Interagency Access Pass
Experience Grand Canyon's Golden Season
Witness nature’s masterpiece transform before your eyes. Fall at the Grand Canyon offers cooler mornings, vibrant colors, and peaceful trails. Stay steps from wonder itself.
Wake Up to Wonder Every Morning
Stay Where Legends Sleep
Your room sits just moments from the rim. Step outside. The canyon waits. No crowded shuttles. No rushing through traffic. Pure, unfiltered access to one of Earth’s greatest marvels.
Fall Brings Magic
Aspens shimmer gold against red rock walls. Crisp mornings invite longer hikes. Fewer crowds mean intimate moments with infinity. The canyon reveals its secrets when autumn whispers through the pines.
Every Sunrise Becomes Yours
Watch light paint the canyon walls from your doorstep. Coffee tastes different when shared with eternity. This is more than lodging—this is front-row seating to nature’s daily symphony.
Make This Your Season of Exploration
Make This Your Season of Exploration
Fall Transforms Everything
The colors
Golden aspens dance against crimson cliffs. Every viewpoint becomes a painting. Every photograph captures magic.
The weather
Cool mornings perfect for hiking. Warm afternoons ideal for exploration. Evenings that invite contemplation under star-filled skies.
The solitude
Summer crowds fade with autumn leaves. Trails become meditative paths. Viewpoints offer space for awe. The canyon feels personal again.
The light
The fall sun slants differently. Shadows deepen canyon mysteries. Dawn and dusk stretch longer, painting walls in impossible shades.
Choose Your Perfect Canyon Retreat
Historic Lodges Within the Park
- El Tovar Hotel – Perched on the rim since 1905. Elegance meets wilderness.
- Bright Angel Lodge – Rustic charm where adventurers have gathered for generations.
- Maswik Lodge – Modern comfort surrounded by towering ponderosa pines.
- Kachina and Thunderbird Lodges – Contemporary style blended with natural touches make Kachina and Thunderbird Lodges ideal accommodation choices for families at the South Rim of the canyon.
Gateway Hotels Just Outside the Gate
- The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon – AAA 3-Diamond luxury one mile from the gate. Indoor pool, fitness center, and refined comfort.
- Grand Canyon Hotel & Suites – Your adventure basecamp in Tusayan, Arizona—just minutes from the South Rim entrance of the Grand Canyon.
Each option offers something unique. All offer something extraordinary: proximity to wonder.
Your Canyon Adventure Begins Now
Fall waits for no one. The aspens change. The light shifts. The magic calls. Reserve your place where earth meets sky. Where time stands still. Where memories last forever.
The Perfect Weekend Does Exist
While there’s not one way to “do it right,” there are many ways to pack two days with excursions and activities that are alternately entertaining, educational and, at times, appetizing. Assuming you stay at one of the Grand Canyon Lodges, here’s how to fill a two-night visit.
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Planning Made Simple
Just 3.5 hours by car from Phoenix or Las Vegas. The journey builds anticipation. The destination delivers transcendence. Want something extra special? Consider taking the Grand Canyon Railway...
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A Room with a View (and Breakfast!)
For a limited time, you can stay inside Grand Canyon National Park and save 20% on a two night stay or save 30% on a three night stay while you take in the splendor of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
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Take a Mule Ride
There is no Grand Canyon adventure more rewarding or more unique than a mule ride. If you only have a short time to visit the South Rim, but are still longing for adventure, you can take the 2-hour Canyon Vistas Rim Ride. For the more adventurous, you can take a longer trip below the rim...
