is $34.

Health & Safety

Health 

Unless you're arriving from an area known to be suffering from an epidemic (particularly cholera or yellow fever), inoculations or vaccinations are not required for entry into the United States. During your visit to the Grand Canyon, it is helpful to keep the following in mind:

Bugs, Bites & Other Wildlife Concerns -- The Grand Canyon offers a spectacular range of flora and fauna. It's important to keep wildlife wild -- that means never approaching or feeding any animal and staying at least 300 yards away from larger animals. The National Park Service cautions that deer and elk can be aggressive and will defend their territory, and that even squirrels can bite, so don't feed them.

High-Altitude Hazards -- The Grand Canyon rim's high elevation (approximately 7,000 ft.) can lead to altitude sickness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and even nausea. Be sure to drink plenty of water and take it easy, particularly when you first arrive to this elevation. Remember when hiking that climbing back out of the canyon is far more difficult at these elevations than descending into it, so pace yourself.

Sun/Elements/Extreme Weather Exposure -- The Grand Canyon's intense sun, particularly in summer, can cause severe dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of water, protect yourself from the sun, and avoid hiking into the canyon during the sweltering summer heat.

Safety

In 2001, two Arizona writers published a disconcertingly thick book detailing every known fatal accident within the canyon. Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon (Puma Press, Flagstaff, 2001) not only tells captivating stories but also serves as a handy reminder of what not to do here. (For starters, don't remove your hiking boots and run barefoot toward the river.) Below is a list of guidelines that will keep you from getting into Over the Edge: Volume II.

• Exercise caution on the rims. Every year, a handful of people fall to their deaths in the canyon. To minimize risk, don't blaze trails along the rim, where loose rocks make footing precarious. Use caution when taking photographs and when looking through your camcorder's viewfinder (unless you want your final footage aired on the nightly news). Be prepared for wind gusts, and keep an eye on your children.

• Move away from rim overlooks during thunderstorms. Get away from the rim during thunderstorms, where lightning frequently strikes and is extremely dangerous. On the rim, you may be the highest point -- and, therefore, the best lightning rod -- for miles around. Hair standing on end is a warning that an electric charge is building near you. If you hear thunder or see lighting, move as far away as possible from the rim and don't touch or cower under metal objects or tall trees. The safest place to be is inside a vehicle. If you are stuck out in the open, crouch down on the balls of your feet to minimize your contact with the ground until the lightning has passed.

• Wear sunscreen and protective clothing. Even during winter, the Arizona sun can singe unsuspecting tourists. To protect your skin and cool your body, wear long-sleeved white shirts, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen.

• Choose a reasonable destination for day hikes. Although most park visitors quickly recognize the danger of falling into the canyon, they don't always perceive the danger of walking into it. Every year, the canyon's backcountry rangers respond to hundreds of emergency calls, most of them on the corridor trails (Bright Angel, North Kaibab, and South Kaibab). Day hikers are lured deep into the canyon by the ease of the descent, the sight of other hikers continuing downward, and, sometimes, the goal of reaching the river. As they descend into the canyon's hotter climes in late morning, temperatures climb doubly fast. By the time they turn around, it's too late. They are hot, fatigued, and literally in too deep. When hiking in the canyon, particularly during the summer months, pick a reasonable destination, and don't hesitate to turn back early.

• Don't hike midday during hot weather. Hiking when it is hotter than 100°F (38°C) will cause you to sweat out fluids faster than your body can absorb them, no matter how much you drink. For this reason, hiking in extreme heat is inherently dangerous. Think twice before you hike into the canyon during summer.

• Yield to mules -- If you encounter mules, step off the trail on the uphill side and wait for instructions from the wranglers. This protects you, the riders, and the mules.

• Drink and eat regularly when hiking -- During a full day of hiking, plan to drink more than 1 gallon of water; on the hottest days, make it more than 2. Consume both water and electrolyte-replacement drinks such as Gatorade. Also, remember that eating carbohydrate-rich, salty foods is as important as drinking. If you consume large amounts of water without food, you can quickly develop an electrolyte imbalance, which can result in unconsciousness or even death.

