Part of the world-famous Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, the Grand Canyon South Rim is the most visited part of the Grand Canyon and is open 365 days a year. This area is where you can experience the full splendour of the canyon's beauty, offering some of the most Instagram-worthy photographs and views of the natural wonder.
Along with a visitor centre and various picnic area, the Grand Canyon South Rim offers a variety of lookout points along the aptly-named Desert View Drive. Mather Point, named after the park’s first superintendent, showcases the shades of ochre cliff deep within the Grand Canyon, while Yavapai Point reveals prominent buttes and the Colorado River.
Intrepid travellers can organise backcountry permits for adventure activities, such as hiking, camping and horseback riding. You can also organise various guided tours and experiences around the South Rim, from white-water rafting and river cruises to bus tours and trekking.
Getting there
The Grand Canyon South Rim is about 3.5 hours’ drive from Phoenix, 4.5 hours from Las Vegas and eight hours from Los Angeles. You can fly to Grand Canyon Airport in one hour from Phoenix, Las Vegas or Monument Valley, while Greyhound provides buses from Flagstaff, about 1.5 hours away. There’s ample on-site car and RV parking and multiple shuttle bus routes around the southern rim.