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Grand Canyon National ParkWinter at Mather Point on South Rim
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Grand Canyon National Park
Visitor and Information Centers
Jump to:       Desert View         North Rim
 

The South Rim and Desert View

 
cell phone audio tour logo with brown phone shown.

Your phone provides a fun way to learn more about the Park. Listen to park rangers give 2 minute audio tours at various points of interest on the South Rim.
(From Hermit Road to Yaki Point) Learn more...

 
Canyon View Information Plaza overview.
Canyon View Information Plaza

South Rim Visitor Center
Visit the park's main visitor center and bookstore at Canyon View Information Plaza — only accessible by free shuttle bus, a one-mile walk or bicycle ride from Market Plaza on the Greenway Trail, or a short walk from Mather Point. During the winter months, the Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The bookstore is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Outdoor exhibits may be viewed anytime.

 


 
Verkamps Visitor Center Building
Verkamp's Visitor Center

Stop by Verkamp's Visitor Center,
a short walk east of the El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House, the canyon's newest visitor contact station in one of its oldest buildings. At the information desk, National Park Service rangers and Grand Canyon Association staff will answer any questions you may have. From the Verkamp's Visitor Center, the Rim Trail leads to other businesses and viewpoints along the rim. Open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 
Pioneer history exhibits
Pioneer History Exhibits

The Verkamp's home and business was constructed in 1906, and it was open as a gift shop (that featured Grand Canyon souvenirs and Native American arts and crafts) through September 17, 2008.

Verkamp's re-opened as a visitor center on November 26, 2008. The National Park Service now owns the building and it hosts a bookstore and exhibits about the pioneer history of Grand Canyon Village. Several ranger-conducted activities start here.


 
yavapi observation station in 1927 view
Yavapai Observation Station

Yavapai Observation Station 
How old is the canyon? How did it form? The new exhibits at Yavapai Observation Station answer these and other geology questions. Displays include three-dimensional models, powerful photographs, and exhibits which allow park visitors to see and understand the complicated geologic story of the area. The historic building, located one mile (1.6 km) east of Market Plaza, features expansive canyon views. The bookstore offers a variety of materials about the area. Open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Several ranger programs begin here.


 
view of kolb studio
Kolb Studio on the Rim
Kolb Studio
Once the home and business of the Kolb brothers, pioneering photographers at Grand Canyon, this building (1905) has been restored. Visit the free art exhibits in the auditorium, and shop in the bookstore. Kolb Studio is located in the Village Historic District at the Bright Angel trailhead. Open daily 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


Download the 
Spring 2009 South Rim Village Map
(820kb PDF File)
Shows lodges, shops, shuttle bus routes, parking and points of interest.


 
Desert View Information Center.
Desert View Bookstore

Desert View Information Center 

Desert View is located 25 miles/ 41 km east of Grand Canyon Village. The Desert View Information Center and Bookstore, located at Desert View Point near the park's east entrance, offers a Passport Stamp cancellation station, an excellent selection of publications, and memorabilia. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

 
Tusayan Museum at Desert View
Tusayan Museum

Tusayan Museum 
A visit to Tusayan Ruin and Museum provides a look into the lives of a thriving community as illustrated by its pottery, seashell bracelets, corncobs, and arrowheads. See 2,000–4,000 year old original split-twig figurines. Art from today's tribes provides a glimpse into their rich cultures. The museum, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is located 3 miles (5 km) west of Desert View. Free admission.

 
Ruin of Tusayan Pueblo
Tusayan Ruin

A visit to Tusayan Museum will provide a glimpse of Pueblo Indian life at Grand Canyon some 800 years ago, admission is free. A self-guiding trail leads through the adjacent 800-year-old Tusayan Ruin. Ranger-led ruin tours are offered daily. Educational materials about the park and region are sold in the non-profit bookstore.

Download the Desert View Map (235kb PDF File)

 

The North Rim

 
The entrance to the North Rim Visitor Center and bookstore.
The North Rim Visitor Center

The North Rim Visitor Center
Located adjacent to the parking lot on Bright Angel Peninsula, by the Grand Canyon Lodge. The North Rim Visitor Center has park and regional information, maps, brochures, exhibits, and a bookstore. Open mid-May to mid-October, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Interpretive programs are offered during the season. Public restrooms are located in back of the building.

Download the North Rim Map (289kb PDF File)

 
Relief map and geological exhibit at the North Rim Visitor Center.
Relief map & geology exhibit.

The Visitor Center is a great place to start your adventure on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Speak to a ranger who will be happy to help with questions you may have about the area. The Visitor Center also features interpretive exhibits and a bookstore.

 
Bookstore and information desk.
Information desk & bookstore
The Grand Canyon Association, a non-profit park partner since 1932, operates the bookstore, where your tax-free purchases help support ranger programs and research projects in Grand Canyon National Park.
FOSSIL FOOTPRINTS IN GRAND CANYON  

Did You Know?
No one has ever found a fossilized reptile skeleton or bone within the Grand Canyon. Fossil footprints were left by more than 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, but no teeth or bones!

Last Updated: March 05, 2009 at 21:58 EST