Grand Canyon Without the Crowds: A Three-Day South Rim Plan

Six million people visit the Grand Canyon each year, and most of them stand at the same five viewpoints between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Go early, go late and walk a little, and you will have the canyon almost to yourself. That is the whole secret, and it works surprisingly well. On our last visit to the South Rim, we watched sunrise with perhaps thirty other people, hiked below the rim on a trail that felt nearly empty by midmorning and ended the trip at a viewpoint where we were the only car in the lot. This three-day plan is built around those quiet hours.

Best time March–May, Sept–Nov · Stay 3 days · Budget $$

Planning the trip

Spring and fall are the best seasons for the South Rim. Temperatures on the rim are comfortable, the summer crowds have not yet arrived or have already left and the light is often softer. Summer brings the most visitors and serious heat below the rim, while winter can bring snow and icy trails, though it is also beautifully quiet.