Day 3 — Arrival (south entrance)
Coming up from Williams on AZ‑64 through Tusayan.
- Mather Point near the visitor center — busy, but the classic first look.
- Walk a stretch of the Rim Trail toward the village.
- Sunset at Hopi Point — Hermit Road is shuttle-only most of the year.
Day 4 — Hike
- South Kaibab to Ooh Aah Point — ~3 km round trip, ~200 m descent. Coming up is the hard part. Start early, carry water, no hiking to the river and back in one day.
- Afternoon: more Rim Trail, shuttle back. Or rest — it’s still early in the trip.
Day 5 — Desert View Drive (leave via east entrance)
The scenic road along the rim runs ~40 km east toward Cameron. Stops in order:
- Grandview Point
- Lipan Point — widest view, the river is visible.
- Desert View Watchtower — Mary Colter’s 1932 tower, Hopi murals inside. Good last look before dropping down to Cameron.
Notes
- Elevation ~2,100 m; drink a lot, nights are cold in September.
- Arizona doesn’t observe DST (Navajo Nation does) — watch the clock for tour and dinner bookings.
- Lodging inside the park opens ~13 months ahead and fills fast. Tusayan just outside the gate is the fallback.