10 Adventurous Things to Do in Grand Canyon National Park

While looking at the views from the rim of the Grand Can is truly awe-inspiring. And while there are plenty of easy things to do in Grand Canyon Village and along the canyon’s South Rim, if you’re up for an adventure and looking for something a little more exciting, Grand Canyon National Park has plenty of options to choose from!

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite activities in and around the canyon that are guaranteed to get your blood pumping and your heart thumping.

Let’s go for it!

For more Grand Canyon adventures:

➡️ 12 Awesome Things Not to Miss at The Grand Canyon’s South Rim
➡️ 8 Super Fun Things to Do in Grand Canyon Village

1. Stay Overnight at Phantom Ranch

Phantom Ranch is the only (non-camping) lodging inside the canyon itself and staying there is one of the most unique things to do in the Grand Canyon.  Accommodations aren’t fancy – there are hiker dorms and rustic cabins with bunk beds, set amongst trees. 

There’s a large central hall for dining, plus a small shop and post office.  Meals are family-style with shared tables. There are free ranger-led activities in the Grand Canyon including afternoon and evening talks and story-telling. 

To get there, you’ll either need to hike, take a river trip, or ride a mule. 

Phantom Ranch is extremely popular and beds are limited, so there is a lottery system to make a reservation – 15 months in advance.

of course staying in a cabin isn’t an adrenaline-pumping activity in and of itself. but when you consider that to get there, you either need to ride a mule or hike down 9.5 miles and then hike all the way back up – or continue to other rim! It’s like hiking a mountain in reverse, with the hardest part at the end when you’re most tired.

➡️ Read my Guide to Phantom Ranch Reservations for more information. 

2. Ride the River Rapids

If you’ve done the South Rim and are wondering what to do in the Grand Canyon now, then why not ride the river rapids through the canyon? 

There is no greater thrill than navigating multiple rapids and there is no greater way to really get a feel for the canyon as you see all of the layers up close.  You’ll also see parts of the canyon that can only be visited from the river, do hikes into side canyons, and camp on sandy beaches overnight. 

There are multi-day trips through the upper canyon and lower canyon, or both.  One-day trips are also available in the western canyon.  You can take a motorized raft (faster and smoother), a traditional whitewater raft, or even a wooden dory and traverse the river like the early western explorers did.  

➡️ Read my Guide to Grand Canyon River for more details.

One-Day White Water Rafting Grand Canyon Trip 

If you don’t have time for a multi-day trip, then can still experience the thrill of rafting through Grand Canyon. A one-day trip includes 40 miles on the river through the Western Canyon and a side trip to a beautiful travertine waterfall.   

➡️ BOOK A ONE-DAY GRAND CANYON WHITE-WATER RAFTING TRIP 

3. Take The Train

If you have just on day, the best way to travel to Grand Canyon National Park is the train!  Follow in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of travelers since 1901 and ride in a vintage rail car from William, through high desert, prairies and pine forests to Grand Canyon Depot.  

However, the train is more than just a mode of transportation – it’s also one of the most fun activities at the Grand Canyon. 

The day starts with the Cataract Creek Gang and the Marshal squaring off at the Williams Depot. There’s a good chance you’ll see those cowboys again on the train later as well!  There are also musicians roaming the train playing Western tunes, and your carriage attendant will share stories about the area with you. 

The trip takes 2 hours and 15 minutes each way. You get 3 hours and 45 minutes at the South Rim. 

➡️ BOOK A RETURN TRAIN TRIP FROM WILLIAM TO GRAND CANYON 

4. Take a Jeep tour

One of the more fun Grand Canyon activities for the whole family is to take a sightseeing tour in an open-air (in summer; closed sides in winter) Hummer.  The two-hour tour stops off at several viewpoints for photos and includes commentary from an experienced guide. 

➡️ BOOK A HUMMER GRAND CANYON SIGHTSEEING TOUR 

5. Soar Over the Canyon

Taking a scenic flight is probably on your Grand Canyon bucket list.  It’s hard to beat the views of the canyon from the air. 40-minute flights in a fixed-wing plane with extra-large windows leave from nearby Tusayan Airport.   

Fly over the eastern part of the Grand Canyon and see Horseshoe Bend and Zuni Point, before zooming over the Painted Desert, and returning via the North Rim and the Kaibab National Forest.  Along the way, you’ll learn about Grand Canyon’s natural history, geology and human history. 

There are maximum 9 passengers. 

➡️ BOOK A SCENIC FLIGHT OVER THE GRAND CANYON 

➡️ Read More: Best Airports Near Grand Canyon National Park

6. Take a Helicopter Flight 

The other way to fly over the Grand Canyon is in a helicopter. You can fly from Tusayan (just south of the national park) or from Las Vegas. 

Best helicopter tour of Grand Canyon from Tusayan 

Take a luxe helicopter with wraparound panoramic windows.  Fly over Kaibab National Forest and the largest ponderosa pines in the world before zooming over the eastern canyon and Colorado River.  You’ll also see the Painted Desert, Desert View Watchtower, Marble Canyon, and Point Imperial before returning through the dramatic Dragon Corridor, the widest and deepest section of the Grand Canyon. 

