South Rim Visitor Center is open today from 9 am to 4 pm. Follow link for a list of visitor services with hours of operation. Midday South Entrance lines are long. Arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm for shorter wait times. The North Rim reopens on May 15. More
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - Cloudy —South Rim High 67°F (19°C) —Low: 37°F (3°C)
Trail closures: Bright Angel Trail between Havasupai Gardens and including the Silver Bridge CLOSED. River Trail CLOSED. Phantom Ranch CLOSED. Plateau Point and Plateau Point Trail CLOSED. Hikers visit this link for details and water availability. More
New and Full Moon - Moonrise/Moonset - Dates and Times
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Date
—
Phase
—
Moonrise
—
Moonset
—
Moonrise
December 15, 2024
Full 2:01 am
8:10 am (306°)
5:29 pm (54°)
December 30, 2024
New 3:26 pm
7:48 am (126°)
5:08 pm (234°)
January 13, 2025
Full 3:26 pm
7:48 am (304°)
5:24 pm (58°)
.January 29, 2025
New 5:35 am
7:57 am (116°)
6:15 pm (246°)
February 12, 2025
Full 6:53 am
7:35 am (290°)
6:27 pm (73°)
February 27, 2024
New 5:44 pm
6:59 am (105°)
6:16 pm (258°)
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Date
—
Phase
—
Moonrise
—
Moonset
—
Moonrise
March 13, 2025
Full 11:54 pm
6:29 am (278°)
6:17 pm (85°)
.March 29, 2025
New 3:57 am
6:22 am (84°)
7:30 pm (281°)
April 12, 2025
Full 5:22 pm
5:41 am (259°)
7:03 pm (104°)
April 27, 2025
New 12:31 pm
5:19 am (71°)
7:35 pm (294°)
May 12, 2025
Full 9:55 am
5:03 am (243°)
7:54 pm (120°)
May 26, 2025
New 8:02 pm
4:29 am (60°)
7:43 pm (303°)
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Date
—
Phase
—
Moonrise
—
Moonset
—
Moonrise
June 11, 2025
Full 12:43 am
5:03 am (243°)
8:43 pm (126°)
.June 25, 2025
New: 3:31 am
5:04 am (54°)
8:42 pm (304°)
July 10, 2025
Full 1:36 pm
4:48 am (235°)
8:14 pm (123°)
.July 24, 2025
New 12:11 pm
5:06 am (59°)
8:03 pm (297°)
August 09, 2025
Full 12:55 am
5:54 am (248°)
7:58 pm (107°)
August 22, 2025
New 11:06 pm
5:08 am (69°)
7:06 pm (287°)
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Date
—
Phase
—
Moonrise
—
Moonset
—
Moonrise
September 07, 2025
Full 11:08 pm
05:53 am (261°)
06:53 pm (95°)
.September 21, 2025
New 12:54 pm
06:05 am (89°)
06:22 pm (268°)
October 06, 2025
Full 08:47 pm
05:51 am (274°)
05:47 pm (82°)
.October 21, 2025
New 05:25 am
06:54 am (108°)
05:38 pm (249°)
November 05, 2025
Full 06:19 am
07:09 am (295°)
05:25 pm (62°)
November 19, 2025
New 11:47 pm
06:46 am (118°)
04:41 pm (240°)
.
December 04, 2025
Full04:14 am
07:16 am (303°)
04:50 pm (55°)
December 19, 2025
New 06:43 pm
07:34 am (126°)
04:49 pm (234°)
Where Are the Best Views?
There is no one best place for watching sunrise or sunset, just good places and better places. Look for a viewpoint that juts into the canyon with views both east and west.
On Hermit Road, Hopi Pointis unquestionably a desirable viewpoint for sunset, it attracts crowds of people and buses, especially in the summer.
Also along Hermit Road, Mohave, and Pima Points offer spectacular views of the canyon, are less congested, and allow you to see the Colorado River a mile below!
Points along Desert View Drive that offer great east and west panoramas include Yaki, Navajo, and Desert View.
Lipan Point, near Desert View, offers incredible views of the canyon with the San Francisco Peaks to the south, the distant Painted Desert, and extensive stretches of the river below.
For a memorable sunrise, try Mather or Yaki Points.
Sunrise Suggestions
Arrive 30 minutes before the sun clears the horizon and stay an hour or longer after. Dress warmly; even summer dawns can be quite chilly.
Sunset Suggestions
Plan to arrive at your viewpoint as much as 90 minutes before sunset and stay at least 10 minutes after the sun has set and no longer illuminates the buttes and pinnacles in the canyon, don't rush off —the sky may light up red, pink or orange.
