Where is the Grand Canyon?

Grand Canyon is in the northwest corner of Arizona, close to the borders of Utah and Nevada. The Colorado River, which flows through the canyon, drains water from seven states, but the feature we know as Grand Canyon is entirely in Arizona. Most of the Grand Canyon lies within Grand Canyon National Park and is managed by the National Park Service.   Jump to a larger map.

The mile-deep Colorado River creates a barrier that splits the park into north and south Rims. In this illustration, the North Rim is shown in yellow and the South Rim is shown in blue.

Why is the park separated into 
South and North Rims?

A 277 mile long (446 km) canyon separates the park into South and North Rims. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is a mile-deep, (1.6 km) and creates a barrier that bisects the park. Even though the average distance across the canyon is only 10 miles/ 16 km, be aware that it is a five-hour drive of 215 miles/ 346 km between the park's South Rim Village and the North Rim Village.

Scenery, climate and vegetation are noticably different between north and south rims because of differences in elevation. It is almost like having two parks in one and it takes time, planning and effort to be able to visit both sides of the Canyon in one trip.

How Do I Get to the South Rim?

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open all year and is located on the "Arizona" side of the Canyon. The South Rim recieves 90% of the park's visitation. The South Rim has an airport and rail service and is close to Interstate 40 and to the transportation centers of Williams and Flagstaff, Arizona. A large city with a major airport, Phoenix, Arizona, is also on this side of the canyon. More...  You may download the Fall 2008 South Rim Guide here (1.71MB PDF File)

How Do I Get to the North Rim?

The North Rim of the park is more remote and is only open from mid-May through mid-October. The North Rim receives 10% of the park's visitation. The North Rim is located on the "Utah" side of the Grand Canyon and the entrance station is 30 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67. (The actual rim of the Grand Canyon with visitor services is an additional 14 miles south.) There is no airport or rail service to the park. (that means that the North Rim village may only be reached by road). More...  You may download the 2008 North Rim Guide here (1.80MB PDF File)