How to Spend One Day and Two Nights in the South Rim of Grand Canyon with Kids
Pro tip: Get your camera ready for when your kid sees the Canyon rim for the first time. It was a chorus of “Whoa!” from my daughter. We visited in November as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.
History
I love this NPS page “Whose Story is History?” that addresses the complicated history of the park and how we preserve different stories. Verkamp’s Visitor Center has a walking timeline and some nice exhibits about the human history of the region. Recently, “Indian Garden” was renamed “Havasupai Gardens” at the formal request of the tribal council.
Verkamp’s Visitor Center
Staying Inside the Park
We budgeted a little extra money to stay at a lodge inside the park on the South Rim for two nights because we only had one full day and wanted to maximize it. Arriving late at night also meant that we didn’t have to wait in line at the entrance station. Mule deer visited our lodging and the stars were countless. And waking up a quarter-mile from the rim was pretty spectacular!
A chilly November day
Walking the Rim
If you truly want to hike the Grand Canyon, you need a lot of preparation, gear, and time. We didn’t have any of that on this trip, so we chose an ambling route along the well-paved trail at the top of the rim. We did walk down the winding Bright Angel Trail for a bit so our kiddo could get a taste of descending into the canyon. The route at the top allows you to pop into the historic lodges, hotels, art galleries, and visitor centers as well.
The Trail of Time was a great trail. It kept my 9-year-old interested because there were old rocks to touch, signs to read, and the promise of a gift shop at the top of the hill. The information center that houses the gift shop offers panoramic views with good markings so you know what you’re looking at.
Canyon Rim near Bright Angel Trailhead
Shuttle Stops
The Grand Canyon is so huge that it basically functions as its own town. From the Yavapai Geology Museum, we took the free shuttle to the South Rim Visitor Center. The short walk to Mather Point led us to a picnic area where we ate our lunch and enjoyed the views.
We hopped on the shuttle again, stopping at Yavapai Lodge for coffee and Market Plaza for a few supplies. Then, we headed back to the lodge for a quick nap (another benefit of staying inside the park!) before sunset.
Trees on the Time Trail
Desert View Watchtower
We drove up to the Desert View Watchtower with the goal of viewing the sunset. However, the tower was closed for renovation and the canyon was covered in fog! It was still a cool thing to see, ever if we could just walk around outside.
Desert View Watchtower
Sunset
The Grand Canyon is so large, it has its own weather system. We were shedding our coats on our midday walk and then bundling up in the evening when it snowed! This also makes the fog appear seemingly out of nowhere.
We drove down from the watchtower for about five minutes to get away from the fog. We pulled over into one of the (many) viewing areas in time to see a gorgeous sunset. We observed a wisp of fog at the bottom of the canyon and within about 30 seconds, it was filled entirely with fog. It was truly magical to watch.
Sunest before the fog
We returned to our lodge tired and cold, so we took advantage of the park’s pizza delivery service. Watching the stars from our balcony was a perfect way to end the day.
