See the Best Grand Canyon Viewpoints, hike to the most spellbinding vistas, and witness sunrise or sunset over one of the most dramatic natural locations on Earth. Here is our guide to the best viewpoints of the Grand Canyon.
By: Mark Barnes | Last Updated:
Cut by the mighty Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is one of the most remarkable landscapes in the world.
Intricately sculpted into peaks, buttes, gorges, and ravines, horizontal layers of rich red and brown rock rise and fall like waves on an ocean.
Stretching along a 277-mile section of the Colorado River and extending up to 18 miles wide at its maximum width, even the best Grand Canyon viewpoints capture only a sliver of this colossal act of nature.
While all the Grand Canyon overlooks put on a stunning show, many are similar. So, it makes sense to pick ones that offer something different and see views of the canyon in all its different forms.
Our list of the best Grand Canyon viewpoints not only includes all the iconic lookouts on the north and south rim, but also the best sights from day walks into the canyon.
Grand Canyon South Rim: Practical Details
New 2026 Entrance Fees
The vehicle entrance fee for the Grand Canyon is $35 for 7 days. However, as of January 1, 2026, all non-US residents aged 16 or older must pay a $100-per-person non-resident fee.
Grand Canyon Viewpoints Map
Most South Rim viewpoints fall into three groups. Hermit Road runs west from Grand Canyon Village and is mainly accessed by shuttle. Mather, Yavapai and Yaki Point are around the central visitor area. Desert View Drive runs east for 23 miles towards the park’s East Entrance and is accessible by car.
Click on the top right corner to open our map in your Google Maps app. Click the star next to the title to save it to your Google account.
How to See the Viewpoints
There is a free shuttle bus on the South Rim which connects the Visitor Center, village, Yaki Point, South Kaibab Trailhead and Hermit Road. The routes connect but don’t overlap.
The South Rim has several free shuttle routes covering different areas. The routes connect at key transfer points, but you may need to change buses to travel between the Visitor Center, Grand Canyon Village, Yaki Point and Hermit Road.
Some viewpoints you need to visit by car
- By car: Desert View Drive, Grandview, Desert View and several eastern viewpoints.
- By shuttle: Hermit Road, Yaki Point and South Kaibab Trailhead during relevant seasons.
- On foot: The Rim Trail links many of the central South Rim viewpoints.
Hermit Road Viewpoints
Just west of Grand Canyon Village on the south rim, Hermit’s Road has three of the best viewpoints overlooking the Grand Canyon.
Hermit Road is only open to private vehicles during December, January, and February, when the shuttle bus is not running. Outside these months, the viewpoints can only be accessed by the free shuttle bus or by walking or biking.
The bus you want is the Hermits Rest Route Bus (red line), which runs from Grand Canyon Village along the route and back again.
To see the best viewpoints, we recommend taking the bus to Powell Point, then walking on to Hopi Point and Mohave Point. This is around 1.3 miles, which takes around 30 minutes, not including time to stop for the views.
1. Pima Point
- Shuttle: Red Route shuttle (Mar–Nov)
- Drive: Dec–Feb
- Allow: 20-30 minutes
Pima Point is a wonderful viewpoint on a promontory overlooking the canyon. A stretch of the Colorado River is visible amongst the deep gash of the canyon, and on quiet days, the Granite Rapids can be heard echoing around the canyon walls.
2. Mohave Point
- Shuttle: Red Route shuttle (Mar–Nov)
- Drive: Dec–Feb
- Allow: 20-30 minutes
Mohave Point provides a great view of the Colorado River as it cuts through the canyon deep below. The buttes and mesas are striking, and if you look carefully, you can see the white water as it surges over Salt Creek, Granite, and Hermit rapids.
Mohave Point is one of the best spots on the Grand Canyon for sunset.
3. Hopi Point & Powell Point
- Shuttle: Red Route shuttle (Mar–Nov)
- Drive: Dec–Feb
- Allow: 45-60 minutes
Hopi Point and Powell Point are close together with similar views. Only a small section of the river is visible, but with superb locations at the ends of the promontory, both overlooks provide excellent views in all directions.
At Powell Point, check out the memorial that commemorates Major John Wesley Powell’s first exploratory trips down the Grand Canyon.
Hopi Point and Powell Point are both excellent locations for sunrise and sunset.
Grand Canyon Village Viewpoints
Grand Canyon Village is tucked back on the south rim, so the views over the canyon are less expansive, but there are two good reasons to take them in here.
Firstly, there are some superb old buildings perched on the canyon rim and, secondly, the views from the top of the Bright Angel Trail, which leaves from the village, are excellent.
