Grand Canyon South Rim

Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand Canyon is about 1.6 kilometres deep in places and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The South Rim, open all year, has the classic viewpoints, a visitor centre and shuttle buses running along the rim.

Mather Point and Yavapai Point give sweeping views close to the car park, and the paved Rim Trail is easy for senior travellers. Sunrise and sunset bring out the deepest reds and purples in the layered rock. Hiking down to the river and back in one day is dangerous and strongly discouraged.

From Las Vegas the South Rim is about four and a half hours by road, so we often plan a night nearby. Short on time? Helicopter tours from Las Vegas reach the western end of the canyon in an afternoon.