Experience the Tranquility of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim
Offering fantastic views and a quieter experience away from the crowds at South Rim, the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park is set to open on May 15. This date marks the official start of the annual season and coincides with the reopening of Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides.
Visitor Services Resuming
Visitor services, including the campground and most commercial operations, will also resume on the same day. Moreover, Kaibab Plateau will reopen on May 15 after closing in September 2019 due to the Ike’s Fire, offering an additional adventure for backpackers, sightseers, photographers, and mountain bikers.
Unlike the South Rim, which remains open year-round, the more remote and rugged North Rim closes for winter due to snowfall around October, before reopening in mid-May.
Planning Your Grand Canyon Visit
Mid-May also marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon’s summer season. Consequently, if you’re planning to explore this natural wonder in Arizona during peak season, ensure you plan ahead and make reservations in advance. Failing to do so may result in difficulties finding accommodations and experiencing long wait times to enter the park.
The park anticipates that the longest wait times to enter will occur between 10 AM and 4 PM during peak periods. It explicitly warns that parking lots near the visitor center may fill to capacity by noon on busy days.
How to Avoid the Crowds at the Grand Canyon
To enhance your visit and avoid crowds, the park recommends arriving before 9 AM or after 5 PM if traveling by car. Additionally, purchasing your park pass in advance at locations like the IMAX Theater, Canyon Plaza Resort, Red Feather Lodge, or Westwind Air Service in Tusayan, just outside the South Entrance, is advisable.
Moreover, you can take advantage of the train service from Williams, Arizona, to fully bypass the traffic. The train departs from Williams Depot every day at 9 AM Arizona Standard Mountain Time and arrives at the Grand Canyon at 11:45 AM. This provides visitors around three hours to explore before the return trip at 3:30 PM (arriving back at 5:45 PM).
During high demand, an additional train may operate. Notably, the train only services the South Rim. Ticket prices may vary based on class and experience, ranging from $67 for adults to $226 for the Luxury Parlor Class.
Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus Information
For those utilizing shuttle services, the South Rim shuttle routes will continue to operate on the spring schedule until May 27. The Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route), Village Route (Blue Route), and Hermits Rest Route (Red Route) will all be operational daily starting at 4:30 AM.
The Kaibab Rim and Hermits Rest routes cease operation an hour after sunset, while the Village Route runs until 10 PM daily.
This season, the Hikers’ Express Bus has expanded its morning service. This one-way route departs from Bright Angel Lodge, stopping at the Backcountry Information Center and Grand Canyon Visitors before dropping off hikers at the South Kaibab Trailhead. The Hikers’ Express Bus operates from Bright Angel Lodge at 5, 6, and 7 AM in May and September. For June through August, departures are adjusted to 4, 5, and 6 AM.
The Tusayan Route, connecting hotels and services in Tusayan to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, is expected to return on May 28 to support the influx of summer visitors to the park.
Accessing the North Rim
The North Rim can be accessed via car on State Route 67 when it opens on May 15. Alternatively, adventurous visitors can reach it on foot from the South Rim using inner canyon trails (23.9 miles) or hike from Jacob Lake (45 miles).
The North Rim Campground, opening on May 15, is available for overnight stays with the necessary backcountry permit.
This article was originally published on March 2, 2022, and updated on May 5, 2022.
