Has anyone seen it from both angles? Which did you prefer and why? (Research for some hypothetical future trip.)
South Rim:More developed, more crowds, lots of lodging/camping choices, easy access to views along Rim Drives, classic El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Trailhead.
North Rim:1000 ft higher elevation(cooler), far fewer people,Grand Canyon Lodge has dining room with amazing view. Not quite as many hiking opportunities
Check out www.nps.gov for all the details. First-timers probably would get more out of a trip to the South Rim, but do yourself a favor when you plan your trip and try to do both. The drive from one rim to the other is an adventure in itself if you’ve never been to that area of the southwest.
If I ever go to the Grand Canyon (one of the items still on my life’s to-do list) I think I would prefer the south side since the sun would be to your back on that side. Might be more difficult to take good pictures on the north side with the sun shining towards you.
What yawndave said. I like both and the drive between the two is very interesting & scenic. The Vermillion cliffs are very impressive and the painted desert is starkly beautiful. (The drive is freakin’ huge, though, leave early the day of the drive).
The crowds (in high season) on the South side are large and bit off-putting for me. The best way (and sometimes only way) to see anything is to park your car & take the shuttle bus and/or hike.
The south side also has Sedona & Flagstaff as attractions. Sedona is good for a couple of days visit if you wish so it’s an option if the Canyon starts to wane in your interest. (Drive the small highway through Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff to Sedona, don’t take the interstate).
Here’s some pics from our trip this summer:
North Rim Vista (late in the day, raw image - a bit dark)
North Rim
South Rim Vista
Sedona Rock formations
More Sedona Rocks (There’s also a very active artists’ community here)
Vermillion cliffs (The picture doesn’t convey the sheer size very well.)
…also…
NPS site for the GC. Check it out for the map links.
The family and I love the Arizona desert so we’ll be going back. We won’t be making the drive to the North Side again, though unless we overnight there. It’s just too far to drive up & back and still have adequate sight-seeing time.
I did both about two and a half months ago.
I found the North Rim to be visually more pleasing and the fact that it was higher in elevation was much better on the body (it got over 120 at Hoover Dam a few days latter). The foresty areas of the North Rim are also charming.
Though I have to say the South Rim was much more fun. Lots more fun stuff to see and visit (the North Rim really only seems to have the lodge area). The one downside seemed to be more tourists.
I took 3 rolls of film on the south side and only a third of a roll on the north side.
I would recommend trying to do both sides. I came down from Utah, thus it was easier to do the North Side first, and stayed overnight in Page (which I admit was somewhat out of the way) before trekking to the south side.
I did both about two and a half months ago.
I found the North Rim to be visually more pleasing and the fact that it was higher in elevation was much better on the body (it got over 120 at Hoover Dam a few days latter). The foresty areas of the North Rim are also charming.
Though I have to say the South Rim was much more fun. Lots more fun stuff to see and visit (the North Rim really only seems to have the lodge area). The one downside seemed to be more tourists.
I took 3 rolls of film on the south side and only a third of a roll on the north side.
I would recommend trying to do both sides. I came down from Utah, thus it was easier to do the North Side first, and stayed overnight in Page (which I admit was somewhat out of the way) before trekking to the south side.
I’ve been to both and, IMO, the views from either side are equally spectacular. If you go to only one side, I think the big deciding factor should be whether you would prefer remote and relaxed (north rim) or crowded and built up, but a lot available to do (south rim).
What time of the year are you thinking of going? Keep in mind that while the south rim is open year round, the north rim facilities (and entrance road, for that matter) is closed due to snow from probably about mid October to mid May.
If you go to the north rim, you should definitely also pay southern Utah a visit. Zion NP in particular is fairly close by and highly recommended.