Visitor Centers, Information Desks and Museums

Drop-down Index of Locations Listed On This Page Navigation

 

Summer 2021 Hours

For detailed information about each facility, click on individual links or scroll down.

Note: Some Visitor Center Buildings remain closed at this time. Trip planning and hiking information is available through a series of signs in front of each visitor center and at other key locations throughout the park. Also, during the day, park rangers have information tables set up outside.

Nearby Grand Canyon Conservancy Park Stores have the Passport To Your National Parks® stamps.

Grand Canyon Village (South Rim)

Grand Canyon Visitor Center - Building Closed Until Further Notice

An Information table, staffed by park rangers is outside of the building. Hours; 8 am to 5 pm daily. - OPEN
Grand Canyon Conservancy Park Store (across the plaza from the Vistor Center) 9 am to 7 pm daily. - OPEN

Yavapai Geology Museum 9 am to 7 pm - OPEN

Verkamp's Visitor Center 9 am to 7 pm - OPEN

Kolb Studio 9 am to 7 pm - OPEN

Backcountry Information Center
The Backcountry Information Center is open. Hours of operation are the same as before the pandemic: 8 am—noon; and 1—5 pm daily. COVID safety protocols are in place, including masks, plexiglass at the desk, cleaning schedules and physical distancing.

How to Request Backcountry Permits > .

Desert View (South Rim)

Located 23 miles (37 km) east of Grand Canyon Village.
Most Desert View Services are open. Details >
An Information table staffed by park rangers is located on the north side of the main parking lot, to the left of the Orientation Plaza. Hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily.

Watchtower Kiva Shop - Saturday through Wednesday 10 am — 3 pm (closed on Thursday and Friday).
Watchtower Stairs, and the tower itself - Closed
Tusayan Museum located 3 miles (5 km) west of Desert View. - Closed

North Rim

The North Rim Visitor Center is located next to the parking lot for Grand Canyon Lodge and Bright Angel Point. Inside the building is a Grand Canyon Conservancy shop/bookstore. 8 am to 6 pm daily.

An Information Table staffed by park rangers, is located outside, at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk. Hours: 10 am to 3 pm daily.

Here's detailed information about the North Rim's 2021 Season >.

 
 

South Rim and Desert View

Open year-round
 
Left to right: visitor center parking and plaza overview, visitor center and outdoor exhibits, people watching sunset at Mather Point
Left to right: 1) Visitor center plaza & parking 2) Visitor center's outdoor exhibits, 3) Watching sunset at nearby Mather Point.
 

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

The South Rim Visitor Center Building is closed until further notice. Trip planning and hiking information is available through a series of signs in front of the visitor center and at other key locations throughout the park.

Also, an Information table, staffed by park rangers is located outside of the closed building. Hours; 8 am to 5 pm daily.

If you are entering through the South Entrance Station, make the Visitor Center your first stop. You can park your car in one of four parking areas, then get your first view of Grand Canyon by taking a short walk to nearby Mather Point.

NOTE: During busy periods, including spring break, summer, and fall holiday weekends, the 4 parking lots (Lots 1-4) around the Visitor Center Plaza fill by 10 am. When Visitor Center lots are full, you can proceed to lots A and B in Market Plaza and C and D in the Village Historic District. Details >

Some services in the Visitor Center Plaza are open. Some services are closed:

  • Find information. Outside exhibits discuss park activities and attractions; hiking, the free shuttle bus system and park ranger programs.
  • CLOSED Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, a 20 minute movie that takes viewers on a rim to river and dawn to dusk journey through the park. Movie starts on the hour and half-hour. Note: since March 13, 2020 the Visitor Center Theater has been closed because of the pandemic.
  • CLOSED explore exhibits inside, including: a large video-enabled relief map, a Science On a Sphere® program, and displays of historic artifacts. Note: since March 13, 2020, the Science On a Sphere® Theater has been closed because of the pandemic.
  • Shop at Grand Canyon Conservancy's Park Store, (Current Hours: Open 9 am - 7 pm daily) in the Visitor Center Plaza. Featured are a wide variety of books, maps, souvenirs, and gifts to help you plan, or share your trip to Grand Canyon. Learn about the geology, ecology, and human history of the region, or find the perfect canyon-inspired gift. Your purchase goes towards protecting and enhancing Grand Canyon National Park for present and future generations. Visit Online Store >
    Open daily
    9 am – 7 pm (Summer 2021)
  • Rent a bicycle or take a guided bicycle tour, through Bright Angel Bicycles, in the Visitor Center Plaza, available March through October, or when weather allows. A coffee bar with "grab and go" food options is also located here. Learn More...
 
Looking over trees as the ast rays of pinkish sunset falling on rustic stone Geology Museum on the edge of Grand Canyon - seen in the distance
Yavapai Geology Museum and Observation Station

Yavapai Geology Museum (1928)

Located at Yavapai Point, between Grand Canyon Visitor Center and Grand Canyon Village. Note: parking lot is usually full one hour before sunset. Plan on arriving early to watch sunset here Current Hours 9 am - 7 pm daily

Open daily:
9 am - 7 pm
  • View expansive vistas through large windows.
  • Discover exhibits about how Grand Canyon was formed.
  • Visit the museum shop for books and gifts. Learn more about the museum
  • Walk west along the Rim Trail to Grand Canyon Village. (2.8 mile/4.6 km round trip)
  • Walk east along the Rim Trail to Mather Point (1.4 miles/2.25 km round trip)
  • Westbound Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route runs between the Visitor Center Shuttle Bus Terminal and Yavapai Museum.
 