There are multiple departure times daily.  Maximum 7 travelers per flight. 

➡️ BOOK A 45-MINUTE GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER FLIGHT FROM TUSAYAN

Best helicopter tour Grand Canyon from Las Vegas

If you’re in Vegas and want to fly over Grand Canyon, then this is for you.  You’ll fly over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, the Black Mountains, Grapevine Mesa, and the Mojave Desert before seeing the Grand Wash Cliffs as you enter Grand Canyon West. You’ll see the Skywalk and the Colorado River as you fly below the rim of the West Canyon. 

➡️ BOOK A 75-MINUTE GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER FLIGHT FROM LAS VEGAS

7. Go Skydiving

If you’re an adventure lover/ adrenaline junkie, the this is a clear choice for one of the best things to do.  South Rim Grand Canyon has tandem sky dives available. 

The jump is not over the canyon itself, but you’ll have great views of the canyon as you jump, attached to an experienced skydiver, out of a small plane nearby, freefall for a few crazy seconds, then float slowly down, with ample time to soak in the Grand Canyon views. 

➡️ BOOK A GRAND CANYON SKY DIVE

8. Live Out Your Cowboy Fantasies

If you’ve had enough of the views and hikes and are looking for other things to do near Grand Canyon South Rim, then a ranch experience might be exactly what you need.  

This is one of the most fun things to do near the Grand Canyon.  Live like a cowboy – take a horseback ride through a Joshua Tree Forest or covered wagon ride; campout overnight or stay in a comfortable cabin; roast marshmallows, listen to Western songs and cowboy stories around a campfire; and see the resident herd of bison. 

You can even add a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. This is truly one of the most unique things to do around the Grand Canyon. 

➡️ BOOK A NIGHT AT THE HISTORIC GRAND CANYON WESTERN RANCH WITH OPTIONAL ADD ONS

9. Walk Out Over the Canyon’s Edge at Skywalk

One of the top things to do Grand Canyon West Rim is the Skywalk.  This is a walkway with a glass bottom that extends from the rim over the canyon, so you can look straight down to the canyon floor.   

Day tour from Las Vegas to Skywalk 

The West Rim is not easily accessible from the South Rim, so most people visit from Vegas.  An easy option is a one-day coach tour that stops at Hoover Dam for photos before heading to the West Rim and the Skywalk.  On the return trip, you go through a Joshua Tree forest.  

➡️ BOOK DAY TOUR FROM LAS VEGAS TO GRAND CANYON SKYWALK

10. See the Grand Canyon in IMAX

Ok, this one’s a bit of a cheat. This one’s for you if you have an adventurous spirit but don’t actually want take risks. you can live out your adventure from the comfort of a chair!

If you don’t want to actually brave the river rapids or hop in a plane, you can still experience the best of Grand Canyon National Park on a 6-story IMAX screen. 

In nearby Tusayan, there’s an IMAX theater showing “Grand Canyon: The Movie.” Fly over the canyon, swoop down into its depths, ride the river rapids, discover the canyon’s hidden secrets, and learn all about the its history.  

➡️ SKIP THE LINE WITH PRE-BOUGHT IMAX TICKETS

Travel Insurance for Grand Canyon 

In addition to answering “What is there to do at the Grand Canyon?”, you should also get travel insurance.  This is true whenever you travel, but especially when visiting national parks.

If you hike, you’ll want to make sure your insurance covers medical repatriation in case you get injured on a remote trail.  But even if your trip just includes more relaxing things to do at Grand Canyon National Park, travel insurance can cover trip cancelation, loss or theft of property, etc. 

➡️ A great insurance option is Travelex.  It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:

Enjoy Grand Canyon National Park! 

Additional Planning Resources for Grand Canyon National Park

⭐ Grand Canyon Guide
⭐ Grand Canyon South Rim Deluxe Itinerary
⭐ Grand Canyon North Rim Basic Itinerary
⭐ Planning A Trip to Grand Canyon National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ How Long to Stay in Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ White Water Rafting In The Grand Canyon
⭐ 15 Top Tips for Visiting Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ Best Grand Canyon Viewpoints
⭐ Guide To Making Reservations For Phantom Ranch
⭐ The Complete Guide To Hiking The Bright Angel Trail
⭐ How To Get To Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ The Best Airports Near The Grand Canyon
⭐ The Airport Nearest Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ The Best Time to Visit Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ Visiting Grand Canyon National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ Best Books about the Grand Canyon
⭐ Vacation Rentals In and Near Grand Canyon National Park
⭐ Vacation rentals in Flagstaff
⭐ Vacation rentals in Sedona
⭐ 12 Fun Facts About the Grand Canyon

What are your top Grand Canyon things to do?    I’d love to know.  Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).   

If you liked this article about the must do Grand Canyon activities, Pin It to your National Parks board! 

About the Author

James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.

He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.

Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

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