| Overlooks & Points tips and photos posted by real travelers and Grand Canyon locals. • 98 Photos
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 by madamx
Taking in the viewpoints suprisingly takes up a lot of time and, we found it really enjoyable, even after our disappointment of not being able to hike down the South Kaibab. I felt like I could never get enough of the hugeness of it all.
When you enter through the park gates, you will be given a map with viewpoints on it, and though they say some are better than others, they were all awesome to me! Except The Abyss, which didn't do much for me, but maybe we were there at the wrong time of day.
The bus system is handy dandy for taking in the rim viewpoints Leave a Comment Address: Grand CanyonDirections: All along the South Rim
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 by madamxLeave a Comment Directions: near the beginning of Desert View Drive, from the East Gate.
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We drove along the South Rim from Mather Point to Desert View by the eastern park entrance. We had decided to make a stop there, since it is the highest point on the southern side. There is an information center and a view tower, with indian art and souvernirs. And there is a cafe, I got my coffee :-) I need not say that the view was gorgeous, do I?
I had heard that Mather Point had the best view, but to my opinion this is better!
Outside the tower there is a terrace, looks like it is used for barbecuing (lower right corner of picture 5). How lovely would that be, to enjoy a good meal and the sunset over the canyon simultaneously! * Must come back! * Leave a Comment Address: Desert ViewDirections: Grand Canyon, South Rim, close to eastern entrance of the park.
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 The sun sets over the Grand
Canyon by AKtravelersLeave a Comment
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 Can you spot the lizard in
this picture? by mikehanneman
I was surprised last August when I took the time and effort to stop at all the overlooks. Each had a unique, special view of the Grand Canyon.
During the late Spring through early Fall, you can take the free shuttle to the West of the Village area. There are a lot of nice vistas there too. I enjoyed Hermit's Rest, the furthest point you ride the shuttle to. There is some history there with the building. It was built in 1915 and looks pretty cool. It was abandoned in 1930 after the constuction of Phantom Ranch. Leave a Comment Directions: Take the shuttle bus West for about 8 miles and you will arrive at Hermit's Rest.
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Touring the SOUTH RIM VIEW POINTS will take you most of a day. Hans and I entered the Park just before 10:00 a.m. and departed around 6:00 p.m.
Starting from the Park's South Entrance, you will first come across Yavapai Point and then it is on to Mather Point. Yaki Point is next at 7262 feet elevation.
You will be driving along the Rim on Desert View Drive ( # 64). Here you will also find picnic areas and Canyon View Information Plaza. While we were there, much construction was taking place and a few areas were closed off to the public.
Grandview Point at 7399 feet elevation, is next. Then Moran Point, my favourite, at 7160 feet elevation. On the right, you will find Tusayan Ruins and Museum. We did not stop there this time as we saw it last time.
Next is Lipan Point at 7360 feet elevation, Navajo Point at 7461 feet elevation and finally Desert View at 7438 feet elevation. After Desert View , you come out at the Park's East entrance and on to Highway 89 which gets you to Cameron (30 miles). Leave a Comment Address: Desert View Drive (#64)
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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. Leave a Comment
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 Lotsa people checking out
the view of the river by Ewingjr98,
3 more photos
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. Leave a Comment
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 The average distance
across the canyon is 10
miles by Ewingjr98,
4 more photos
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. Leave a Comment
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Some hardier souls can hike to Hermit's Rest (about 7-8 miles from GC Village), but we found the trip by shuttle most enjoyable. There are stops at 8 main view points where the shuttle stops on the outward journey (only 2 on the return trip) so you can get many different views of the canyon. Also along the way is a monument to John Wesley Powell who is said to be the first to transverse the Grand Canyon (I suspect some Native Americans had done much of it before). At any rate he mapped and photographed it and thereby put it on the map for the rest of the US population. At the end of the trail is Hermit's Rest, an attractive stopover for tourists, hikers and bikers. There is a nice little snack shop and new restroom facilities in a lovely old limestone building designed by soutwest architect Mary Colter. Probably not many females in that profession in 1914. The name, Hermit's Rest came because of a French Canadian porspector, Louis Boucher, who lived in the area for over 20 years and probably had a hermit-like existence. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Driving this route is not possible as it is closed to private vehicles. Leave a Comment
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