One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon will leave an everlasting impression on anyone who lays eyes on it.
Simply gazing into this vast Colorado River-carved chasm is an experience you’ll never forget. Truly one of the best national park experiences you can imagine.
The best area to enjoy spectacular views of the Grand Canyon is the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. So which overlooks should you definitely not miss? Where should you go first? What are the best views on the Grand Canyon South Rim?
You’ll find the answers to those questions in this blog post!
To help you figure out where to go for the greatest scenic views at Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim, I’ve compiled an overview of the twenty best viewpoints below.
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Contents
- 20 Must-See Views in Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)
- Best Views in Grand Canyon Village (Grand Canyon South Rim)
- Best Views on Hermit Road (Grand Canyon South Rim)
- Best Views on Desert View Drive (Grand Canyon South Rim)
- Map of the Best Views on the Grand Canyon South Rim
- More About Grand Canyon National Park
20 Must-See Views in Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)
The South Rim is by far the most visited part of Grand Canyon National Park.
This area is home to crowded Grand Canyon Village. With its hotels and lodges, museums, a campground, post office, train station, and shops, this is the touristic heart of the national park.
From Grand Canyon Village, two scenic roads radiate outward in opposite directions. Hermit Road runs westward to Hermits Rest, lined with several epic Grand Canyon views.
This 7-mile road is closed to private vehicles from March 1 through November 30, but you can get to all scenic views either via the Rim Trail or with the Hermit Road Shuttle Bus.
Desert View Drive, on the other hand, runs eastward to Desert View and also has a number of panoramic overlooks, as well as picnic areas. This 23-mile scenic drive is open to private vehicles throughout the year, connecting the East Entrance and Grand Canyon Village.
Below, you’ll find the best views in each of these three areas on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Best Views in Grand Canyon Village (Grand Canyon South Rim)
Grand Canyon Village is where many people start their visit to Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim. It’s also where almost all day visitors will spend most of their time.
Note that this is a rather large area, though, so you’ll need to plan your time. I recommend parking near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and exploring the visitor center first before heading out to enjoy the views.
Mather Point is just north of the visitor center, an overlook that’s usually very busy throughout the day. From Mather Point, you can follow the Rim Trail to the other viewpoints in Grand Canyon Village, such as Yavapai Point, Lookout Studio, and the Bright Angel Trailhead.
1. Mather Point
Only a 5-minute stroll from the visitor center and four large parking lots, Mather Point is where many visitors get their first view of the Grand Canyon. And it’s a sight few will ever forget.
From Mather Point, provided it’s a clear day, you can see as far as 30 miles to the east and more than 60 miles to the west. It’s almost the ultimate panoramic view of the Grand Canyon (although many others on this list are also pretty amazing).
When you look down into the depths of the canyon, you can catch glimpses of the mighty Colorado River, seemingly a mere sliver of water, as well as Phantom Ranch and several hiking trails.
Additionally, thanks to its wide open views and striking rock formations below, Mather Point is also a very popular place to watch the sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon South Rim.
Who Was Stephen T. Mather?
Mather Point is named after Stephen T. Mather, who was the first director of the National Park Service. Making his fortune as a business in Chicago, he was also a fervent support of public lands and conservation. Mather moved to Washington, D.C., in 1915 and helped found the National Park Service, while also outlying the policies that to this day still determine its development, maintenance, and conservation principles.
One of his strongest beliefs was that beautiful scenery should be the first criterion to establish a national park and he worked to create many parks before those lands could be developed for other purposes, including Grand Canyon, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and Mammoth Cave.
2. Yavapai Point and Geology Museum
The Geology Museum at Yavapai Point is just a short walk along the Rim Trail from Mather Point. Made of stone, this striking building sits right at the edge of the canyon rim and “offers one of the best vantage points for an overview of Grand Canyon geology,” the National Park Service says.
Its panoramic windows provide wonderful views of the Grand Canyon, while displays tell you exactly what you’re looking at.
Besides stunning views, the Geology Museum also has photograph exhibits, three-dimensional models, and beautiful works of art. Its large topographic relief map showcases the entire Grand Canyon in stunning detail.
