A Guide to Visiting Grand Canyon in Fall

The first time we set our eyes on the Grand Canyon was in the autumn season. We were mesmerized by its gorgeous vastness and were at a total loss for words. No descriptions, videos, or photos could prepare me for the magnificent bands of colored rock layers stretching out as far as we could see. Even though we’ve visited this breathtaking natural marvel in all seasons over the years, the Grand Canyon in fall was nothing short of visual poetry. It afforded us not just fantastic views of the area’s fall foliage, but also we were able to enjoy our visit due to the fewer crowds. Moreover, the weather was nearly perfect, especially for backpacking, hiking, and even camping, while still being warm enough to avoid snow and ice that arrives later during winter.

Are you also dreaming about making a trip? Here’s a guide to an autumnal holiday to the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most breathtaking canyons.

Weather

Autumn or fall is a magical time for visiting the Grand Canyon. Not only did the temperatures cool down and there were fewer crowds, but also the colors of the canyon seemed even more vibrant every time we visited. Between September and November, our visits to the canyon were all about stunning sunsets, sun-kissed afternoons, and crisp mornings. With daytime high temperatures being in the 60s-70s degrees Fahrenheit, fall was also perfect for sightseeing, hiking, and camping. So, whether you’re planning a laidback getaway or an adventurous one, autumn is a spectacular time to explore the Grand Canyon.

Phantom Ranch

10

Can you imagine staying at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? You’d better believe it at the Phantom Ranch, the only hotel at the bottom of the canyon and one of the best hotels inside Grand Canyon National Park. Nestled in a tree-filled oasis close to the Colorado River, this 1920s-built ranch is famed for its rustic but comfortable cabins and excellent food. Reachable by mules, on foot, or by rafting down the Colorado River, the lodge has a lottery system for future stays. Additionally, we reconfirmed our reservations two days before we began hiking, as it’s mandatory. To answer the question “Is November a good time to visit the Grand Canyon?”, it is if you stay at the Phantom Ranch. We hiked to the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon in November and loved taking in the views of the golden fall foliage.

Historic attractions

9

One of the best things about the Grand Canyon National Park, at least for us, was the plethora of historic attractions around. Firstly, there are the lovely Tusayan Ruins (a.k.a. Tusayan Pueblo), an 800-year-old Pueblo Indian site. One of Arizona’s major archaeological sites, it has a small, U-shaped pueblo featuring a kiva, storage rooms, and a living area. According to tree ring studies, the place was occupied for about 20 years starting around 1185 and now sits on the National Register of Historic Places.

Close to the Tusayan Ruins lies the magnificent Desert View Watchtower, a 70-ft-tall stone tower overlooking the pristine North Rim. Mary Colter designed this National Historic Landmark after ancient Pueblo structures in 1932, with celebrated Hopi painter Fred Kabotie having painted murals inside. Thanks to the glass design, we were able to enjoy great views of the canyon.

Finally, we were able to soak in the history and views at Navajo Bridge, which crossed the Colorado River at the Grand Canyon’s eastern edge. It’s open to not only pedestrians and horses but also bungee jumpers!

Las Vegas

8

Most travelers don’t realize that Las ‘Sin City’ Vegas is just over a two-hour drive from the West Rim Grand Canyon. So, we decided to take a day trip to Sin City and back on a guided tour, soaking in many gorgeous sights along the way. Our first stop was Arizona’s Joshua Tree Forest, which is the largest Joshua Tree National Forest, actually! It was all about sensational views, endless miles of wild trails, quartz quarries, wild horses running free, and, of course, Joshua trees.

Next, we stopped at the iconic Hoover Dam, which has appeared in many Hollywood movies, including ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘Transformers.’ The guided tour told us much about the history, following which we headed out to the observation platform for some of the region’s best views. After checking out Lake Mead, we got back on the road again and went south to the Seven Magic Mountains. This eclectic and intriguing art installation in the Ivanpah Valley is one of the country’s largest land-based installations. Furthermore, the sculptures draw inspiration from the hoodoos or fairy chimneys that are famous in the region.

