As part of a larger Arizona/Utah trip, we had the opportunity to add the southern rim of the Grand Canyon to our itinerary. We are so glad we were able to fit it in and even scored a room on the rim.

A few points about our trip:

1. August. Yikes. We knew what we were getting into but we had to be sure to prepare adequately. You’ll find the prep for this throughout the guide but in summary, I would definitely do it again.

2. The haze. As much as you try to plan and simplify a trip ahead of time, there are always factors that you can’t control. For this trip, the haze from several California fires had moved into Arizona and Utah and for a few days had a big impact on visibility. It didn’t keep us from hiking but did change the experience of some of the notable beauty of certain locations.

3. A piece of a big trip. This guide is really helpful if you are adding in the Grand Canyon into a larger trip. If this would have been the primary location for our trip and we would have had multiple days, we would have approached it differently.

Timeframe: 24hrs

Trip Type: Selective

With such a short timeframe, we knew we would have to be selective on what we could do and what would have to wait for a future trip.

Transportation

Required: Car (4WD/AWD not required)
Optional: Plane

There is no way around needing a car to visit the Grand Canyon. So if you fly, you will need to factor in a rental car.

The three closest places to fly into are Phoenix (3hr 29m), Las Vegas (4hr 8m) and Flagstaff (1hr 28).

There is a shuttle once you are in the park. We didn’t get to try it this trip due to timing but would definitely utilize it for future trips so we wouldn’t have to worry about -, especially during peak season.

Pack

Packing for the Grand Canyon will vary based on the time of year that you visit and how far down you plan to go into the canyon. We visited in August and needed to be prepared for excessive heat.

A good friend of ours always says, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.” While we do think there is some weather that can put a damper on a good adventure, having the right gear makes the chance pretty small.

Check out our Warm Weather Guide <link> to see what all we recommend you should bring specific to the weather. In general, here are the primary items you should make sure to bring:

• Hike boots/shoes: If you plan to go on any trail that leads you into the canyon, every family member should have proper footgear. With gravel trails that include elevation changes and sharp drop-offs, shoes that have good traction are a key safety feature.

• Hats: We do simple ball caps style hats because they’re easier to wear but they do leave the back of your neck exposed so it could be worth considering a large brim hat. Check out Casey’s favorite:

• Backpacks + water bladder: We do believe every person should carry their own backpack but we don’t always insist on the water bladders. There are times we use a lightweight water bottle to just keep things easy. However, during any hikes with warm enough weather to make you sweat more than just from movement, we highly recommend bladders. Everyone needs to be able to get a constant flow of water without having to stop and take out water bottles.

• No Cotton: For anything that touches your skin, make sure it does not include any cotton. It’s the worst. Don’t forget to check the under garments and socks. Cotton does not dry quickly and can irritate the skin. Select clothes that are breathable and will dry quickly.

• Sunscreen: All the sunscreen. We specifically like a good spray face sunscreen so we can reapply often and quickly even if our hands are dirty.

• Collapsible hiking sticks: These are more of a nice to have and are questionable with kids.

Timing

When you plan to enter the park should be considered. Early morning and later in the day are ideal to avoid the lines. In 2017, my sister and eye did a quick half day visit. When we were leaving the park around noon, the line of cars was over 2 miles.

You can find park maps and other guides here.

Wildlife

So much to be aware of here. From the elk and her baby camped out in front of our lodge as we tried to bring in our luggage after dark to the bold, pesky squirrels that were too interested in our snack breaks. Respect them. This is their territory. They will most likely win any altercation (just ask Channing about her Zion experience, ha).