Last updated: 09-01-2024
When you are arranging your itinerary to visit the Grand Canyon of the United States, have you always been confused by the "West Canyon" and the "South Canyon" and don't know which side to go to or where to sign up for a group tour? Below we will make a complete comparison and analysis of "West Canyon" and "South Canyon" to show you how to go and play, so that you can know whether you are more suitable to go to the West Canyon or the South Canyon!
Take a look at the following table of contents now:-
- Introduction to the geographical location of the Grand Canyon of the United States
- Introduction to West Canyon – There is a glass bridge
- Introduction to South Canyon – National Park
- Comparison list of West Canyon and South Canyon
- What season is suitable for traveling to the Grand Canyon?
- After going to the Nanxia Canyon, do I still need to go to the Xixia Canyon?
- Summary
- Supplement: Featured multi-day group recommendation
The location of the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is located in the southwestern region of the United States, in the north of Arizona. The nearest tourist city is Las Vegas. The Grand Canyon actually covers a very wide range. We roughly divide it into the "West Canyon", the "South Canyon" where more tourists go, and the less-known "North Canyon".
Distance and driving distance from Las Vegas:-
*West Canyon Closest to Las Vegas (about 125 miles/200 kilometers, about two and a half hours drive one way)
Because it is relatively close to Las Vegas, the main one-day bus tour is to go to the West Canyon. The round-trip transportation on the same day only takes about 4 hours by car, and the rest of the time is spent in the park.
*South Canyon It's much further (275 miles/440 kilometers, about four and a half hours one way)
The South Canyon one-day bus tour takes more than 9 hours of round-trip driving in one day, and takes about 2 to 3 hours at most in the park.
*north canyon Due to some road conditions, the driving speed will be slower (260 miles/415 kilometers, nearly six hours one way)
Roads are closed in the winter and no bus tours take you here, so most people don’t consider or discuss the North Canyon. But in fact, the scenery of the North Canyon is very good, and it is included in the national park. The height of the canyon is even deeper than that of the South Canyon. You can join a helicopter tour from the South Canyon to have aerial views of the North Canyon:Grand Canyon South Canyon Helicopter Tour.
If you want to save time and not spend so much time in transportation, you can consider taking a helicopter or small plane tour to the West Canyon and South Canyon. (please refer to: Complete Helicopter and Small Aircraft Participation Guide）
Below we will introduce and analyze the advantages, disadvantages and comparisons of visiting the "West Canyon" and "South Canyon" in detail.
Introduction to West Canyon – There is a glass bridge
In fact, the West Canyon is not included in the U.S. National Park area like the South Canyon and the North Canyon. The West Canyon belongs to the Hualapai Indian Reserve, an indigenous people. Since Canyon West is relatively close to Las Vegas, the transportation for tourists brought by tour groups is also more convenient.
After the completion of the glass bridge in 2007, it attracted a large number of tourists. However, the attractions in the West Canyon are not as rich as those in the South Canyon, and the tour routes are also shorter. If you don’t spend the glass bridge (tickets are $30-$35 per person) or don’t participate in the helicopter experience, it will actually be a relatively disappointing canyon experience.
So when going to the West Canyon, if the budget allows, we recommend considering taking a "helicopter" or "small plane" to enhance the richness of the entire experience.You can click here to view and book "All Air Tours".
Must-visit scenic spots in West Canyon
~ Eagle Point – Eagle Rock ~
At an altitude of 4000 feet above the Colorado River, the peak of Eagle Rock is a solemn gift from nature to the local Hualapai Aboriginal people; this is where the glass bridge was chosen.
West Canyon Glass Bridge – Eagle Rock
~ Gurano Point Bat Peak ~
It is the most representative mountain. Different from ordinary flat tops, it is like a diamond with a pointed top pointing straight to the sky. Under the setting sun, Bat Peak looks like a pyramid made of gold. The winding path on the peak rock extends into the canyon, like a road leading to the sky. From the highest point of this mountain, you can enjoy the majestic scenery of the Grand Canyon. The harmonious feeling of heaven, earth, and people lingers in the air of the Colorado Plateau.
West Canyon – Bat Peak
West Canyon recommended itineraries and bookings
1. Xixia One Day Tour (English Bus Tour): From $145 per person
Optional consumption items: Glass bridge $35 per person. Note: The above tour prices do not include the guide tip of $12 per person.
2. Xixia small plane air and ground one-day tour: from $419 per person
3. [VIP Itinerary] Xixia Helicopter Air and Ground One-day Tour: Starting from $535 per person
Optional consumption items: Glass Bridge $35 per person.
4. Gorgeous Helicopter Grand Canyon West Rim Champagne Tour: Starting at $565 per person
5. Three-day tour group including Xixia: From $463 per person
There are different options for consuming items, please check the relevant webpage.
