21 Of The Best Grand Canyon Views

I dreamed of visiting the Grand Canyon for years as a kid. It was one of the few national parks I knew about as a child, and when I graduated college, I vowed to visit this world-renowned landmark. When I finally did see it a few years ago, I was speechless. The views here were breathtaking, and I felt like a few days was not enough to experience this place. I eventually came back and explored it even more! I went to many viewpoints and even hiked some trails with some fantastic overlooks. So after exploring here for some time, I decided to make a list of what I think are the best Grand Canyon views. These are mainly located on the South Rim and are pretty easy to get to, and I even included some maps. I hope you enjoy the Grand Canyon as much as I do.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. 

Where To Stay

1. Yavapai Lodge is located in the Grand Canyon National Park. It is perfect if you want a hotel with great views and good location >Book Accommodation Now
2. Thunderbird Lounge is located in Tusayan near the Bright Angel Trailhead. There are 55 modern rooms and the restaurant on site is open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. >Book Accommodation Now
3. There are many options on camping. Click here for more information on campgrounds

Read More: Where To Stay at the Grand Canyon | 22 Best Hotels, Cabins & Campgrounds

Map Of The Views

Above is a Google map you can download and a screenshot of the map with different sections. There are four main sections: Hermit Road, Grand Canyon Village, North Rim, and Desert View Drive.

I would plan your days based on each section. For example, I was able to see most of the Grand Canyon Village Viewpoints in the early morning, and then I saw all the Hermit Road Viewpoints in the afternoon. The next day you can see the Desert View Drive viewpoints.

>>>Buy A Grand Canyon Map Here<<<

Best View Of The Grand Canyon

I recommend hiking to Ooh Aah Point if you have limited time. It is always good to stretch your legs and work for a good viewpoint.

I also really enjoyed the Hermit Road Drive because the views are outstanding! Powell Point was probably my favorite viewpoint there. Please note that you can drive yourself to the views in the winter, but you have to use the free bus in the summer.

Best Grand Canyon Views

Mather Point

Mather Point is the most popular and crowded viewpoint I experienced at Grand Canyon National Park. It is straightforward to get to because it is pretty close to the South Rim Visitor Center, and it is iconic and breathtaking and worth the short walk.

Yaki Point

To get to Yaki Point, you need to take the free Orange route shuttle bus. This is a popular view for sunrise and sunset. There are views of the Eastern canyons and the Watchtower in the distance.

Ooh Aah Point

If there is only one hike you should do at The Grand Canyon, it should be The South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point. I feel like it was easy to moderate, and the views are phenomenal. This is coming from someone that did the Bright Angel Trail, and I feel like Ooh Aah Point is ten times better. This hike is only 1.8 miles round trip and 685 feet of elevation gain.

Trail View Overlook

Trail View Overlook is the first stop on Hermit Road. Hermit Road is located on the West side of the park, and it runs two buses both ways from March 1st-November 30th. I liked this view because you can see where the Plateau Point trail is in the Grand Canyon. When I saw this, I was so excited as I had hiked that trail years ago and had great memories. I talk about that viewpoint below.

Powell Point

Powell Point is probably my favorite viewpoint that didn’t include a hike. I like the huge rock you can stand on (shown above) and how it has 360-degree views of the Grand Canyon. If there was only one viewpoint I would pick to see on Hermit Road; it would be this one.

The viewpoint is named after one of the first explorers of the Grand Canyon called John Wesley Powell, and there is even a memorial at this viewpoint to commemorate him.

Hopi Point

Hopi Point is located next to Powell Point, so the views are a bit similar. I liked this view because you can see the Colorado River in the distance.

Mohave Point

Mohave Point is my second favorite viewpoint on Hermit Drive. I love that it had a short walk to get to the viewpoint, and I liked the location of the railings. This was a perfect photography spot.

The Abyss

Out of all the viewpoints in the Grand Canyon, this was probably my least favorite. After talking to the group I was with, they agreed. It might have been because of the time we were there (the shadows), but it felt like an ok viewpoint. I would skip this one if you are low on time.