3. Lookout Studio
Located in the Historic District of Grand Canyon Village, Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio is one of my favorite landmarks in this part of Grand Canyon National Park.
Designed in 1914 by architect Mary Colter, Lookout Studio was meant to offer visitors safe opportunities to photograph the Grand Canyon right on the rim. You’ll find this iconic sandstone-and-log building just west of the famous El Tovar Hotel.
Besides being a popular photography location, Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio also served as a gathering place where people shared stories around the fire and used telescopes to watch mule trains on the Bright Angel Trail below.
Nowadays, the Lookout Studio is a popular viewpoint and gift shop.
4. Bright Angel Trail
The starting point of one of the most popular hikes in Grand Canyon National Park, the Bright Angel Trailhead also offers spectacular views of the trail and canyon below.
While I highly recommend hiking the Bright Angel Trail itself—even if it’s just a section—don’t forget to enjoy the view from the top, too!
BONUS VIEW: Plateau Point
While Plateau Point isn’t technically on the actual South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the only way to get there is via the Bright Angel Trail. In fact, it’s a common destination on day hikes from the rim and back.
The hike from the Bright Angel Trailhead to Plateau Point is 6 miles one way, a very strenuous 12-mile roundtrip. With a total elevation change of 3,080 feet, it takes 9-12 hours to hike down and back up to the trailhead.
Plateau Point itself is one of my favorite views in Grand Canyon National Park, especially because it’s such a great reward for the effort it takes to get there.
You can clearly see the Colorado River below, looking much bigger and more powerful than it does from the rim. On top of that, you’ll also literally be in the Grand Canyon, surrounding by towering cliffs and desert scenery.
Note that the hike to Plateau Point should only be done by experienced hikers. You’ll need a full day to complete the roundtrip hike, so I recommend starting at dawn. It can get very hot down in the canyon, too, even if it feels chilly at the trailhead above, so bring appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and lots of water.
You can find much more information about hiking the Bright Angel Trail here on the park’s website.
Best Views on Hermit Road (Grand Canyon South Rim)
If you have several hours to spend on the Grand Canyon South Rim, I highly recommend exploring (a section of) Hermit Road.
Starting just west of the Bright Angel Trailhead, this 7-mile scenic road is closed to private vehicles between March 1 and November 30.
During this busy period, you can use the convenient Hermit Road Shuttle Bus to get around. This free shuttle bus stops at nine major Grand Canyon South Rim viewpoints, including such breathtaking ones as Trailview Overlook, Hopi Point, Mohave Point, and Pima Point.
Starting in the Village Historic District, it ends at Hermits Rest, which is a historic building that dates from 1914 and has restrooms, a snack bar, and gift shop.
You can read more about the Hermit Road Shuttle Bus (Red Route) here on the park’s website.
My number one suggestion would be to hike the Rim Trail from Trailview Overlook to Hermits Rest and then take the shuttle bus back. The total one-way distance of that hike is 7.4 miles. (You can, of course, also hike sections of it and hop on/off the bus at various overlooks.)
The overview of scenic views on Grand Canyon National Park’s Hermit Road below is from east (Grand Canyon Village) to west (Hermits Rest).
5. Trailview Overlook
As its name suggests, the Trailview Overlook offers a great view of one of Grand Canyon National Park’s most popular hiking trails: the Bright Angel Trail.
It is located 1.1 miles from the Hermit Road Bus Transfer Station in the Village Historic District. In addition to the numerous switchbacks of the Bright Angel Trail, you can also see the historic district, including the iconic El Tovar Hotel.
The best views are at the end of a set of stairs, which lead to two separate Grand Canyon viewing areas.
6. Maricopa Point
Maricopa Point is the next scenic view on the South Rim, about 0.7 miles west of Trailview Overlook. This viewpoint overlooks the former Orphan Lode Mine, which was claimer by a minder called Dan Hogan in 1891.
After mining copper for a while, Hogan eventually changed his operations and began mining uranium in the 1950s. The mine ceased its operations in 1967 and Grand Canyon National Park acquired the site in 1987.
