2 Nights in Grand Canyon National Park: What to See, Do and Where to Stay
If you are looking for one of the most spectacular sights in the United States, the Grand Canyon needs to be on your bucket list. Located in Northern Arizona on the border of Utah, The Grand Canyon is a huge and beautiful national park filled with unbelievable viewpoints and fabulous hikes. Here’s how we spent two nights in Grand Canyon National Park.
This famous park has millions of visitors each year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations. And for good reason! There is plenty to do including mule rides, white water rafting, hiking, and sightseeing.
So whether you’re heading out there this weekend or planning a future tip, here are some ideas on what do see, do and where to stay during your time in Grand Canyon National Park.
Check out these top-rated Grand Canyon adventures while you’re here. If you book an excursion through these links, I get a commission. So thank you!
Best Place to Stay in Grand Canyon
Star Garden AZ
Because we knew we would be spending multiple nights in Grand Canyon, we had to look well in advance for the best places to stay.Â
We always wanted to stay in a dome and stargaze but this stay exceeded all expectations. We absolutely loved booking with Star Garden AZ and highly recommend them. Their domes are about 30 minutes outside of the Grand Canyon and in a dark zone so the stars are unbelievable. As long as you have a car that can off-road, this is the best place to stay.
Each dome comes with its own telescope, fire pit and outside area, shower, comfortable bed, and inside dining area. Even though you are in a dark zone here, there is wifi if you need it. One of the things we loved is that it is off grid and solar powered!
Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is massive which means there are tons of hikes for everyone. You can hike around the canyon on a Rim Trail or you can hike into the canyon. Be aware, that hiking into and out of the canyon is difficult. Don’t go too far down into the canyon before turning around if you aren’t an experienced hiker.
Our favorite hikes are South Kaibab Trail, Bright Angel Point Trail, and Cape Royal Trail.Â
1. Bright Angel Point Trail
This short trail is popular for its quick transition from the forest to the canyon and the beautiful views along the way. It is only .5 miles rountrip and paved, however, it can be pretty steep in some places.
This trail starts at the Visitor’s Center and is a great way to start your hikes or exploration around the Grand Canyon for the day.
2. South Kaibab Trail
The South Kaibab Trail is beautiul but very steep and challenging. There are three points you can hike to; Ooh-Ahh, Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point. We hiked 1.5 miles down into the canyon to Cedar Ridge before turning around and are so grateful we didn’t go further. The hike down was fun and easy! The hike back up took quite a while with many breaks.
There is no water along the trail so make sure to bring your own and there is very little shade. There are bathrooms available at Cedar Ridge but no other viewpoints so we recommend making sure to stop here since it will take a while to return to the rim.
3. Cape Royal Trail
With views of the Colorado River, Cape Royal Trail is a popular hike along the North Rim. It is also wheelchair accessible and only .8 miles! There are several stunning views along the trail where you can view the crazy rock formations.Â
Best Views at The Grand Canyon
Because Grand Canyon National Park is massive, almost every trail offers unbelievable views. All viewpoints are popular for sunrise and sunset so make sure to plan your trip if you want to get to the following places before they get too crowded. To increase your opportunity to see all the sunrises and sunsets from goreous vistas you want to, we also recommend spending several nights in Grand Canyon National Park.
We recommend Yavapai Point rather than Mather Point since it is less well-known but both are spectacular. The other place we loved was Yaki Point. Yaki is only accessible by taking the shuttle so again, timing and planning is crucial.
1. Yavapai Point
We were fortunate enough to have the fabulous Katie Clare photograph us at Yavapai Point in The Grand Canyon and we can say this place was amazing at sunset! This is a popular place to come so we recommend gettin here early to get a good spot.
2. Yaki Point
Yaki Point offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Grand Canyon. It is somewhere you could come and just sit for hours.
To see it, you must take a shuttle during peak seasons. If you are coming here to watch the sunset, be sure to leave in time to catch the last shuttle back to the visitor’s center.
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