Monument Creek Vista

What I loved about Monument Creek Vista was the bright orange/red structure right in front of the viewpoint. It is magnificent! It is an easy stop on Hermit Drive.

Pima Point

Pima Point is known to be one of the best places on the rim to see the Colorado River. You can spot on the west side the Great Scenic Divide, Powell Plateau, and to the east lies Bright Angel Canyon.

Hermit View Point

I feel like the views at Hermit Point are mediocre, but you still need to stop here. This is the last stop on Hermit Road, and it has the cutest gift shop ever. The gift shop is a historical rest stop, and the rest stop started in 1914, and it was called Hermits Rest.

After driving around in a buggy for hours, you would be greeted by a caretaker, and they would hand you a refreshing drink. I decided to keep the tradition alive and got a hot apple cider, and it was so good and warm (I went in the winter). Everyone I was with really enjoyed this cute gift shop.

Plateau Point

Plateau Point is probably my favorite lookout on this list, but I don’t recommend it for everyone. Why? Because it is hard! This trail is around 13.3 miles, with an elevation gain of 3,402. This is for more advanced hikers. As much as I love this trail, it did kick my butt, especially because it was when I wasn’t much of an avid hiker.

I still wanted to add it to this list because this is a fantastic way to see the Colorado River, and the viewpoint is not crowded because it is a challenging trail.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide To Plateau Point

North Rim (Bright Angel Point)

The Bright Angel Point is the most popular viewpoint of the North Rim. Many people only go to Bright Angel Point because getting to the other viewpoints requires more driving. To get to the Bright Angel Viewpoint you have to walk a 0.45-mile path (0.9 miles round trip), and it can be a bit steep in some sections, especially for people that do not hike.

Helicopter Over the Grand Canyon

What better way to experience the Grand Canyon than by flying over it? Helicopter tours are a top activity when visiting The Grand Canyon, and seeing it from above is truly a magnificent experience. You can book a tour below.

Yavapai Point

Yavapai Point is located west of Mather Point and is another viewpoint that is heavily trafficked. There are some parking spots, but it is best to walk on over from Mather Point. It is located right next to the Yavapai Geology Museum, so after seeing the stunning views walk on over to the museum and learn more about the precious rocks surrounding this area.

Shoshone Point

Shoshone Point is an easy day hike that is only 2.1 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 154. This is probably the easiest hike on this list, so it is kid-friendly. This is a great way to get away from the crowds located at the Grand Canyon Village.

Grandview Point

The Grandview Point is a fantastic viewpoint and is the southernmost point on Grand Canyon’s south rim. It is also the start of the very difficult and long Grandview Trail, which is 12.5 miles roundtrip with a 3,937 elevation gain.

Moran Point

Moran Point is one of the most visited areas of the East rim, and it was named after a famous landscape artist called Thomas Moran. Directly below Moran Point is Red Canyon, a very colorful bright red canyon, and to the west, you can spot Coronado Butte.

Lipan Point

Lipan Point is a trailhead viewpoint for Tanner Trail, a 17-mile round trip 5,842 elevation gain trail. You can see the Vermillion Cliffs to the northeast of the viewpoint and the colorado river to the west.

Navajo Point

Navajo Point is only half a mile from Desert View Watchtower and is the highest spot on the south rim. You can see beautiful views of Escalante and Cardenas Buttes, and Tanner Canyon.

Desert View Watchtower

The Desert View Watchtower is a National Historic Landmark that was constructed in 1932. It is located on the eastern side of the South Rim. There are no free buses to take you to this area so you have to drive your car to get here. The view of the tower right next to the canyon is one of the most breathtaking views in the national park. Viewing the Grand Canyon can get monotonous after a day or two. Everything starts to blend in, but the watchtower brings something new to the table.

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Final Thoughts On Best Place To View The Grand Canyon

Thanks for reading all about the best Grand Canyon viewpoints. Check out some of my other Arizona posts:

• Fun Things To Do in Grand Canyon South Rim
• Hiking to the Grand Canyon Plateau Point
• Everything you need to know on hiking to Havasu Falls
• Best Hikes In Sedona, Arizona
• The Ultimate Las Vegas To Valley Of Fire Day Trip Itinerary

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