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The Reward of Staying on the Rim
Perched high above the sprawling expanse of the Grand Canyon, staying on the rim offers an unparalleled vantage point where nature’s grandeur unfolds with each passing moment. Here, the rising sun brushes the canyon walls with soft hues of gold and pink, and twilight casts them in a mesmerizing palette of amber and violet. The rim provides easy access to breathtaking viewpoints, tranquil walking paths, and serene moments of reflection that connect you deeply to the canyon’s timeless beauty. With every glance, you’re reminded that the edge of the world can be a place of peace, wonder, and boundless inspiration. From stays at the El Tovar Hotel—one of the crown jewels of the National Park Lodges—to a cabin stay on the rim at Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins, there’s an experience for everyone on the rim.
The Comforts of Staying in Tusayan
Perched high above the sprawling expanse of the Grand Canyon, staying on the rim offers an unparalleled vantage point where nature’s grandeur unfolds with each passing moment. Here, the rising sun brushes the canyon walls with soft hues of gold and pink, and twilight casts them in a mesmerizing palette of amber and violet. The rim provides easy access to breathtaking viewpoints, tranquil walking paths, and serene moments of reflection that connect you deeply to the canyon’s timeless beauty. With every glance, you’re reminded that the edge of the world can be a place of peace, wonder, and boundless inspiration. From stays at the El Tovar Hotel—one of the crown jewels of the National Park Lodges—to a cabin stay on the rim at Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins, there’s an experience for everyone on the rim.
Discover the Heart of the Canyon's History
in the Historic Village and Along the South Rim
The canyon’s South Rim and Historic Grand Canyon Village are the perfect blends of natural wonder and cultural charm. From hiking along the Rim Trail to ducking into one of the historic buildings that dot the South Rim, you don’t miss these must-see spots:
Hike the Rim Trail
The best way to explore the canyon and take in its astounding views is hiking along the Rim Trail — the South Rims connective trail. While the entire length of the trail is just over 12 miles, there are plenty of options to shorten your hike to your comfort level. Want to see the views, but don’t want to put in the legwork yourself? Try a Canyon Vista Mule Ride tour!
Hopi House
Admire authentic Native American art and handcrafted souvenirs inside this stunning adobe-style building.
Kolb Studio
Perched on the rim, this historic photography studio offers epic canyon views and a gallery of past explorations.
Hermit’s Rest
The circa 1914 Mary Colter-designed domicile for a fictional hermit is one of the highlights of the overlook at the western terminus of the Rim Trail.
It only takes a little imagination to picture this scene in the 1890s when an actual prospector with a strong desire for privacy had staked out a claim at this remote location. A quiet walkway near the rim leads to a picnic area that’s perfect for dining al fresco. You can also spend some time relaxing inside Colter’s artificially antiquated home and in the gift shop/snack bar.
Desert View/Watchtower
One measure of Mary Colter’s genius is that two of her structures — Hermit’s Rest to the west and the Watchtower to the east — bookend the South Rim’s widespread overlooks.
At the Watchtower, Colter celebrates Native American artistry with paintings, tile-work, and imagery that look as if they’d been here for centuries. The visuals follow you up a circular staircase to the observation deck atop the 70-foot tower, which reveals what may be the most commanding views of the Grand Canyon. Unlike the plentiful south-north views, here the perspective is more linear as your eye tracks the path of the Colorado River as well as mile after incredible mile of unobstructed and magnificent emptiness. So astounding are the views that many visitors spend several hours here.
The Grand Canyon Railway Depot
Travel back in time with one of Arizona’s oldest railway depots, still welcoming guests to this day. Want to take a dive into living history? Step aboard the historic Grand Canyon Railway and be transported to an era of vintage charm and timeless adventure. Departing from the Grand Canyon Depot or the quaint town of Williams, Arizona, this iconic train winds through breathtaking desert landscapes, pristine pine forests, and sweeping prairies, all while offering an enchanting glimpse into the past. Passengers are treated to lively onboard entertainment with musicians and costumed attendants, evoking the spirit of the Wild West. As the train approaches the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, awe-inspiring vistas unfold, and anticipation builds for the natural spectacle ahead. This unforgettable 65-mile journey is more than a ride—it’s a passage into history, nature, and wonder.