The Grand Canyon Village is the center of action in Grand Canyon National Park. Though the village was constructed entirely for tourism, the village feels like a charming trip back in time.
The Village is accessible by vehicle but it has a severe lack of parking. During the busy season, the best thing to do is to park at the Mather Visitor Center and take the Blue Line shuttle to the Village.
El Tovar is a famous and historic hotel – it’s really the centerpiece of the village. It’s an interesting mix of Norwegian Chalet and American Southwest design.
We highly recommend the dining room, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (reservations required for dinner).
This museum was once a photography studio! The Kolb Brothers were icons in the Grand Canyon’s early days. They photographed mule riders, ran to the springs below to develop the pictures, and ran back to the studio to sell them when the riders returned.
Constructed as a competitor to the Kolb Studio, this building was designed to fit in with the surrounding rocks. Today you can visit the gift shop inside and walk onto the deck to look into the telescope.
Built as an homage to the Hopis who live nearby, this has always been a gift shop for Native American goods.
An early competitor to the Hopi House, this visitor center has a gift shop and displays about the park. It was owned by the Verkamp family for nearly 100 years!
Mule rides to the bottom of the canyon begin and end at the mule pen here. Mules famously walk along the edge of the trail as you stare into the canyon.
The biggest rule when riding the mules: “no leanin, no screamin!”
The Grand Canyon Train arrives daily from Williams, Arizona, dropping visitors off at this historic depot, just as the original Canyon visitors arrived in the early days of the park.
The easiest hiking trail at the Grand Canyon is the flat Rim Trail, which follows the rim of the canyon from the Village to Mather Point near the visitor center.
Along the way notice the new Trail of Time display, which provides context to just how old the canyon is.
If you want to get into the Canyon from the Village, you’ll need to access the popular Bright Angel Trail. The views are incredible, but don’t take it lightly! It’s steep and brutal.
If you want to stay in the Grand Canyon Village but don’t want to spend the money on El Tovar, here are four more affordable alternatives.
Of these, the Bright Angel is the oldest and has the most charm. But you don’t actually stay in the lodge; you stay in nearby cabins.
The others are newer, built to accommodate increasing tourists, are farther away from the rim, and have much less charm.
The Blue Line shuttle ends in the Grand Canyon Village. Those wanting to ride to Hermits Rest must get off here and hop on the Red Line shuttle.
We’re Matt and Cheryl, and we’re in the Rockies. :) We are both teachers. Cheryl teaches special ed, and Matt teaches American history. We love the American West and the national parks. We want to help you have a great vacation on your next trip to the Rockies.
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