The Grand Canyon National Park is a spectacular place, in the state of Arizona, that should not be missing from your list of essential destinations for a family vacation. Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park with children you will live unforgettable moments, very exciting adventures and unique experiences in a unique environment. You can do many family activities and excursions such as hiking trails, discover waterfalls and hidden caves, rafting, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding or boating, visit typical western towns and ranches, or even Indian towns.
The Grand Canyon of the Colorado is located for the most part within the Grand Canyon National Park but extends even further. It is known as the Grand Canyon of the Colorado not because it is in Colorado (it is in Arizona) but because it was created by the flow of the Colorado River that undermined the land for millions of years to give rise to the Canyon.
Grand Canyon with children
Considered one of the great Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is a spectacle of nature that surprises with its colors and immensity. Within the Grand Canyon National Park you will find many viewpoints from which you will have the opportunity to contemplate such beauty.
As it is a very large area (446 km) and the distances within the park are enormous, hours by car, we recommend you visit the South Rim , or South Rim, the most touristic, accessible and family-friendly part of the park, although you can also visit the West Rim and the North Rim. There are many activities that can be done in the Grand Canyon National Park with children, these are our proposals.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Your tour of the Grand Canyon's South Rim begins at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center , where you can watch a 22-minute park movie, rent bikes, visit a small shop or cafe... From the Visitor Center There are also free buses that will take you to other parts of the park.
Grand Canyon Lookouts
Some of the best viewpoints on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are those along Hermit Road, such as Hopi Point , Mohave Point or Powell Point . Other important viewpoints are the ones found on the Desert View Drive (where the Watchtower is). And then there are the Yavapai Point and Mather Point overlooks, with views of the Colorado River.
Desert View Drive
Desert View Drive is a stretch of road that has 6 viewpoints and the “Desert View Watchtower ”, a stone structure that measures 21 meters and has 85 steps that will allow you to climb to the top to enjoy some views incredible 360°. The viewpoints that we find on this road are Navajo Point, Lipan Point, Yaki Point, Moran Point, Grandview Point and Desert View Point.
Hiking trails with children
The Grand Canyon can be a very dangerous place if we discover it on our own, so it is important to always follow the directions and recommendations of the park. Some hiking trails that can be done safely with children on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are the South Kaibab Trail from the visitor center, Shoshone Point Trail , Bright Angel Trail (from the visitor center) and also you can follow the trail from the Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5 Mile Resthouse .
Grand Canyon Museums
Within the Grand Canyon National Park you can find several interesting museums to visit with children, such as the Yavapai Geology Museum located at Yavapai Point and which also has an observatory, Tusayan Ruin and Museum with some ruins of an Indian town and a museum, or the Verkamp Visitor Center where you can see exhibits on the history of Grand Canyon Village. All of these are located on the South Rim of the park.
Sky walk lookout
The Skywalk is a glass platform suspended more than 1,300 meters from the bottom of the Canyon. It is on the West Rim of the Grand Canyon , away from the South Rim and outside the park, but if you are daring it is also worth going to walk on its glass walkways and enjoy magnificent views of the Grand Canyon West. The Skywalk belongs to the Hualapai Tribe and is located within their Indian Reservation.
Rafting or descent down the river
If you come to know the Skywalk, you can take advantage of being on the West Rim to practice rafting, an exciting way to experience the Grand Canyon. The rough waters of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon West area allow you to descend the rapids of the river by rafting on inflatable boats. whitewater rafting trips is a very fun excursion to do as a family with older children (over 8 years old).