Williams

7

The iconic town of Williams lies along the equally iconic Route 66 and is all about retro gift shops, diners, and vibe. However, we were here to explore its most famous attraction, the Grand Canyon Railway. It was established way back in 1901, 18 years before the Grand Canyon National Park even came into existence. Formerly used to transport ore from the gold mines, it now offered us thrilled passengers scenic rides to the South Rim. We departed from Williams in the morning to make the iconic 65-mi (104 km) trek to the South Rim, offering us spectacular views of the Grand Canyon’s fall foliage as it chugged along. It’s one of the most exciting things to do while visiting the Grand Canyon in September.

“Riding a train has never been so much fun, and the views of the Grand Canyon were spectacular!”

WOW Travel

If you’re looking for a complete experience, stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel right next to the train depot. The 1995-built hotel sits on the National Register of Historic Places and has excellent rooms and a fabulous onsite restaurant with live entertainment. 

Kingman

6

Tucked in the Hualapai Valley between the Hualapai and Cerbat mountain ranges right on the historic Route 66, Kingman is as mighty as it’s small! It’s famously home to the celebrated Route 66 Museum inside the Powerhouse Visitor Center, which showcases the role of the important and historic road in American History. We also loved exploring the Mohave Museum of History and Arts, complete with a library, dioramas, and murals. Plus, there was also the Kingman Railroad Museum and Locomotive Park, with a 1928 steam engine, that documents Kingman’s eclectic past as a 20th-century railway hub.

However, we were most excited about our hike to the remote Havasu Falls, which is possible only by spending a night at Kingman, the last outpost before the remote hike. We packed overnight and took special permits to hike to these spectacular waterfalls in the namesake canyon inside the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Its waters are sacred to the Havasupai people (“blue-green waters”) as they’re believed to flow not just through the land but through every member of the tribe. A visit to the Grand Canyon in October should include this hike.

Please note that only serious hikers should attempt this challenging 10-mi (16 km) downhill hike to the waterfall from the trailhead.

Grand Canyon Junction

5

Staying at Grand Canyon Village could cost an arm and leg, which is why we visited Grand Canyon Junction the second time we wanted to stay at the South Rim. And we have to say, we weren’t disappointed at the very least! While many travelers simply skip this town half an hour from the South Rim, we stayed here because this is one of the best places in the region for stargazing.

One of the best stargazing and staying experiences we enjoyed was at Under Canvas Grand Canyon, which sits right in the heart of Grand Canyon Junction. Why? Because this Under Canvas location was named one of the world’s first DarkSky resorts! So, we were looking forward to stunning nighttime views, and we were treated to them spectacularly. What’s more, we got to glamp in well-furnished bell tents, complete with a skylight above our plush bed and a modern private bathroom. However, it was the hosted activities like live music and morning yoga that added to the luxurious experience, as did complimentary s’mores and an upscale dining menu.

Another way to take in the gorgeous Milky Way is by staying in geodesic domes at Clear Sky Resorts.

West Rim

4

Perhaps the most famous attraction of the West Rim of the Grand Canyon is the Skywalk. It’s one of the world’s largest horseshoe-shaped glass cantilever bridges in the world. We braved all our fears and stepped onto the glass, and it was an experience like none other. It felt like we were walking on air, suspended nearly 4,000 ft above the canyon floor.

Our West Rim visit was all about the outdoors and tons of adventures. Besides the Skywalk, we were thrilled to be riding the Colorado River rapids onboard motorized rafts captained by certified river guides. Our trip even included drinks, snacks, a wonderful lunch on the river banks, and even a moderate hike to Travertine Falls. Did you know that you could even embark on a two-day trip and stay in the canyon overnight? Yes!

Another of the best West Rim experiences was soaking in breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon from different viewpoints, like Eagle Point, where we also immersed ourselves in the Hualapai Tribe’s culture. Finally, we combined our adventurous streak with the viewpoint wonder by indulging in the Highpoint Hike to get to Guano Point. We explore the remnants of the 1957-built aerial tramway system along the hike, at the end of which we could see unparalleled 360-degree views of the mighty Colorado River and the surroundings.

