Attractions Nearby Grand Canyon, Day Trips and Excursions

(Grand Canyon, Arizona - AZ, USA)



If you tire of the tourist hordes or just fancy a break from the Grand Canyon, there are plenty of nearby attractions worth visiting, both below the Grand Canyon's South Rim and above the North Rim.

Some of most popular attractions nearby the Grand Canyon include hiking the Havasu Canyon in the Havasupai Indian Reservation; viewing the massive Meteor Crater near Flagstaff; the old ranch at the Pipe Spring National Monument, north of the North Rim; and the remote Point Sublime campground, also on the North Rim.



Havasu Canyon and Grand Canyon West

Address: Havasupai Indian Reservation, South Rim, Grand Canyon, Arizona AZ, USA
As an alternative to the much-visited South and North Rims of the Grand Canyon proper, the nearby Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Indian Reservation and Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, are good options and home to a wealth of attractions. The Havasu Canyon can be hiked to or visited on horseback, a 20-mile / 32- km round-trip, while Grand Canyon West is easier to get to and is the launch point for flights into the Canyon, something you cannot do within the Grand Canyon National Park itself. Grand Canyon West is accessible by a dusty road and sometimes gets swamped with tour buses from Vegas.
Open hours: year-round
Admission: charge for hiking and driving permits

Grand Canyon Deer Farm

Address: 6769 East Deer Farm Road, Williams, Arizona AZ, 86046, USA
Tel: +1 928 635 4073
Not far to the east of the town of Williams and the turn off for the southern entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon Deer Farm offers an interesting distraction to the canyon itself and is great for kids. One of the main family attractions at the farm is the petting zoo, which features many interesting animals, including potbellied pigs, pygmy goats, buffalo, reindeer and pronghorn as well as resident exotic birds. The best time to visit is in June, July and August when the deer are fawning.
Open hours: January to mid-March and mid-October to Decembe, daily - 10:00 to 17:00; mid-March to mid-October, daily - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discount available for seniors and children between three and 13 years old, children two years old and under are free

Pipe Spring National Monument

Address: 406 Pipe Springs Road, Fredonia, Arizona AZ, 86022, USA
Tel: +1 928 643 7105
Located in a Kaibab Indian Reservation 90 miles / 144 km north of the Grand Canyon's North Rim near the town of Fredonia, the Pipe Spring National Monument is known for its restored ranch and rock fort that showcases Southwestern frontier life. The fort was originally built to stave off impending attack by Native Americans and was later used as Arizona's first telegraph station. In the summer attractions at the Pipe Spring National Monument include regular ranching demonstrations held here, while there is also a campground and picnic area nearby with a visitor center and annexed museum.
Open hours: June to August, daily - 07:00 to 17:00; September to May - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Meteor Crater

Address: Interstate 40, Exit 233, Meteor Crater Road, Winslow, Arizona AZ, 86047, USA
Tel: +1 928 289 2362
A two-hour, 125-mile / 200 km drive southeast of Grand Canyon Village and east of Flagstaff along I-40, Meteor Crater is another of Arizona's natural attractions that is well worth a day trip for those who have time to spare. The crater itself was created by a medium-sized meteorite which struck the ground about 50,000 years ago and there are guided tours around the rim throughout the day. The Meteor Crater Visitor Center includes viewing platforms, interactive displays, a twice-hourly movie covering the creation of the crater and a gift shop.
Open hours: late May to mid-September, daily - 07:00 to 19:00; mid-September to early May, daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discount available for seniors and children between six and 17 years old, children under five years old are free

Point Sublime

Address: North Rim Drive, Grand Canyon, Arizona AZ, 86052, USA
Off the beaten track and away from the tourist hordes, Point Sublime is another of the Grand Canyon's major attractions on the North Rim, famed for its excellent camping spots and fantastic sunrises and sunsets. You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle or at least a high-clearance pickup to get up the off-road section to the camp. Permits are required and can be obtained from the Backcountry Office at the park-ranger station.
Open hours: daily, seasonal variations apply
Admission: free