Grand Canyon: North vs. South Rim

The Grand Canyon is a geological masterpiece. It is 277 miles long and estimated to be upwards of 5 million years old. There has long been a debate about which rim to visit when you go to the Grand Canyon. The truth is that it depends on several factors, we will weigh the pros and cons of each below.

North Rim

Although it requires more effort to visit the North Rim, 1 million visitors are rewarded for their efforts each year. Many consider the North Rim viewpoints to be more spectacular due to the higher elevation. Some viewpoints not to be missed are Point Imperial, Cape Royal and Bright Angel Point. You'll find views here that are sweeping panoramas but no Colorado River. For hiking, there are more options than the South Rim such as Cape Final (4 miles roundtrip), Uncle Jim Trail (5 miles roundtrip) and The Widforss Trail (9 miles roundtrip).

Pros: less crowds, many people visit the North Rim on the way to Bryce/Zion/Arches, better views

Cons: open mid-May to mid-October, less facilities 

South Rim

Once you enter the South Rim, you can explore the canyon using Desert View Drive or West Rim Drive. Desert View Drive follows the rim of the canyon for 26 miles. The drive is dotted with incredible viewpoints like Yavapai Point, Yaki Point and Grandview Point. You'll find views here that are expansive and deep from many viewpoints featuring the Colorado River. For hiking, you can walk along the paved 12-mile Rim Trail or you can take the somewhat grueling Bright Angel Trail (by foot or mule) to the base of the canyon - 12 miles round trip.

Pros: open year-round, more facilities, closer to major cities such as Flagstaff, Prescott and Phoenix  

Cons: more crowds 

All in all: The South Rim is better for families or if it's your first time visiting the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is better for hikers that will be making their trip during the open season. 

Safe travels,

V.