Tips for self-driving tour of West Canyon
- It only takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to the West Canyon one way, so it is usually a one-day round trip; you can also visit the Hoover Dam first (visit during the season with longer sunshine hours, such as in summer, when you can return) go).
- The geographical location of the West Canyon,Please click here to view Google Maps.
- advantage:You can control the length of your stay, you will have privacy on the road, the drive will not be too long, and there are helicopter + boat tours and walking glass bridge activities in the park that you can purchase as an add-on.
- Things to consider:Those with higher ticket prices and those who don’t often drive long distances need to consider whether they can cope with driving for more than 5 hours a day and pay attention to the time difference.
Self-driving tour of the West Canyon – the most basic thing is to buy a ticket, others are paid options
1. Xixia ticket reservation: starting from $57 per person
Self-driving option consumption items: glass bridge $35 per person, helicopter + valley boat cruise $285 per person.
For car rentals, please refer to the Expedia website, they will compare different car rental websites.
Pay attention to the time difference in different seasons
Especially after "standard time" takes effect, the Grand Canyon area will be one hour ahead of Las Vegas time. If you have a helicopter reservation in the park, you should pay more attention; if you are traveling with a group from Las Vegas, you do not need to With this factor in mind, just arrive at the pick-up point on time.
*The start time of "Daylight Saving Time" is: 2:00am on the second Sunday in March every year - the Grand Canyon area in Arizona. After "Daylight Saving Time" takes effect, the time will be the same as that of Las Vegas and Las Vegas. Los Angeles area, same time
*The start time of "standard time" is: 2:00am on the first Sunday in November every year - in the Grand Canyon area, after "standard time" takes effect, the time will be one hour ahead of Las Vegas and Los Angeles
Should I go to the Glass Bridge when going to West Canyon?
Our advice is: Yes! Especially if you go by land, since you are all in the West Canyon, walking on the glass bridge is a very worthwhile activity. If you go by helicopter or small plane, you can consider not needing to go up the glass bridge, and you can save some money, because during the flight, you can already enjoy the nearby scenery from high altitude.
*advantage:The one-day bus tour has plenty of time, and the ride time is not too long (the one-way journey is only about two and a half hours). There are helicopter and small plane itineraries, and you can purchase a glass bridge. Suitable for tourists who have a short stay in Las Vegas and only have one full day to visit the canyon.
*Disadvantages:There are few overall attractions, the place is a bit commercialized, and all items are additional consumption.
In addition, there is a more time-saving method, which is to take a helicopter or small plane directly from Las Vegas! For details, please refer to Guide to Small Planes and Helicopters, we recommend the following helicopter and small aircraft group products.
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[Selected must play] Las Vegas helicopter night tour (including boulevard pick-up)
$ 148.00Sold: 852 -
Gorgeous Helicopter Grand Canyon West Rim Champagne Tour (including boulevard pick-up and drop-off)
$ 565.00Sold: 499 -
[Classic Itinerary] One-day air and ground tour of the Grand Canyon West Rim by small plane (glass bridge or helicopter and canyon bottom cruise can be purchased as an add-on)
$ 419.00Sold: 425
Introduction to South Canyon – National Park
The South Canyon is truly classified as a national park by the United States. It has so many attractions that you can't visit every attraction in a whole day. From Hermits Rest on the far left on the map below to the Village in the middle, and the Visitor Center on the right, all the way to Desert View on the far right, there are various large and small attractions and trails. Generally, you will start from Mather Point next to the visitor center, and walk all the way west to Yavapai Point (a small cabin), where you can see the vast scenery of the Grand Canyon, and then take the free bus (orange line) in the park back to the tourists. In the center, transfer to the Blue Line to other attractions, most commonly going to Bright Angel Point.
If you drive into the park by yourself, you will need to pay an entry fee of US$35 per vehicle. Then when you get to the park, you can take the free public shuttle bus provided by the park and travel around the various attractions in the park. Departures every 10-15 minutes during the day. If you plan to stay in the park for a long time, the buses in the park can be a very convenient means of transportation for you. If you join a one-day tour departing from Las Vegas, the tour fee already includes the entrance fee.
Introduction to the South Canyon Park Shuttle Bus
Click here to download the map
Park shuttle bus route
The most important bus route is the Blue Line (Blue): it can take you from the west side of the park to the visitor center in the east. There are also supermarkets, camping areas, etc. in the middle.
There is another line on the left (west) of the map - Red: Hopi Point, which is a hotspot for watching sunset. From March to November every year, when the park does not allow self-driving to enter Hermit Drive, you must take this bus to enter the attractions on the westernmost line.
The main park is close to the east, and the orange line (Orange) of the visitor center: This line can mainly take you to the most famous points next to the visitor center, including Yavapai point, Mather Point, and as far as Yaki Point.
