From the east end of Williams, Hwy-64 continues 60 miles due north to one of the wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Two hundred miles long, a mile deep, and anywhere from 5 to 15 miles across, the Grand Canyon defies description, and if you’re anywhere nearby you owe it to yourself to stop for a look. You could spend a lifetime here and still not get to know it all, but even if you have only half a day be sure to leave the rim and hike down into the canyon to get a real sense of its awesome scale.
Most of what you need to know to enjoy a visit is contained in the brochure you’re given at the entrance, where you pay the $20 per-car fee, or can be found at the very good visitors center (daily; 928/638-7888).
To make advance reservations for accommodations, a good idea at any time of year but essential in the peak summer months, phone the park concessionaire, Xanterra (303/297-2757 in advance, 928/638-2631 for same-day booking). The most characterful and best-value place to stay is the Bright Angel Lodge, which overlooks the canyon; there are also many other nearby motels, and the seriously swanky El Tovar Hotel, where rooms cost around $200 a night.
If all the in-park accommodations are full, more rooms are available outside the park’s southern boundary at Tusayan, where the park service plans to concentrate all future development at the Grand Canyon, if and when cars are finally banned and replaced by the long-proposed light rail.
