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The South Rim and Desert View

Your phone provides a fun way to learn more about the Park. Listen to park rangers give 2 minute audio tours at various points of interest on the South Rim, from Hermit Road to Yaki Point, and the North Rim. Learn more...

South Rim Visitor Center
Visit the South Rim's Visitor Center and the Books and More bookstore at Canyon View Information Plaza. Outdoor exhibits provide a variety of information about Grand Canyon National Park and what to do when you arrive. The plaza can be reached by riding a free shuttle bus or by parking at or near Mather Point and then, walking the 1/4 mile (400 m) distance to the Visitor Center. Summer hours:  8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


Please be aware that during 2009, the Visitor Center and the Mather Point area will be undergoing road construction. During the entire construction project, you will continue to have access to the Mather Point area, the park’s Visitor Center, and the Grand Canyon Association’s Books and More bookstore. Alternate routes and parking locations will be signed accordingly; and the National Park Service will make every effort to provide advance notice of traffic changes to lessen any impacts to visitors.  

You may download our Transit Map. It shows the Grand Canyon Village bus routes, stops, operating times, points of interest and parking lots.

Download Fall 2009 S Rim Village Transit Map (234kb PDF File) 

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Stop by Verkamp's Visitor Center,
a short walk east of the El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House, the canyon's newest visitor contact station in one of its oldest buildings. At the information desk, National Park Service rangers and Grand Canyon Association staff will answer any questions you may have. From the Verkamp's Visitor Center, the Rim Trail leads to other businesses and viewpoints along the rim. Open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Verkamp's home and business was constructed in 1906, and it was open as a gift shop (that featured Grand Canyon souvenirs and Native American arts and crafts) through September 17, 2008.

Verkamp's re-opened as a visitor center on November 26, 2008. The National Park Service now owns the building and it hosts a bookstore and exhibits about the pioneer history of Grand Canyon Village. Several ranger-conducted activities start here.

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Yavapai Observation Station 
How old is the canyon? How did it form? The new exhibits at Yavapai Observation Station answer these and other geology questions. Displays include three-dimensional models, powerful photographs, and exhibits which allow park visitors to see and understand the complicated geologic story of the area. The historic building, located one mile (1.6 km) east of Market Plaza, features expansive canyon views. The bookstore offers a variety of materials about the area. Open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Several ranger programs begin here.

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Kolb Studio
Once the home and business of the Kolb brothers, pioneering photographers and filmmakers at Grand Canyon, this rambling, Victorian era building (1905) has been restored to its original splendor.

Visit the free art exhibits in the auditorium, and shop in the bookstore. Kolb Studio is located in the Village Historic District at the Bright Angel trailhead.
Open daily 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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Desert View Information Center 

Desert View is located 25 miles/ 41 km east of Grand Canyon Village. The Desert View Information Center and Bookstore, located at Desert View Point near the park's east entrance, offers a Passport Stamp cancellation station, an excellent selection of publications, and memorabilia. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Tusayan Museum 
A visit to Tusayan Ruin and Museum provides a look into the lives of a thriving community as illustrated by its pottery, seashell bracelets, corncobs, and arrowheads. See 2,000–4,000 year old original split-twig figurines. Art from today's tribes provides a glimpse into their rich cultures. The museum, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is located 3 miles (5 km) west of Desert View. Free admission.

A visit to Tusayan Museum will provide a glimpse of Pueblo Indian life at Grand Canyon some 800 years ago, admission is free. A self-guiding trail leads through the adjacent 800-year-old Tusayan Ruin. Ranger-led ruin tours are offered daily. Educational materials about the park and region are sold in the non-profit bookstore.

Download the Desert View Map (235kb PDF File)

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The North Rim

The North Rim Visitor Center
Located adjacent to the parking lot on Bright Angel Peninsula, by the Grand Canyon Lodge. The North Rim Visitor Center has park and regional information, maps, brochures, exhibits, and a bookstore. Open mid-May to mid-October, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Interpretive programs are offered during the season. Public restrooms are located in back of the building.

Download the North Rim Map (289kb PDF File)

The Visitor Center is a great place to start your adventure on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Speak to a ranger who will be happy to help with questions you may have about the area. The Visitor Center also features interpretive exhibits and a bookstore.

The Grand Canyon Association, a non-profit park partner since 1932, operates the bookstore, where your tax-free purchases help support ranger programs and research projects in Grand Canyon National Park.