Amazing ONE DAY in GRAND CANYON Itinerary (4 Cool Things You Can’t Miss)

Start your one day in Grand Canyon National Park with a walk along the Rim Trail and soak in the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon.

What you need to know is that the entire Rim Trail is about 13 miles long. It starts at South Kaibab Trailhead and runs to Hermit’s Rest. It is an easy hike with little elevation change. However, you can shorten this hike any way you want!  My recommendation is to start at Mather Point and walk to Verkamp’s Visitor Center. 

The distance from Mather Point to Verkamps’ Visitor Center is no more than 2.1 miles with very little elevation change making it a perfect starting point for one day in Grand Canyon.  Plus, the trail in this section is paved and pretty even, making it easy for strollers and wheelchairs.

First of all, if you are wondering what is the best way to get to Mather Point, well it is super easy!

My recommendation is to park your vehicle at Market Plaza. There are two large parking lots next to each other and then take the Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus – Blue Route/Village Route Eastbound and get off at Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

You can try finding a parking spot at Grand Canyon Visitor Center, however, the parking spaces are very limited. But, you might get lucky!

The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is a good place to get your bearings. There is a small cafe with food and beverages. And, there are clean restrooms as well. If you need a map, then stop by the ranger station and get one. Above all, check if there are any weather warnings for the Canyon.

So, once you get to Grand Canyon Visitor Center, you are practically at the rim, and in front of you will be a walkway leading straight to the Mather Point viewing platform. Take your time here because the views are simply off the charts! Hands down, Mather Point will be the highlight of your one day in Grand Canyon!

Mather Point is famous for its wide view and dramatic formations. It is no doubt one of the most beautiful viewpoints along the south rim. It is a very popular spot at sunrise and sunset. So, if your time allows, come back to Mather Point for a spectacular sunset! If you like photography, then check out my post: Best Photography Locations in Grand Canyon National Park. It has a lot of useful tips on how to take pictures in the Grand Canyon!

By the way, did you know that Mather Point is named after Stephen Mather? Stephen Mather was a borax industry millionaire, the first director of the National Park Service, and one of the main advocates for establishing a Grand Canyon National Park.

Next, start walking from Mather Point to Yavapai Point and Geology Museum. It is no more than a 0.7-mile distance from Mather Point to Yavapai Point and the views along the way are breathtaking!

Yavapai Point in Grand Canyon National Park offers amazing views of the layers and formations of the canyon. Also, Yavapai Point sits at the most northerly section of the Grand Canyon South Rim. Consequently, you will get the best view of the famous three points: Cape Royal, Wotans Throne, and Vishnu Temple. In addition, look down the gorge and onto the serpentine Colorado River.

Make sure to visit the Geology Museum and find out how the canyon was formed. There are a lot of fascinating exhibits that explain the rock layers. I always enjoy looking at the models and interpretive panels and learning about the formation process.

Geology Museum is open from 8 am to 8 pm every day (shorter hours in the winter). The museum is free (included with your entrance ticket to the park). While you are at the museum, see if there are any Ranger Walks and Talks scheduled for the day, and make sure to attend their informative presentations.

Next, the Rim Trail will take you to Verkamp’s Visitor Center. The distance from Yavapai Point and Geology Museum to Verkamp’s Visitor Center is about 1.4 miles. This section of the trail is called Trail of Time and has many geology exhibits along the way.

Once you reach Verkamp’s Visitor Center hop on the Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus – Blue Route/Village Route and get off at Hermit Rest Route Transfer. We are going to explore Grand Canyon scenic drive along Hermit Road.

I think the scenic drive along Hermit Road is the best part of this itinerary! And if you only have one day in Grand Canyon National Park then it needs to be on your list.

So, once you reach Verkamp’s Visitor Center, hop on the Blue Route/Village Route Shuttle Bus and get off at Hermit Rest Route Transfer.

What you need to know is that if you are visiting between March 1st and November 30th then you will have to take the Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus – Red Route/Hermit Rest Route. No private vehicles are allowed on Hermit Road during that time. However, using the shuttle is super easy and very convenient!

Needless to say, a breathtaking collection of some of the best Grand Canyon vistas above the rim can be found along Hermit Road. Hands down, you will love this part of the one day in Grand Canyon itinerary!

Following are some of my favorite viewpoints along Hermit Road in the Grand Canyon. So simply, hop off and then hop back on the Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus – Red Route/Hermit Rest Route at these stunning viewpoints. Here we go!

Come back to Hopi Point at sunset time to watch the most spectacular display of colors. You will be able to catch all the reds, rusts, and oranges of the canyon walls as the sun is setting down.

Moreover, Hopi Point offers excellent views of the stone “temples”. Temples, in this case, are rock formations rising from the depths of the canyon. If you look at the above photograph, you will be able to see the North Rim. Follow the North Rim up to the first indentation. This is Cape Royal. Cape Royal is a type of temple formed when side-canyon erosion produces peninsula-like projection along the rim.

Afterward, follow the horizon to the next temple. It is Wotan Throne. It was formed by erosion which transformed the peninsula into an island, and eventually, it was separated from the rim.

Finally, let your eyes wander to the last rock formation. It is called Vishnu Temple. Vishnu Temple was formed by further erosion, where the softer rock crumbles and undercuts harder rock.

Now, you can hop back on the shuttle bus, or you can walk. It is a short 1-mile walk from Hopi Point to Mohave Point.

If you thought that Hopi Point was good, just wait till you get to Mohave Point. Not only you will catch the dramatic vistas here, but also you will be able to see some excellent views of the river and rapids below.