Look down from the overlook and see if you can spot this historic mine!
7. Powell Point
Another fantastic Grand Canyon South Rim view awaits at Powell Point, 0.5 miles west of Maricopa Point.
This particular overlooks commemorates one of the greatest exploratory trips in American history: the 1871-72 exploration of the Colorado River by Major John Wesley Powell and his crews. A short staircase leads to the memorial where a placard commemorates this historic trip.
Additionally, the views from Powell Point are quite breathtaking as well.
8. Hopi Point
If you’re looking for the best sunrise and sunset views on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, you can’t go wrong with Hopi Point.
Situated 0.3 miles west of Powell Point, it provides panoramic vistas of the marvelous Grand Canyon landscape right in front of you. You can also see the Colorado River snaking its way through the canyon way down below.
Besides Hermit Point, this is the only South Rim overlook on Hermit Road that has restrooms.
9. Mohave Point
Mohave Point is another excellent location to enjoy a memorable Grand Canyon sunrise or sunset. I recommend spending some time here, watching the clouds slide through the sky and cast ever-shifting shadows across the landscape.
It’s about 0.8 west of Hopi Point and also offers a glimpse of the Colorado River deep in the belly of the canyon.
10. The Abyss
Aptly called The Abyss, this is one of the most dramatic views of the Grand Canyon. From this viewpoint, you can look almost vertically into the canyon.
The view automatically directs your eyes down into the Monument Creek drainage area, a place where backpackers often camp alongside Monument Creek. Another popular campsite in this area is a small beach at on the banks of the Colorado River near Grand Rapids.
11. Monument Creek Vista
The Monument Creek Vista overlook is 0.9 miles west of The Abyss. It’s the starting point of the Greenway Trail, a paved section of the Rim Trail that accommodates cyclists, hikers, and people using wheelchairs.
Although Monument Creek Vista doesn’t offer wide panoramic views of the Grand Canyon, the vista is still quite amazing. From this viewpoint, you can look down into the Monument Creek drainage area from a different angle than The Abyss.
12. Pima Point
One of the absolute best overlooks on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Pima Point sits on an outcrop on the canyon’s rim.
The best views are to the west and northwest, where you can clearly see the Colorado River below. Additionally, Pima Point is also “one of the best places on the rim to […] sometimes hear the river,” the National Park Service says.
Pima Point is on the Greenway Trail about 1.7 miles west of Monument Creek Vista and 1.1 miles east of Hermits Rest.
13. Hermits Rest
The final destination on Hermit Road, Hermits Rest also provides sweeping views of the Grand Canyon South Rim, along with amenities like restrooms, a small snack bar, and a gift shop.
Hermits Rest was built in 1914 by Mary Colter, one of the Grand Canyon’s most famous architects, to resemble an old miner’s cabin. It has a front porch and fireplace, but now serves as a visitor facility.
Hikers can hike down into the Grand Canyon via the Hermit Trail, which begins approximately 0.5 miles west of Hermits Rest.
Best Views on Desert View Drive (Grand Canyon South Rim)
Running for 23 miles between Grand Canyon Village and the East Entrance, Desert View Drive offers somewhat of an escape from the crowds of the village.
It’s relatively less busy, possibly because of its length, yet still has its fair share of amazing views of the Grand Canyon.
There are six developed viewpoints, including pretty spectacular ones like Desert View, Lipan Point, and Yaki Point, along with several unnamed ones. A handful of picnic areas allow you to spend a good part of the afternoon exploring this jaw-dropping area on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
The overview of scenic views on Grand Canyon National Park’s Desert View Drive below is from west (Desert View) to east (Grand Canyon Village). If you’re starting from the village, I recommend driving the entire road first without stopping, and then making your way back past all these amazing views—this will put all scenic viewpoints on your right side.
14. Desert View
Located near the East Entrance, Desert View is the main visitor service area in the eastern part of the South Rim.
The primary attraction is the Desert View Watchtower, designed by Mary Colter and constructed in 1932. Its design was inspired by the architecture of the Ancestral Puebloans who lived on the Colorado Plateau, particularly the buildings of Hovenweep and Mesa Verde National Park.