Looking down the walkway at the front exposure of Verkamp's Visitor Center, a brown wood-sided building, two stories high, in the Craftsman Style. The front porch is partially hidden by arches that reveal windows beyond.
Verkamp's Visitor Center

Verkamp's Visitor Center (1906)

A curio shop and family home for more than a century.
Current Hours 9 am - 7 pm daily

Open daily
9 am to 7 pm

View exhibits about the history of Grand Canyon Village

  • Shop for canyon-related books and gift items
  • Ask store staff your most pressing questions
  • Walk east to Hopi House/ El Tovar Hotel or west along the Canyon Rim Trail to Yavapai Geology Museum. (1.4 mile/2.3 km)
 
Looking past green oak trees at the west-facing side of Kolb Studio, several storied high, painted brown with white window frames. Grand Canyon is visible on the left and in the distance.
Kolb Studio on South Rim of Grand Canyon.

NPS/M.Quinn

Kolb Studio (1905)

This restored building was a family home and photography studio.
Current Hours 9 am - 7 pm daily

Current Hours 9 am - 7 pm daily
 
Backcountry Information Center is a modern building built in the rustic style with large windows and a cross-gabled roof that extends out over the entryway. Behind that is a large gabled window that acts as a skylight.
Backcountry Information Center

Backcountry Information Center

The Backcountry Information Center is open.Our staff is here to help you plan a safe backcountry experience. Hours of operation are: 8 am—noon; and 1– 5 pm. COVID safety protocols are in place, including masks, plexiglass at the desk, cleaning schedules and physical distancing.

 

Desert View

Located 23 miles (37 km) from Grand Canyon Village - Open year-round -
Desert View services and facilities are mostly open. Details >
An Information table staffed by park rangers is located on the north side of the main parking lot, to the left of the Orientation Plaza. Hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily.

Desert View Campground information and reservations >

 
View north past tree-covered rocky outcrop towards green Colorado Rover in the distance. To the right are steep red-colored cliffs that extend from foreground, back along the river.
Desert View Point - NPS/Kristen M. Caldon
 
Front side of Watchtower as seen from ground level looking up. to the left is the wall of partially collapsed structure. A partial glimpse of Grand Canyon barely seen boyond the tower.
Desert View Watchtower

Watchtower (1932)

An unusual stone tower designed by Mary Colter, in the style of Ancestral Puebloan towers. Watch Video.

  • The Watchtower is the official visitor contact station at Desert View.
  • The Desert View Watchtower Retail Store (Kiva Room)
    Saturday through Wednesday 10 am — 3 pm (closed on Thursday and Friday).
    CDC guidelines and physical distancing measures are in place. Face coverings are required to shop in the store.
  • Only the ground level retail location is open to the public. The tower itself remains closed until further notice.
 
On the left, pueblo walls several feet high. On the right a small group of people is listening to ranger with back towards camera conducting tour
Summer ranger-guided tour of Tusayan Ruin

Tusayan Ruin and Museum (1928)

Tusayan Ruin is the remains of a small Ancestral Puebloan village located 3 miles west of Desert View Watchtower
Hours: Closed until Further Notice.

  • Walk the relatively flat 0.1 mile (200 m) trail around the ruin.
  • Imagine Puebloan Indian life some 800 years ago.
  • Attend daily ranger-led ruin tours (summer and fall.)
 
front of Tusayan Museum, a small mostly stone building with log vigas and lentils. NPS Arrowhead above front door.
Tusayan Museum

Tusayan Museum has exhibits that help bring the ruin to life.
Hours: Tusayan Musuem is closed untill further notice due to the Pandemic.

  • View 2000–4000 year old artifacts along with the traditional handicrafts made by regional tribes.
  • Learn about the prehistoric people who once made this place their home.
  • Visit the museum's bookstore/shop.
 

North Rim

 

The North Rim is open for the season details

 
Viewing sunset in Grand Canyon from the outdoor veranda of Grand Canyon Lodge on North Rim. Flagstone floor with row of chairs just behind the guard wall and several visitors are viewing the canyon. A family is eating dinner at a picnic table.
Viewing sunset from North Rim Lodge veranda. Photo courtesy Christian Schroll
 
Flight of stairs leads up to front entrance of rustic stone and log North Rim visitor center.
The North Rim Visitor Center building

North Rim Visitor Center

  • The Visitor Center is located next to the parking lot for Grand Canyon Lodge and Bright Angel Point. Inside the building is a Grand Canyon Conservancy shop/bookstore open 8 am to 6 pm daily.
  • An Information Table staffed by park rangers, is located outside, at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk. Hours: 10 am to 3 pm daily. Speak with a park ranger and plan your visit.
  • Walk a short distance to Bright Angel Point.
  • Experience sunrise of sunset on the North Rim Lodge patio, just a short walk away
  • Attend a park ranger program. Ask at the information table for details.
  • Learn more about North Rim and download North Rim Pocket Map.
 

Grand Canyon Conservancy, a non-profit park partner since 1932, operates book and gift stores throughout the park, where your tax-free purchases help support programs and research projects in Grand Canyon National Park.

Last updated: August 15, 2021

Contact the Park

Mailing Address:

PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Phone:

928-638-7888

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