24 Hours in the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic places in the United States. Throughout the year, people flock to this beautiful landscape to take in the views from one of the many vistas. Choosing what to see and do can be overwhelming, especially if you’re short on time. The options are endless so I did the groundwork for you. Below is my (winter) itinerary for 24 hours in the Grand Canyon, but I guarantee these locations are stunning regardless of the time of year.
Where to Stay
The first thing to understand about the Grand Canyon is that there aren’t many roads going in and out. The South Rim has one major road and the closest city is about 20 minutes away. At first that may not seem like a lot, but factor in parking, potential traffic, and weather conditions and suddenly the number of things you can do dwindles. For that reason, I recommend booking a hotel room in the Grand Canyon Village. Doing so will put you right in the action.
Grand Canyon Village has many options available, but make sure to book as soon as you know your dates. The hotels fill up quickly because of how convenient they are. We stayed at Bright Angel Lodge and the room was perfect for one night. The lodge is right off the main rim walk and, because we booked in advance, the room cost us $100 instead of being ridiculously expensive. I was happy to be able to cuddle up in my bed after a long evening hike instead of jumping in the car for a drive home. In winter this is especially crucial since there’s added time needed to defrost and potentially wipe off your car. This is a major bummer if you just hiked 2.5 miles in the cold. Get the hotel room, you won’t regret it.
What to Bring
During the winter, the grand canyon can get VERY cold. You may think I’m exaggerating, but I live in Minnesota so trust me on this one. Within the span of 24 hours spent on the south rim, snow and single digit temperatures were on the menu. The first day snow fell for almost 2 hours and then cleared for a magnificent sunset. Freezing toes and fingers were on the menu the next day for sunrise. Although the weather is unpredictable, the viewpoints are less busy and more peaceful. As long as you prepare properly you can enjoy the solitude and also stay comfortable.
The absolute essential items to bring include:
- Hat and Gloves
- Microspikes
- Thermals
- Headlamps
- Hand Warmers (I use this electric one and love it)
- Camera
If you are planning on hiking out to any of the viewpoints that don’t have shuttle service you will absolutely need microspikes. During the winter most of the trails are covered in ice. Without something to help provide much needed traction the trails can be slightly dangerous. Unfortunately there were quite a few people who spent a lot of time shuffling or weren’t able to go on some of the trails because they weren’t fully prepared.
Additionally, headlamps are non-negotiable if you plan on hiking and/or capturing sunset. The roads in the park are unlit and using your phone can be pretty unreliable, especially if you are like me and forget to properly charge it. Having a headlamp can be a game changer and give you the peace of mind that you’ll be able to make it back to warmth safely. It will also help you spot the elk before you’re right on top of them.
Speaking of elk, having your camera along is so important so you can capture these beauties. Right when we entered the park we realized that the elk are unfazed by humans. I had never seen them in person and was able to photograph them 4 times in 24 hours. Not to mention the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon will have you constantly reaching for your phone or camera.
Itinerary
Staying on the south rim gives you ample access to different trails and lookouts. The sheer number of options can be a lot to process. The main lookout points on the rim include Mather Point and Yavapai Point. These 2 lookouts are the easiest to access and are thus the busiest. In the winter, a lot of the visitors flock to these viewpoints because they do not require a shuttle or any trekking.
Mid Day
When you first arrive you may not be able to check in immediately so my recommendation is to check out Mather and Yavapai Points while you are waiting. Although these lookouts can be packed with people they are great to see while you are killing time because the views are stunning. The two points are easily walkable as they are less than a mile from each other. Park at the visitor center if there is space or take the shuttle from one of the many parking lots. Unfortunately, I didn’t get many pictures of either of these points because a snow storm came in and visibility was nonexistent. Regardless, we enjoyed the hike and the few peaks of canyon we were able to sneak before the snow made everything a white mirage.
After checking out the viewpoints, swing by the snack shop located outside Bright Angel Lodge for a hot chocolate or hot apple cider. The snow storm started to clear as we were waiting for our apple cider and we were able to witness the sun breaking through the clouds. The hot drink was a nice way to warm up and a tasty little treat.