Tips on Accommodations

Lodging inside the Grand Canyon is managed by park concessionaires that offer hotel and motel options that are generally well-kept and economical. The most upscale, and expensive, accommodations inside the park are found at the El Tovar hotel. Lodges inside the park typically need to be booked months in advance, especially for the high season. The nearest accommodations outside the South Rim are found in Tusayan, which is conveniently located but lacking in character. The gateway towns of Flagstaff, Williams, and Kanab offer a wider range of independent and chain hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts for all budgets.

Visitor Information

Grand Canyon National Park distributes a free trip planner that should answer most of your questions. To get a copy and find out more information, call tel. 928/638-7888, or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/grca.

Access & Entry Points

The park has three gated entrances -- two on the South Rim and one on the North Rim. The one that's most convenient from Flagstaff, Williams, and Phoenix is the park's South Entrance Gate, 1 mile north of Tusayan on Highway 64. Traffic occasionally backs up here during peak hours in high season (May-Sept). Many travelers from Flagstaff, as well as those from points east, prefer entering the South Rim area through its East Entrance Gate, near Desert View, 29 miles west of Cameron on Highway 64. From Flagstaff, the drive to the East Entrance is about 8 miles longer than to the South Entrance. There are seldom lines here.

The gate to the North Rim (210 highway miles away from the South Rim) isn't convenient to anywhere, except perhaps the small store, motel, and gas station at Jacob Lake, which is 30 miles north on Highway 67. The North Rim itself is 14 miles south of the gate. The closest real town is Fredonia, 71 miles north on Highway 89A. Visitors can also access parts of the park via Forest Service dirt roads.

Information Centers

Grand Canyon Visitor Center -- The Grand Canyon Visitor Center, near Mather Point, has become the first stop for many visitors to the South Rim. The whole complex has the streamlined appearance of a modern mass-transit hub and continues to expand. Various kiosks provide basic information about tours, trails, overlooks, cycling, weather, ranger-guided programs, and other topics. The four large parking lots surrounding the visitor center accommodate up to 875 vehicles. Free shuttles connect the Information Plaza with Grand Canyon Village and the Kaibab Trail.

The Grand Canyon Visitor Center sits inside a long, glass-faced building. Here you'll find displays about the canyon, trip planning tools to help you decide how to spend your time in the park, and a ranger-staffed information desk. At one end of the visitor center is the Science on a Sphere enclosure presenting "The Canyon World," a short introduction to 1.8 billion years of canyon history projected on the outside of a 6-foot diameter sphere. From the other end of the visitor center you can enter the new theater, which shows the inspiring park film Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder. It's free and plays every 20 minutes. Adjacent to the visitor center are restrooms and Books and More, the large bookstore run by the Grand Canyon Association. The plaza outside the visitor center is a good place to learn about canyon flora -- it's also a great place for kids to climb and explore. They can read a poem about the Grand Canyon, search the rocks for engravings of Grand Canyon birds, fossils, and animal tracks, and even pet the full-size granite sculpture of a mountain lion. The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is open daily 8am to 6pm in summer, and 8am to 5pm during the rest of the year.

Yavapai Geology Museum -- Located a half-mile west of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center on Yavapai Point, this historic station has an observation room from which you can identify many of the central canyon's monuments. Rangers frequently lead interpretive programs here, and exhibits explain the region's geology, including how the canyon was formed. It's open daily from 8am to 8pm in summer, and from 8am to 6pm the rest of the year.

Desert View Visitor Center -- At this small visitor center 26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village, you can buy books from the Grand Canyon Association and get information about the canyon from park rangers. It's just inside the park's East Entrance, 29 miles west of Cameron on Highway 64. It's open daily from 9am to 6pm in summer, and daily from 9am to 5pm the rest of the year.

Tusayan Ruin and Museum -- This museum, 3 miles west of Desert View, has an information desk staffed by rangers, plus displays about the area's indigenous people including pottery, arrowheads, jewelry, and figurines. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm (closed Tues-Wed in winter).

Kolb Studio -- On the rim at the west end of Grand Canyon Village, Kolb Studio houses a small bookstore and an art gallery with free exhibits. It's open daily from 8am to 7pm in summer, and daily 8am to 6pm the rest of the year.

Verkamp's Visitor Center -- The park's newest visitor center lies within the century-old Verkamp's Curios building. It features displays depicting the canyon's history as well as a bookstore. It's open daily 8am to 8pm in summer, and 8am to 6pm the rest of the year.