Better yet, stay around as the sky grows dark. Grand Canyon offers some of the blackest skies and brightest stars found anywhere.
Which is Best, Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunrise: If the night has been calm and clear, sunrise may offer great clarity before breezes stir dust into the atmosphere. Colder morning temperatures and the difficulty of rising early frequently result in fewer people at canyon viewpoints.
Sunset: During the summer viewpoints can be crowded. Late summer may bring dramatic thunderstorms, but too many clouds could mean no sunlight in the canyon. Just the right amount of dust or smoke can make a sunset more colorful.
What Can I Expect to See?
Predicting the quality of a sunset at Grand Canyon is as uncertain as predicting the weather. Air quality, clouds, time of the day, and season will all contribute to your view. Early geologist Clarence Dutton observed that at sunset "the colossal buttes expand in every dimension." How do you visualize the changes of daybreak or sunset?
Changes in the position of the sun and variations in the sky transform colors, shadows, and shapes in the canyon. Storm clouds may break to reveal a sunlight flooded sky or perhaps a rainbow. John Wesley Powell described clouds playing in the canyon as if they were "the children of the heavens."
Thunderstorms are common in July, August, and early September. An exposed, rocky point is not where you want to be during a thunderstorm. A gap of less than 30 seconds between the flash of lightning and the rumble of thunder indicates that it is time to retreat to shelter. Stay away from solitary or tall trees.
In June, 2019, Grand Canyon National Parks was awarded Full International Dark Sky Status. Read the June 17, 2019 news release >
Grand Canyon National Park has now become one of the most complex, highly-visited, pristine night-sky sanctuaries on the planet.
How Do I Get Out to the Viewpoints?
From Grand Canyon Village
A good way to get from Grand Canyon Village out to the viewpoints is to use the park's shuttle bus system. It's free, convenient, and the drivers never get lost!
This winter, shuttle buses start at 8 am, and run to approximately one hour after sunset. During the months of December, January and February, you will need to drive your vehicle or walk to an overlook to view sunrise.
Park your vehicle in one of the Visitor Center lots and ride the free shuttle buses.The Village Loop (Blue) Route connects the Visitor Center Shuttle Bus Terminal with lodges, campgrounds, the Backcountry Information Center, and Market Plaza (general store, and post office). Canyon views are a short walk from some of the stops.
Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route provides service from the Visitor Center to Yavapai Point/Geology Museum, South Kaibab Trailhead, and Yaki Point. This is the fastest way get from the Visitor Center out to canyon views.
Hermit Road (Red) Route offers outstanding scenic views along a 7.5 mile (12 km) road, and includes Maricopa, Powell, Hopi, Mohave and Pima points. Access to Hermit Road is by shuttle bus only from March 1 to November 30, or you can take a motorcoach tour. Catch the Hermit Road Shuttle at the Village Route/Hermit Route Transfer stop.
(NOTE: During winter months. since there is no Hermit (Red) Route shuttle bus service, (December, January and February), Hermit Road is open to all vehicles, but may be temporarily closed due to snow.)
Overlooks Along Desert View Drive
Desert View Drive (SR 64) between Grand Canyon Village to Desert View includes Grandview, Moran, Lipan, and Navajo points.
You must drive your own vehicle, or take a motorcoach tour. It is 23 miles (37 km) from Grand Canyon Village to Desert View and takes about one hour of driving time.
Restrooms: Restroom facilities are located at Yavapai and Desert View Points and the Visitor Center. Chemical toilets are placed at Hopi, Yaki and Grandview Points.
Water: Water bottle filling stations can be found near: Hermit's Rest, Bright Angel Trailhead, Verkamp's Visitor Center, Yavapai Point, Grand Canyon Visitor Center, and the South Kaibab Trailhead. You should carry your own water, if you plan to spend some time at other viewpoints.
Accessible Overlooks: For a listing of viewpoints that have wheelchair access and/or windshield views, download our Accessibility Guide (5.8 MB PDF file)
Looking for Something Special?
Walk the Canyon Rim Trail:
As you follow the mostly level, winding trail along the rim of the canyon in the late afternoon, you experience the changing light and shadows in the canyon from changing viewpoints.The Rim Trail stretches from the South Kaibab Trailhead west to Hermits Rest, a distance of approximately thirteen miles (21km) It can be reached at many points, making strolls of various lengths possible. Download the Canyon Rim Trail bulletin (287 kb PDF)
When walking or cycling at the Grand Canyon, make sure to take your time and carry food and water with you. The South Rim of Grand Canyon averages 7,000 feet / 2,134 meters above sea level. Visitors with respiratory or heart problems may experience difficulties. Exercising at this elevation can be strenuous.
