Grand Canyon Without the Crowds? Try These Spots
Grand Canyon visitors have more ways to escape the busiest South Rim viewpoints this summer, with the North Rim open again after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. The timing also coincides with the National Park Service’s 110th birthday on 25 August, when entrance fees will be waived for US citizens and residents. With millions visiting the canyon each year, choosing where to stop can make a big difference.
Grand Canyon Options for Summer 2026
- North Rim: Reopened on 15 May
- North Rim Campground: Open until 15 October
- North Rim lodging: No hotel accommodation inside the park in 2026
- Hermit Road Red Route: Nine South Rim overlooks; summer service runs through 11 September
- Red Route hours: First bus 8am; last bus one hour after sunset
- 25 August: Entrance fees waived for US citizens and residents
On the South Rim, the easiest way to get beyond the busiest viewpoints is the free Hermit Road shuttle. Private cars are banned from the road between March and November, while the Red Route serves nine overlooks on its way to Hermits Rest. Trailview Overlook, Hopi Point, Powell Point and Mohave Point all offer wide canyon views, and visitors can combine shuttle stops with sections of the Rim Trail.
The reopened North Rim gives visitors access to a quieter side of the canyon, including Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook and Angels Window. The North Kaibab Trail is also open for hikers, while the North Rim Campground has reopened for the season. The trade-off is fewer services: there is no overnight lodge accommodation inside the North Rim area in 2026.
The South Rim is still the simplest choice for a first visit, but it does not have to mean standing at the busiest viewpoints all day. The Hermit Road shuttle makes it easy to move between quieter stops, while the North Rim suits visitors who are happy to trade convenience for fewer people. With limited services and no lodge accommodation inside the park this year, it needs a little more planning.