Visitor Centers, Information Desks and Museums

The Backcountry Info Center is open daily from 8 am–noon; and 1 pm–5 pm, and provides information, permits, and trip planning assistance about day and overnight hikes into the canyon. The building is located in the village by Parking Lot D, and across the railroad tracks from Maswik Lodge. Park in Lot D, then take the free, early morning Hikers' Express bus from Backcountry Info Center to South Kaibab Trailhead.

Kolb Studio hours: 8 am to 6 pm daily. This restored building was a family home, auditorium and photography studio. As you enter the upper level, there is a shop with books, gifts, and souvenirs. Photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb helped turn the Grand Canyon into a national icon. Kolb Studio was an early tourist destination. We invite you to attend the Amazing Kolb Bros Exhibit Jan. 23 — Sept. 5, 2025. 17th Grand Canyon Celebration of Art: Sept. 21, 2025 — Jan. 19, 2026.

Open daily: 8 am - 7 pm. Yavapai Geology Museum offers one of the best vantage points for an overview of Grand Canyon geology. The building is right on the very edge of the canyon rim at Yavapai Point, The Museum Features: a bookstore and museum shop, large picture windows for viewing the canyon, and a variety of exhibits about the geology of Grand Canyon. Restrooms are in a separate building adjacent to the parking lot. The shuttle bus stop is also on the parking lot.

Desert View Watchtower Retail Store (View Room) is open daily: 8 am to 6 pm. The upper floors of the tower are open, when staffing allows, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The last tower access is at 5:00 pm, with the stairs closed for the day at 5:30 pm. A ticket system admits 25 people with a 20-minute time limit. A National Historic Landmark, the Watchtower was constructed in 1932.The design by Mary Colter is based on Ancestral Puebloan architecture found in the southwest.

The pueblo site and self-guiding trail are open Thursday through Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm. Located 3 miles (4.8km) west of Desert View Watchtower, the site is a small Ancestral Puebloan village showing the outlines of rooms and a round kiva. Visitors can walk a relatively flat 0.1 mile (200 m) self-guiding trail around the site. Visit the Native American Artisan Market with authentic and beautiful arts and crafts for sale. The adjacent museum is CLOSED until further notice.

CLOSED: SEASON OVER. Grand Canyon Conservancy's Park Store within the North Rim Visitor Center building features a wide variety of books, maps, and gifts to help you plan or remember your trip to Grand Canyon and to learn more about its geology, ecology, and history. Store employees can direct you to the nearby "Ranger Roost", an outdoor information desk staffed by park rangers. Both will be open for the 2025 season between May 15, and October 15, 2025.