4. Grand Canyon Village
- Shuttle: Blue Route
- Drive: Walk from village parking
- Allow: 45-60 minutes
Stroll along the Grand Canyon South Rim trail in Grand Canyon Village, and you’ll pass some wonderful old buildings perched on the edge of the canyon.
Kolb Art Gallery is a wooden building that appears to literally hang over the canyon and Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio or “The Lookout” is constructed in beautiful stonework that blends into the canyon.
5. Top of the Bright Angel Trail
- Access: Short walk from Grand Canyon Village
- Allow: 30-45 minutes
The Bright Angel Trail descends over 4,000 feet from Grand Canyon Village to Phantom Ranch on the edge of the Colorado River.
Standing at the trailhead, you see the little dirt track disappear in front of you. It makes for a mesmerising sight and one of the best Grand Canyon viewpoints.
Walk down the Bright Angel Trail for 10-15 minutes, passing through a small tunnel. From here you can get a great view of the switchbacks on the trail as it descends the canyon.
6. Plateau Point
- Access: Strenuous hike via the Bright Angel Trail
- Allow: 8-12 hours
With the Colorado River cutting its way through a wild desert landscape thousands of feet below the rim, it is not easy to get close-up views.
The best way is to hike the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point, where a wonderful lookout peers over the river about 1,300 feet below and the canyon walls rise all around you. The walk can be completed in a day, but it’s a long one.
The hike is a 12.2-mile round trip with an elevation of around 3,110 feet. We’d call this one strenuous; it took us around 8 hours. We have all the details in our guides to hikes around the Grand Canyon.
Kaibab South Rim Viewpoints
The Grand Canyon Visitors Center, just east of Grand Canyon Village, has 2 excellent viewpoints nearby that are well worth checking out.
7. Mather Point
- Shuttle: Orange Route
- Drive: Visitor Center Parking
- Allow: 20-30 minutes
Mather Point faces northeast, making it a great spot for sunrise photography. You can take photos towards the sun before dawn, and then towards the canyon behind you when the sun has cleared the horizon.
Look carefully, and you can see Phantom Ranch set by the river at the bottom of the canyon.
Mather Point is a 10-minute walk from the large car park next to the Grand Canyon Visitor Centre.
8. Yaki Point & Ooh Aah Point
- Shuttle: Orange Route
- Drive: No private vehicles
- Allow: 20-30 minutes (2 hours for Ooh Aah Point)
Just east of the visitor centre, Yaki Point is another fine viewpoint perched over the Grand Canyon. No private cars are allowed here, so it is often quieter than other viewpoints.
After soaking up the views at Yaki Point, we highly recommend hiking one of the Grand Canyon’s best trails: the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point. If you only do one (shortish) walk into the canyon, make it this one.
The walk takes around 2 hours, and we have all the details in our guide to the best hikes in the Grand Canyon.
Desert View Road South Rim
The Desert View Road heads along the south rim east of Grand Canyon Village.
The road is open to private vehicles, and driving yourself and stopping at each of the parking lots and pull-outs is the best way to see all the viewpoints.
The total drive is 23 miles, but we spent about 3 hours on the road, including all the stops.
9. Shoshone Point
- Access: 1-mile walk each way from Desert View Drive
- Allow: 1–1.5 hours
Shoshone Point is hands down our favourite Grand Canyon Viewpoint. It is unsigned from Desert View Drive and requires a one-mile walk through the forest.
Due to its stunning location, Shoshone Point is becoming a hot destination for weddings. On our visit, one couple were taking their vows, and another was back to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
It’s a 25-minute walk from the parking lot through the Kaibab Forest to the lookout. Keep your eyes out for elk.
10. Lipan Point
Access: Drive-up viewpoint
Allow: 15-20 minutes
With some of the widest and most expansive views of the Grand Canyon from the south rim, Lipan Point is well worth a stop. To the west, the Colorado River can be seen cutting a swathe in the rock as it heads into the inner gorge; to the east, it looks gentler as it makes a big loop in a wide valley.
Lipan Point is another great spot for sunrise and sunset.
2026 Update: Lipan Point is temporarily closed for rehabilitation from 22 June to 23 December 2026. Grandview Point, Moran Point and nearby No Name Point are good alternatives along Desert View Drive.
11. Desert View
- Access: Drive-up viewpoint
- Allow: 45–60 minutes
What makes Desert View one of the best views in the Grand Canyon is the stone watchtower that stands guard on its edge. Desert View Watchtower, a 70-foot circular turret, contrasts with the jagged buttes and gorges of the canyon below.
The site now has an active programme of Indigenous cultural demonstrations involving artists and cultural practitioners, and NPS emphasises that the Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland of numerous tribes, with 11 federally recognised tribes maintaining cultural connections to the canyon today.
There are several other viewpoints along the Desert View Road: Grandview Point, Moran Point, and Navajo Point
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