what to do in grand canyon national park

What to Do in Grand Canyon National Park Appreciate the humbling splendor of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as you walk or bike the Grand Canyon Greenway, a system of paved multiuse trails that encourage nonmotorized travel along the South Rim. Bicycle rentals are available on the South Rim May through October.

For a bird's-eye view, fly over the grandest of all canyons on an aerial tour, one of the most memorable things to do in Grand Canyon National Park. Helicopter and airplane flights take off from Grand Canyon National Park Airport, located near Tusayan. Scenic flights also are available from other nearby locales, such as Sedona and Las Vegas.

Gaze out vintage train windows and get lost in the same inspirational landscapes President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Clark Gable and Bill Gates rolled past while traveling from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park via the Grand Canyon Railway .

Remember muscles you forgot existed rafting some of the Colorado River's more than 100 major rapids. Take a breather floating along slower sections of the 300-foot-wide waterway before tackling Granite and Horn Creek's roaring white waters on a professionally guided raft trip. Note that raft trips through the canyon take a week or longer.

Drink plenty of water hiking along Bright Angel Trail , South Kaibab Trail and North Kaibab Trail . You can lose 1 to 2 quarts of water per hour just by sweating, making dehydration a common and dangerous Grand Canyon problem.

Cruise oak and juniper-lined Desert View Drive past Grandview and Moran points to Tusayan Ruin and Museum , where things to see include Ancestral Puebloan cultural exhibits and an 800-year-old excavated pueblo.

Hoof it to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and settle into one of 11 comfy cabins at rustic Phantom Ranch , the only lodging available below the rim. Xanterra Parks & Resorts' South Rim Mule Trips offer an alternative means of transport.

Traverse Havasu Canyon astride a steed, flanked by red sandstone cliffs and brilliant blue-green creeks and waterfalls. The Havasupai, the “people of the blue-green waters,” have been residents since about 1300.

Navigate the 215 road miles separating the South and North rims, taking in erosion's vivid composition, the Painted Desert , along the way. During the 4.5-hour journey, American elk and white-tailed deer frequent roadside pastures lining Kaibab National Forest .

Looking for things to do with kids? Help your little ones connect with nature as they earn certificates, badges and patches in one of the park's Junior Ranger programs. Park publications include a full roundup of educational programs for kids, as well as shuttle schedules, maps, hike descriptions, facility hours and loads of other useful information. They are free at entrance stations, visitor centers and hotels near Grand Canyon National Park.