From the watchtower, you can see the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon, where the Colorado River transitions from the narrow Marble Canyon into the sprawling vastness of the Grand Canyon. Adjacent Desert View Point also offers sensational views of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.
Besides the historic watchtower, Desert View also has a campground, gas station, trading post, gift shop, market, and deli.
The highest overlook on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Navajo Point provides a wonderful view of the Desert View Watchtower, which is located about half a mile to the east.
A panoramic vista of the Grand Canyon extends to the west, while the Colorado River is visible to the north.
16. Lipan Point
One of my favorite Grand Canyon overlooks is Lipan Point, situated half a mile to the west from Navajo Point. You can see several landmarks from this viewpoint.
Striking geological formations, such as Vishnu Temple, rise up from the depths of the canyon, while you can also see the so-called Grand Canyon Supergroup, which is “a unique rock strata at Grand Canyon, visible to this extent from only a few places on the South Rim.”
Other points of interest include the Unkar Delta, which used to be the home of Ancestral Puebloans, and Hance Rapid, powerful whitewater rapids in the Colorado River.
17. Moran Point
Moran Point is yet another popular overlook on Desert View Drive, offering truly sensational panoramic views of the Grand Canyon. It is named after the artist Thomas Moran, who was famous for his paintings of the landscapes of the western United States.
Standing at this overlook, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer vastness and depth of the Grand Canyon.
In addition to the breathtaking view, Moran Point is notable because three main rock groups are visible here: the Layered Paleozoic Rocks, the Grand Canyon Supergroup, and the Basement Rocks, the latter being the oldest rocks in the Grand Canyon.
18. Grandview Point
As its name suggests, Grandview Point provides pretty great views of the Grand Canyon. Located at the end of a short spur road off of Desert View Drive, this overlook has restrooms and is the starting point of the very steep and challenging Grandview Trail.
The vista takes in a large portion of the Grand Canyon, a view that sweeps from west to east across this giant chasm. If you look to the east, you can see several bends of the Colorado River, too.
19. Shoshone Point
Scenic Shoshone Point is one of the most underrated—and most easily missed—overlooks on the Grand Canyon South Rim.
This viewpoint is at the end of a 1-mile hiking trail along an old dirt road. It’s an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike from the unmarked parking area on Desert View Drive.
This is a fantastic overlook, not only because of its excellent north-northeast-facing views of the Grand Canyon, but also because it’s much quieter than most other Grand Canyon overlooks on this list.
NOTE: Shoshone Point is the only area in Grand Canyon National Park that can be reserved for private gatherings and events, such as memorial services, weddings, family reunions, etc. The park asks visitors to reconsider visiting Shoshone Point if the gate is open or unlocked (which indicates that there may be an event going on).
20. Yaki Point
One of the best places for sunrises and sunsets in Grand Canyon National Park, Yaki Point is just east of Grand Canyon Village. From the village, it’s the first major overlook on Desert View Drive.
However, even though Yaki Point is on Desert View Drive, it is not accessible with a private vehicle.
Instead, you must take the free Kaibab/Rim Route (Orange Route) shuttle bus, which departs from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Alternatively, you can also walk to this awesome viewpoint along the Rim Trail and a short section on the road.
Because no private cars are allowed at Yaki Point, it’s a bit quieter and less crowded than similar Grand Canyon viewpoints on the South Rim. The view extends across the eastern part of the Grand Canyon, extending all the way to the Desert View Watchtower.
BONUS VIEW: Pipe Creek Vista
If you’re walking to Yaki Point from the visitor center, make sure to stop at Pipe Creek Vista on the way. This overlook is 1.3 miles east of Mather Point. (It is also accessible by private vehicle.)
The park does inform visitors, however, that “since this is the first view of the canyon along Desert View Drive, it can be a congested area with limited parking.”
Map of the Best Views on the Grand Canyon South Rim
More About Grand Canyon National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Grand Canyon Hikes
- Top Things To Do in Grand Canyon National Park
- Accommodation