Mid Day is also a great time to track down some cheeky elk. The Grand Canyon has an unbelievable amount of these beautiful animals and they tend to meander about during the day. I snagged some pictures by the railroad tracks while we were looking for a parking spot. The beauty of the Grand Canyon is that there is so much to see you can’t really go wrong.
Sunset
Deposit the bags in the hotel room and prepare for sunset. To ensure that I get to where I want to be in time for golden hour I use the photo app Photopills. This app can be a bit confusing at first, but I love using the planner to understand when golden hour is and what direction the sun will be setting.
For sunset in the Grand Canyon, Hopi Point is a must. You will have to hike in because the road to this point is closed in the winter. The wonderful thing about this is that the hike paired with the cold will deter many people. During the summer the road is open and more accessible so you may not have as much solitude.
To arrive just as golden hour started we hit the trail at 3:45 pm. Hopi Point is slightly over 2 miles from Bright Angel Lodge. Most of the trail is covered in ice so give yourself a time buffer. Connor and I packed microspikes with us as well as headlamps. Since we were venturing into a lightly trafficked area of the Grand Canyon during dusk we did not want to risk our safety.
On the way to Hopi Point we were able to stop off at Powell Point. I am so happy we took the extra 5 minutes because we had the entire place to ourselves. The snow from the earlier storm had blanketed the canyon and the contrasted beautifully with the red rock.
Once we reached Hopi Point we were in awe. The almost 360 views and sheer size of the Grand Canyon left us speechless. There were only 2 other groups taking in the sunset so we didn’t have to compete with anyone for a good seat. We took most of our photos from the western side of the point since that is where the sun goes down.
Fortunately for us, the moon also came out on the eastern side (one major plus of winter time) and we were able to catch an insane start to blue hour before starting our trek back. We snapped some pictures as fast as feasibly possible and then took off towards the lodge. On the way back we stuck to the road. We knew it was closed and it would be easier to see any wandering elk. Our headlamps went on before we started moving so we could switch them on prior to losing too much light.
Sunrise
Typically sunrise entails an early wake up call, but in the Grand Canyon the wake up call is even earlier. Since a shuttle is necessary to get to Yaki Point, Connor and I were up around 5:45 am. If you don’t stay in Grand Canyon Village, you can add another 30 – 45 minutes to drive in. Additionally, you may want to factor in 5 minutes in the winter to defrost your car. We completely forgot to do this and managed to almost miss our shuttle pick up.
Before you head out, make sure to dress warm and bring additional layers just in case. The temperature on December 30th was 6 degrees Fahrenheit. As someone from the midwest, this is cold. Definitely bring a blanket and some hand/foot warmers if you aren’t used to cold temperatures. Connor and I brought a blanket with and I was so grateful we did. We wrapped ourselves in it and huddled together while we waited for the sun to come up.
The Grand Canyon visitor center. is the best place to access the shuttle. You will want to take the Orange Route (Kaibab) to Yaki Point. Make sure you get in the line going the right direction. Connor and I almost made this mistake and would have had to wait in the cold another 15 minutes. AKA we would not have gone. The shuttle only took about 10 minutes and deposited us right next to the point.
Although we survived and the sunrise was gorgeous, I would prefer not to stand out in freezing weather unless my life depends on it. If you plan on taking on the sunrises in the Grand Canyon, I would suggest sometime in November or early December. The weather won’t be warm, but the crowds will be thinner and the frigid cold will still be waiting in the wings to make an appearance.
We managed to last about 25 minutes which was enough for me. My hands were throbbing as they warmed up on the shuttle ride back. Apparently that is normal according to my future doctor husband, but I honestly can’t get behind it. On the way back we saw more elk. You would think after already seeing them twice I’d be over them, but wow are they beautiful. The bus driver was kind enough to stop and let me snap some pictures of the early risers.
Wrap Up
The Grand Canyon is without a doubt a stunner. Even if you only have 24 hours, you can still scratch the surface of this American gem. To ensure you have a great time, remember these key things:
- Book a place to stay in advance, especially if you want to stay close to the trails.
- Pack the appropriate attire and make sure to include layers!
- Plan out your hikes for sunrise and sunset, but be flexible.
