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The Grand Canyon is nearly 300 miles in circumference, but most visitors gather in a few spots. Go off the beaten path, though, and you’ll beat the crowds without sacrificing the experience. Here, the best time to visit the Grand Canyon—and how to avoid the crowds when you do.
Brave the cold. Seeing the grandeur of the Grand Canyon often comes down to timing your trip right, says Cory Lawrence, president and CEO of [Off the Beaten Path] (http://www.offthebeatenpath.com/). Peak season is Memorial Day to Labor Day, but a late September to early November visit frees up even the ever-crowded South Rim, he notes. Consider bundling up for a winter trip, too. December through early February, daytime temperatures float in the 40s. “In spite of this—and really, because of this—there are wonderful opportunities to be had in the Grand Canyon,” he says. “Wearing crampons while hiking on the rim or in the canyon in snow is really something special.”
Choose the North Rim. Open only from late May through November, the North Rim—a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas—is the “quieter” rim, says Lawrence. It receives a tenth of the visitors as the South Rim.
Stretch your days. Park crowds start to gather around 9 a.m., so seek the sunrise. “Popping a thermos of fresh coffee and enjoying the majesty of this great landscape as it turns from dark browns, purples, and deep reds to oranges, tans, and yellows with the rising sun is something words can’t properly capture,” says Lawrence. Alternatively, stay out late as crowds dissipate around 7 p.m., says Marty Behr, the founder and chief development officer of National Parks Revealed. Sunset is just as dramatic.
Stay overnight. It’s something less than 25 percent the six million annual visitors to the park do, says Justin Wood, manager of the adventure travel program development and operation at REI Adventures. Book about a year out to snag a room at the only below-the-canyon-rim lodge, Phantom Ranch.
Go further. “So many travelers skip along the surface of a place, being amazed at the views that are just steps away from their vehicle,” says Lawrence. Consider hiking a mile or two below the rim, on a trail like the North Kaibab. “It’s a bigger day hike, but you’ll be rewarded with beautiful sights like roaring springs and a waterfall,” says Wood.
Raft. Even during high summer, rafting the Colorado River offers an epic (it's 227 miles long) experience. “This is further assured by the National Park Service who limits the embarkments allowed and the size of groups," says Lawrence.
Book a private tour. Guides have access to closed-to-the-public Hermit Road and trails down into the canyon, which means solitude in the peak of peak season, says Behr. Often, guides have immediate entry to the national park, too, a line that can sometimes be an hour long. “Most importantly,” he says, “our guides provide interpretation of the flora, fauna, geology and history of the canyon, bringing it to life for travelers.”
