Best Views at the Grand Canyon National Park

We were able to take a day trip from Flagstaff to see the Grand Canyon for the very first time! We left Flagstaff around 7:15 in the morning and arrived at the East Entrance Station of the parks South Rim around 8:40am. We paid the $35 park entrance fee and received a very helpful map of the South Rim. On down the road, we came to the parking lot for the Desert View Watchtower. There were no crowds here this time of the morning thus plenty of parking was available.

We spent time walking around the outside of the watchtower, taking in the fascinating views of the canyon. We could even see the Colorado River far down below!

Then, we made our way inside the watchtower and up several flights of small, winding steps. (The watchtower has 4 stories.) The design and history of the building is amazing, and the building’s architecture was inspired by local tribes. How cool!

Upon leaving the watchtower, we took desert view drive along the South Rim to Lipan Point.

Next, we continued to make the scenic drive to Moran Point. The stunning views continued throughout!

Further down desert view drive, we came upon Grandview Point. Once again, the views were just incredible!

Finally, we arrived at the Grand Canyon Visitor’s Center and made our way to Mather Point. This was the most crowded part of the park that we visited. The area was bustling with tourists, and there were several guided tours taking place. The parking lots were also becoming full in the afternoon hours.

Williams, Arizona

On our way back to Flagstaff, we took Highway 64 to Williams, Arizona. Did you know that Williams was the last city on Route 66 to be bypassed by I-40? From Williams, visitors can also take the morning ride on the historic Grand Canyon Railway to experience the Grand Canyon.

There were many tourists in the lodges, shops, and restaurants along this stretch of Route 66. We had lunch on the patio at Cruiser’s Cafe, where we listened to live music from the band they had playing. Then, we walked down several blocks of Route 66 and enjoyed a beverage at Historic Brewing.

For more on national parks, monuments, and other amazing sites be sure to check out our blog posts on Flagstaff, Sedona, and Petrified Forest National Park.