Tusayan

3

After Grand Canyon Village, we found Tusayan (“Toos-ayin”) to be the second-most convenient place to stay near the South Rim. A 10-minute drive from the visitor center in Grand Canyon Village, this welcoming community of a town in the Kaibab Forest was the perfect base for a laidback home base as we explored the national park.

One of the top attractions in this town is the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater, which showcases the history of the Grand Canyon in a one-of-a-kind 35-minute film. Aptly called the “Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time Movie,” it allowed us to experience and understand the timeline of the formation and impact of the canyon. However, one of the park’s best experiences takes place in Tusayan, the Grand Canyon Spirit Helicopter Tour, which takes off from Tusayan itself! On this tour, we soared over the majestic landscape, soaking in scenic views of the Kaibab National Forest, the Painted Desert, and the Dragon Corridor, the canyon’s deepest and widest part.

Kanab, Utah

2

We didn’t visit the North Rim region on our first holiday, but we did go back another fall, and this region is special. Not only did it, and still has, far fewer crowds than other areas, but also it’s easily accessible via Highway 67, which shuts in the winter. While there are many staying options closer to the North Rim, Kanab had the most options for convenience stores, restaurants, and staying options too.

This border town is famed for its scenic slot canyons as well as easy access to Utah national parks like Bryce Canyon and Zion. The Buckskin Gulch is, in fact, Utah’s deepest slot canyon as well as one of the world’s longest. It allowed us to experience the wonders of Utah’s famed slot canyons but without the crazy national park crowds. Make sure you get a backpacking permit from the official recreation website to explore the entire canyon.

We also loved hiking all over the North Rim, including short trails like Bright Angel Point as well as others that lead down into the canyon. If you’re particularly adventurous, then you could even do the challenging 25-mi (40 km) one-way rim-to-rim trail to the Grand Canyon Village.

Grand Canyon Village

1

The South Rim is open throughout the year, notwithstanding the season, and the Grand Canyon Village is its crown jewel. It lies right along the Southern Rim and is the park’s most popular area by far. Perfect for first-time visitors, this incredibly scenic place has many hotel options, especially historic ones. Not only is it easy to get around thanks to the shuttle, but also it has many convenience stores and restaurants and is a stone’s throw to many of the park’s best attractions. For instance, many easy paths led us along the canyon’s edge to jaw-dropping vistas like Ooh Aah Point, Shoshone Point, Mather Point, Hopi Point, and Pipe Creek Vista. Standing here allowed us to soak in the gorgeous autumnal vistas of the region’s fall foliage.

We also loved ambling down the grueling but iconic Bright Angel Trail that led us more than 4,000 ft down, right to the Colorado River. Since we’re culture vultures too, we also visited the Yavapai Geology Museum, Hopi Museum, and the South Rim visitor center, which gave us the perfect introduction to the entire region the first time we were here.

Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon?

• El Tovar Hotel: As culture vultures, we stayed at the “crown jewel” of Grand Canyon lodges, El Tovar. This Norwegian villa-style, 1905-built historic on the edge of the South Rim is a National Historic Landmark. Fabulous views aside, the hotel boasts excellent amenities, especially dining ones, and has simple but lovely rooms and 12 suites. It’s one of the best hotels inside Grand Canyon National Park.

• Hampton Inn Kanab: Are you looking for a chain hotel near the Grand Canyon? Consider Hampton Inn in Kanab, which has comfortable and modern rooms with free Wi-Fi, a whirlpool and indoor pool, and even everyday breakfasts. That’s why it’s one of the best hotels near the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Places To Eat

• Arizona Steakhouse: This Bright Angel Lodge restaurant focuses on locally sourced ingredients and sustainability and is open for all meals. This one is especially known for its local spirits, wine, and beer, prickly pear glazed pork ribs, Arizona prime rib, and green chile corn tamales.
• El Tovar Dining Room: As we mentioned, the restaurant at the historic El Tovar Hotel is a destination in its own right. The park’s only true fine dining experience, the restaurant specializes in Southwestern fare, like duck entrees with plum demi-glace, tacos with house-made fry bread and local Arizona beef, and chorizo omelets, among others. They also have an impressive wine list.