There is a Desert View attraction on the far right (east) of the map. There is a tower here, which is a hotspot for watching the sunrise. You need to drive to this point to reach it. It is about a 30-40 minute drive from the main campus. Driving further east from Desert View, you can leave the entire Grand Canyon National Park area, and then drive in about two hours to the famous Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the town of Page. (Click here to watch Antelope Canyon Raiders)
Must-visit viewpoints in South Canyon
~ Hopi Point ~
Hopi Point is one of the attractions in the Grand Canyon with panoramic views.It combines fantastic views to the west and east of the canyon more than any other point on the South Rim.This spot is famous as a good place to watch the sunset.
Hopi Point is located on Hermit Drive, and you can enter this route by walking along the Grand Canyon Park to the far west.From March to November, this Hermit Drive will be closed, and private vehicles are not allowed in and out, but there is a free shuttle bus line in the park, starting from the west of Bright Angel Lodge, you can easily take this shuttle bus Walk around the sights on Hermit Drive.Usually every 3 minutes, so you can calculate the time, stop at each point for 11 minutes or 15 minutes and then ride to the next point.If you don't have a car, you can also walk slowly and follow the walk to Hopi Point.From the start of Hermit Drive you will need to walk about 15 miles to Hopi Point, but you will also pass a few nice other attractions along the way.
South Canyon – Hopi Point
~ Powell Point ~
Powell Point is just east of Hopi Point and has excellent eastern scenery, making it a great place to watch the sunrise.Since it is not as famous as Hopi Point, there are relatively few people visiting this point.Like Hopi Point, you can take the red line shuttle bus to the west, or you can walk here along the trail. (It is also about 2 miles from the west into Hermit Drive)
Powell Point is named after John Wesley Powell, the first person to successfully complete a trip to the Grand Canyon from the Colorado River.A monument to this historic achievement is located at Powell Point.
~ Bright Angel Point ~
Bright Angel is located on the east side of Powell Point, and the must-visit spots when visiting Bright Angel are the El Tovar Hotel and Kolb Studio. El Tovar Hotel has hosted many stars, celebrities and dignitaries from all over the world. If you are considering staying in the Grand Canyon, you can try to book El Tovar Hotel to have a celebrity-like experience. Kolb Studio is one of the earliest buildings in Grand Canyon National Park, built byBrothers Kolb It was built on the cliffside of the Grand Canyon in 1902. It was originally built as their home and photo studio. In the 70s, the Grand Canyon National Park bought it and later changed it to an art gallery, bookstore and information center.
South Canyon – Kolb Studio. Image from: NPS Photo
~ Yavapai Point ~
Yavapai Point is near the visitor center.This point is right in the middle of the park, with a view of the east and west of the middle of the Grand Canyon.In addition, there is a cabin at this point, which introduces information about the geology and history of the Grand Canyon.Because it is very close to the visitor center and is a well-known and must-see attraction, it is often very crowded and crowded.
~ Mather Point ~
Also near Yavapai and the Visitor Center, Mather Point is also one of the most popular tourist attractions.Among the points of these visitor centers, you can take the yellow shuttle bus to reach them.But actually it's not that far. (10-15 minutes)
South Canyon – Mather Point
~ desert view ~
Desert View is located at the easternmost point of the park and is the best viewing point to watch the sunset. To get to this viewpoint, you need to drive yourself on the 23-mile/37-kilometer Desert View Drive, which takes about 30-40 minutes. The scenic spot does not provide a shuttle bus within the park. The highlight here is the Watchtower, which allows you to see the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River from almost the easternmost point.
There are also 6 small viewing spots on Desert View Drive. Along the way, you will see some parking spaces on the roadside. These parking spaces represent the location of the viewing spots. You can choose two or three to stop and take pictures. Each one is not far apart. The scenery of scenic spots can be very different depending on the distance!
In addition, by driving east from this point, you can leave the Grand Canyon National Park area. After connecting to the outside highway, you can go north and drive to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Page Town, and Grand Canyon. Dam, Lake Powell area.
If you plan to "visit the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend for two days and one night," then this point can almost be directly included in the itinerary because you can pass by it on the way. At the end of the article, we will recommend different multi-day tours, which can also be used as reference routes for self-driving tours.
South Canyon – Watchtower at Desert View
South Canyon Recommended Itineraries and Bookings
- Nanxia Day Tour: $119 per person (English tour)
- Nanxia Small Plane and Hummer One-day Highlights Tour: $659 per person
- Proposed two-day tour (Chinese tour)
- All South Canyon Experiences at a Glance
Tips for self-driving tours in the South Canyon
- Driving from Las Vegas to the South Canyon takes about 4.5 to 5 hours one way. We usually don’t recommend a one-day round trip. It’s not impossible, but driving will be a bit tiring. We recommend a trip of two days or more.You can refer to this two-day bus tour to plan your itinerary.