In addition, stretching out below the lookout is a rocky promontory known as the Alligator, as it twists toward the river beyond. To the northwest, you can see Hermit Rapid, created when the side of the canyon collapsed into the river.

If you are up for another walk then continue to the next stop called the Abyss. It is a 1.1-mile walk from Mohave Point to the Abyss. Otherwise, hop on the shuttle bus and hop off at the next stop.

However, if you have time, then you should walk along this part of the rim. In my opinion, it is one of the most scenic segments along the rim. The trail sits at the edge of the canyon and you will be able to catch some great views down to the canyon.

If you can only do one hike at the Grand Canyon that is going to take you below the rim, then South Kaibab Trail is the top best choice for this one day in the Grand Canyon itinerary.

Be prepared to be amazed by the sweeping views as you hike along a dramatic ridgeline. Above all, you will get to see the spectacular beauty of the Grand Canyon from below the rim.

Majority of the hikers trek to Ooh-Aah Point or Cedar Ridge and back. Some hikers continue to Skeleton Point. It is entirely up to you how far you want to hike. Given these points, the following are the distances between each stopping point:

• South Kaibab Trailhead to Ooh-Aah Point – .9 miles – distance one-way
• Ooh-Aah Point to Cedar Ridge – .6 miles – distance one-way

It usually takes 2.5 to 4 hours to hike from South Kaibab Trailhead to Cedar Ridge and back.

Keep in mind, if it took you 2 hours to trek to Cedar Ridge, it might take you twice as long to cover that same ground on the way back. Needless to say, hiking out of the canyon is tough. Furthermore, plan your hike according to your capabilities. Above all, hiking is not a race, take your time and immerse yourself in the beautiful scenery.

• For example, hiking from South Kaibab Trailhead to Ooh-Aah Point will take you about 1-2 hours round-trip
• Next, if you decide to continue to Cedar Ridge and back, it will be about  2-4 hours round-trip

To start with, the trail begins with a series of switchbacks. Keep in mind, that the switchbacks are fairly steep in some places.

Next, after the switchbacks, the trail levels off and starts to descend at a gradual pace. After .9 miles, you will reach Ooh-Aah Point.

Ooh-Aah Point lives up to its name! As soon as you start checking out the views, I assure you that you will turn in one direction and declare “ooh” and then you will turn in the other direction and say “aah”. This spot has been very aptly named and the views are breathtaking.

By the way, it took me about 30 minutes to reach Ooh-Aah Point and about 45 minutes to ascend.

If you decide to continue, you will notice that the trail starts to run along an exposed ridgeline. In addition, the difficulty level intensifies at this point as the trail becomes a series of steps made out of logs and dirt. However, I think the views become more spectacular as you are descending. After .6 miles, you will reach the viewpoint at Cedar Ridge.

Cedar Ridge offers incredible 360-degree sweeping views. It is a great spot to re-energize and re-fuel your body. In addition, it is a good turn-a-round place for first-time canyon hikers.

As soon as you are ready start your hike back to the rim. As I said before, hiking out of the canyon is tough. Take your time, take breaks, eat your snacks, and drink water.

Once you get back to the rim, take the Orange Route/Kaibab Rim Route Shuttle Bus and get off at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

Next, we are going to take a drive along Desert View Drive.

Next, you are going to take a drive on Desert View Drive in Grand Canyon National Park. What you need to know is that there are no shuttle buses that operate in this section of the Grand Canyon South Rim. You are going to jump into your vehicle and drive east on Desert View Drive. And, the first stop is Grandview Point.

Grandview Point stands tall at 7,100 feet. It is one of the highest points on the Grand Canyon South Rim. In addition, it is the southernmost point of the canyon. The views are magnificent here. Grandview Point overlooks the dense forests and the Horseshoe Mesa.

By the way, Grandview Point is the start of Grandview Trail which leads to Horseshoe Mesa.

Once you reach Moran Point and glance all around you, you will get a true sense of the vastness of the Grand Canyon South Rim.

Furthermore, directly below Moran Point sits Red Canyon and the colors are just staggering here. The reds, oranges, and rusts glow beautifully, especially in the afternoon sun. To top it off, the sparkling Colorado River finally makes a longer appearance.

Finally, try to find the Sinking Ship, a fascinating geological formation that appears as if it was a sinking vessel against the setting sun.

Desert Viewpoint will be the highlight of your one day in Grand Canyon!

It is the highest viewpoint on the Grand Canyon South Rim with an elevation of 7,438 feet. Consequently, Desert View offers sweeping views of the Grand Canyon South Rim and the Colorado River.

Perched on the edge of the Grand Canyon South Rim sits Desert View Watchtower. Desert View Watchtower was designed by Mary Colter. The tower combines traditional Southwest architectural styles like Spanish Colonial, Mission, and Native American elements, which we call today the Santa Fe style.

So, with no further delay, head to the tower. Inside you will find a spiral stairway that winds five stories high. Head straight to the top and as you are climbing the stairs look through many windows and see mile upon mile of magnificent views.

By the way, the windows have reflectoscopes, which are viewing instruments that enhance the colors by using black glass.

Once you get to the top, check out the observation deck, which offers great views of the eastern part of the Grand Canyon South Rim.

That concludes your one day in Grand Canyon National Park itinerary.

And, I am wondering if you have visited Horseshoe Bend or Antelope Canyons in Arizona. These are the most stunning places in Arizona that can easily be combined with a trip to Grand Canyon National Park. Make sure to check out these posts:

12 Useful Tips for Visiting Horseshoe bend in Arizona

Lower vs Upper Antelope Canyon (Which One is Voted the Best)

First Visit to Antelope Canyon (14 Useful Tips to Know Before You Go)