North Rim Visitor Center -- This visitor center near Grand Canyon Lodge has a ranger desk with maps, trail information including water availability and weather conditions, and schedules for ranger programs, as well as a Grand Canyon Association bookstore. It's open daily 8am to 6pm from mid-May to mid-October, and after that from 9am to 4pm until the first snow closes the road.

Money

Frommer's lists exact prices in the local currency. However, rates fluctuate, so before departing consult a currency exchange website such as www.oanda.com/currency/converter to check up-to-the-minute rates.

Most places of business accept credit cards, and ATMs are common throughout the gateway towns. There are only a couple ATMs within Grand Canyon National Park, however.

The two ATMs on the South Rim are at Chase Bank, in Market Plaza next to the Canyon Village Marketplace, and at Maswik Lodge. Both charge a $2 fee for non-Chase bank users. On the North Rim, an ATM is available at the General Store and in the Roughrider Saloon at Grand Canyon Lodge. Due to the limited availability of ATMs, it is best to make sure you have sufficient cash on you before arriving at the park.

Credit cards are widely accepted in and around the Grand Canyon. Beware of hidden credit-card fees while traveling. International visitors should check with their credit or debit card issuer to see what fees, if any, will be charged for overseas transactions. Recent reform legislation in the U.S., for example, has curbed some exploitative lending practices. But many banks have responded by increasing fees in other areas, including fees for customers who use credit and debit cards while out of the country -- even if those charges were made in U.S. dollars. Fees can amount to 3% or more of the purchase price. Check with your bank before departing to avoid any surprise charges on your statement.

For help with currency conversions, tip calculations, and more, download Frommer's convenient Travel Tools app for your mobile device. Go to www.frommers.com/go/mobile, and click on the Travel Tools icon.

What Things Cost in the Grand Canyon (in US$)

Prices in and around the Grand Canyon tend to be very reasonable compared with many destinations in the United States. The National Park Service mandates that its concessionaires keep prices down so ordinary citizens from across the United Sates and abroad can come enjoy this magnificent place without depleting their savings accounts. Prices are moderate at most lodging and dining facilities within the park and at many of the gateway towns listed in this guide; an exception is Tusayan, which has expensive gas and food.

Taxi from Grand Canyon Village to Tusayan 10.00

-- (1 or 2 adults)

Mule day trip to the Abyss 121.00

7-day park admission (per car) 25.00

Deluxe room at El Tovar Hotel (expensive) 273.00

West room at Yavapai Lodge (moderate) 114.00

Room at Hotel Weatherford (inexpensive) 89.00

Site at Grand Canyon Trailer Village 35.00

Three-course dinner for one without wine, moderate 20.00-30.00

Bottle of beer 5.00

Cup of coffee 1.50-3.00

1 gallon of gas 4.00

Admission to most museums 10.00

Regulations & Warnings

The following list includes a set of rules established to protect both the park and its visitors (for more information, see the park's free publication, The Guide):

• Bicycles are allowed on all paved and unpaved park roads where motorized vehicles are permitted, and on the Greenway Trail. However, they are not allowed on hiking trails, including the Rim Trail. Bicyclists must obey all traffic regulations, and should ride single-file with the flow of traffic. On narrow Hermit Road, they should pull to the right shoulder and dismount when large vehicles are passing.

• It is illegal to remove any resource from the park. This covers anything from flowers to potsherds. Even seemingly useless articles such as bits of metal from the canyon's old mining operations have historical value to the park's users and are protected by law.

• Leashed pets are permitted on trails throughout the South Rim's developed areas, but not below the rim. The only exceptions are certified service animals.

• Fires are strictly prohibited except in the fire pits at North Rim, Desert View, and Mather campgrounds. In the backcountry, a small camp stove for cooking is acceptable.

• Discharging weapons -- including guns, bows and arrows, crossbows, slingshots, and air pistols -- is prohibited. So are all fireworks.

• If, by chance, you have a hang glider and are considering jumping into the canyon, forget it. It's illegal, and you'll be fined.

Tips for Senior Travelers

Senior discounts are available for the National Park entrance fee, most museums, and many hotels.