- There are many attractions worth seeing in the South Canyon, which is rich in attractions.As we introduced above; And there are many choices for accommodation,You can click here to view.
- The geographical location of the South Canyon,Please click here to view Google Maps.
- advantage:There are rich attractions, ticket prices are not high, you can control your stay time, you have privacy on the road, and you can purchase additional activities such as helicopters in the park.
- Things to consider:The journey is long, so you need to consider whether you can handle a total of 10 hours of driving in one day (it is recommended to plan a two-day trip), and pay attention to the time difference.
South Canyon Self-Drive Tour – Tickets and Options
Tickets must be purchased. They can be purchased at the toll booth at the entrance to the South Canyon. There is no need to get off the car. "Each non-commercial vehicle is charged $35, and the number can be up to 15 people." It is valid for 7 days and is free to enter and exit South Canyon. Canyon and North Canyon, since they are both national park boundaries, do not apply to West Canyon.For more information, please refer to the official website.
For car rentals, please refer to the Expedia website, they will compare different car rental websites.
Pay attention to the time difference in different seasons
Especially after "standard time" takes effect, the Grand Canyon area will be one hour ahead of Las Vegas time. If you have a reservation for a helicopter or other limited-time activities in the park, you should pay more attention; take the bus from Las Vegas or For small flight tours, you don’t need to consider this factor, as long as you arrive at the pick-up point on time.
*The start time of "Daylight Saving Time" is: 2:00am on the second Sunday in March every year - the Grand Canyon area in Arizona. After "Daylight Saving Time" takes effect, the time will be the same as that of Las Vegas and Las Vegas. Los Angeles area, same time
*The start time of "standard time" is: 2:00am on the first Sunday in November every year - in the Grand Canyon area, after "standard time" takes effect, the time will be one hour ahead of Las Vegas and Los Angeles
Recommended accommodation in the South Canyon – cabins, hotels, hostels, and camping
If you want to spend more time in the Grand Canyon, you can stay in the South Canyon area for one night in a hotel or cabin in the park (must be booked well in advance). If you like outdoor experience, you can even camp; there are supermarkets and In the breakfast shop, you can also buy almost all the equipment, food, light meals, etc. needed for camping, which is very convenient. Outside the gate of the South Canyon, there are hotels and inns of different grades available within no more than 10 miles.
Accommodation in the South Canyon is in great demand all year round, so no matter what price or location you choose, you must book it in advance, especially during the peak tourist season.
South Canyon Park Accommodation
Accommodation in the South Canyon Park is managed by a specific management company, which can generally be obtained throughOfficial website to book accommodation.
Below are suggestions for different levels of accommodation:-
Features/Superior Accommodation:Bright Angel Cabin,El Tovar
Ordinary accommodation:Yavapai Lodge,Maswik Lodge
~ Bright Angel Cabin ~
Built in the center of the Bright Angel Point viewpoint, it is a viewpoint visited by many tour groups.
South Canyon Park – Cabins
Interior of cabin in South Canyon Park
~ El Tovar Hotel ~
Built in an excellent location at the Bright Angel Point viewing point, it is also the most exclusive accommodation in the entire South Canyon Park. Many dignitaries, celebrities, and celebrities will choose to stay here when they come to South Canyon.
El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon South – Photo Credit: visitgrandcanyon.com
El Tovar Standard Room – Photo Credit: visitgrandcanyon.com
~ Yavapai Lodge ~
Yavapai Lodge has rooms in Yavapai West and Yavapai East. You can take the blue line shuttle bus to different viewing spots, which is very convenient.
Inside the South Canyon Park – Yavapai East Lodge – Photo Credit: visitgrandcanyon.com
~ Camping ~
There are two main camping spots in the South Canyon Park, Mather and Desert View. It is best to book the campsite in advance before setting off.
There are also different camping spots in the park. For detailed information, please refer toThe official website of Grand Canyon National Park.
South Canyon main campsite
South Canyon Camping
South Canyon off-site accommodation
Outside the entrance of the South Canyon, there are many hotels and inns to choose from within about 5 miles/8 kilometers. It is only a few minutes' drive from the entrance of the South Canyon. Compared with accommodation in the park, it is easier to book and cheaper. can be considered in Expedia.com Find and Book.
～The Grand Hotel～
It is the highest-end hotel near the South Canyon. Under normal road conditions, you can reach the entrance of the South Canyon in about 5 minutes by car.You can book The Grand Hotel here.
The Grand Hotel outside South Canyon
The Grand Hotel – Deluxe Room
～ Squire Resort ～
You can reach the entrance of the South Canyon in about 5 minutes by car.Bookings at Squire Resort can be made here.
Squire Resort outside South Canyon
Squire Resort – Standard Room
