Grand Canyon South Rim Tour

Let’s begin our tour of the Grand Canyon South Rim. Not every building or point of interest is included as you can imagine. This is not meant as a colorful photo display as it was not spring yet, so no flowers and greenery. I was here from April 15-17th 2008, and one of those days was spent hiking to the Colorado River and back via South Kaibab trail to the Bright Angel trail. That’s another tour.

All pictures below, except otherwise noted, were taken with the Sony A700 and Sigma 10-20mm or Sony 18-250mm lens. Basically, for indoor shots I used theSigma 10-20mm , outdoors the Sony 18-250mm. All pictures were taken hand-held.

All photos are 800 pixels wide or smaller. No links to larger images except the scanned map, which is the second image down, that one is 1200 wide so you can read what’s on it.

This page: Mather Point, Visitors center, Hopi House and El Tovar. Page Two: Bright Angel lodge, Lookout studio and Kolb studio.

Here’s the South entrance sign, with the ticket booths about 400 yards/meters farther North. There’s a parking lot here so you can stop and take pictures of your family members as they stand behind the sign, plus there’s a camera stand if you want to get yourself in the picture.

This is a scan of a map they give you when you enter the park, click on it for a larger version so you can orientate yourself as I describe places and names. This is the only link for larger pictures on the tour.

This is the famous Mather Point, which is normally loaded with tourists, because it’s the first place of interest as you enter the park. The sign gives you a little information about Mather Point. You can see the stairway off to the left of the sign leading down to the viewing area.

The parking lot is big, and you can park along the road, but during the summer season I’d say you might be out of luck during certain times. There was plenty of parking spaces for my stay in April. You can see from the picture it’s still possible to park right along the edge.

Mather point at close to sunset, usually heavy crowds.

In the morning, it’s the complete opposite. This morning it was very hazy, which I guess kept away the throngs of people.

Forget about this kind of solitude during the summer tourist season.

A morning picture of a hazy Grand Canyon.

This is the Visitors center across the street from Mather Point. Since there is no parking at the center, you’ll have to lug your big fat behind about a quarter mile by foot. There is also a bookstore in back of me in this shot.

Here is an interior shot of the Visitors center. I think they overbuilt the place. There’re some park rangers in the far corner to answer any questions you might have.

This little Western Bluebird was flitting around the area, and he was a loooong way off, that’s why it’s not very sharp.

I think this is the best part of the Visitors center, the old-type signs.

A close-up of one.

The bookstore has an immense amount of literature about the Grand Canyon and vicinity.

This is a nice looking display of Native Artifacts, and if you like, you can purchase the rug behind it for $225.

Now we travel a little ways to the Yavapai observation station This is a nice place to view the Canyon also. In fact, I think it’s a better viewing point and less crowded than Mather Point. There is a nice stone building with exhibits and interpretive displays inside.

Here’s the viewing area, somewhat smaller than Mather, but you can get close to the edge along the rocks to the west if you like.

This is the inside of the nice stone building with the displays etc.

Just to the west of the viewing area is this rock slab ledge, which I told you about two pictures up.

A nice door shot in back of the Yavapai observation station. I like the design.

Now we’re at the famous Hopi House. The following was taken from a local brochure: Hopi House was designed by renowned architect Mary E. J. Colter, one of the first American architects to appreciate the utility and beauty of Native American design. The design of the structure was meant to reflect that of a typical adobe pueblo used by the Hopi Indians of old Oraibi. Recently renovated, the Hopi House, a National Historic Landmark, has been offering authentic Native American arts and crafts to visitors for purchase since Fred Harvey opened its doors in 1904.

When you visit Hopi House, you will find a large selection of native arts and crafts available for purchase, such as kachina dolls, jewelry, handcrafted Navajo rugs, and authentic pueblo pottery. The second-floor gallery, which reopened to the public in 1995, offers a variety of museum-quality items. Hopi House is located on the Canyon rim and open year-round. Hours vary seasonally.

The main entrance is to the right, by the tree. The doors are very narrow and short, obviously not meant for modern Americans.

Here is some pretty neat looking pottery. Before you enter, you better have a fistful of cash, as this is not a place for tightwads. The large vase in the middle right is $550.

Neat little vignettes. Everything is for sale.

All kinds of neat trinkets.

More beautiful pottery.

Learn how to weave a coil basket in seven easy steps. The Bowl in the lower left/middle is $65.

An overview of the main room, notice the ceiling material.

Artsy shot and end of the Hopi House tour.

The famous El Tovar hotel. See picture from almost a hundred years ago below.

Before photo, shot sometime after opening, early 1900s. The following is from a local brochure: El Tovar Hotel, the premier lodging facility at the Grand Canyon, opened its doors in 1905 and was most recently renovated in 2005. In the past, the Hotel has hosted such luminaries as Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Western author Zane Grey, and many others. Photo from NPS.

A different view.

This is the room off the front porch and entryway. In this view the entry doors are just out of view to the left. The newsstand is in the room ahead. As usual, everything is for sale, even the pictures on the walls! This is a very dark and spooky Lodge, or should we say “woodsy.” I shot at ISO 3200, (but should’ve used ISO 6400) and did some massive shadow adjustments. A tough place to photograph.

If you were entering, the view of this fireplace is off to the right and to the back of the room. The gift shop is on the right, and so is the canyon rim outside.

This is guest registration, desk to the left. This is the next room in and about as far as they’ll let you go unless you want dinner and/or booze. The dining room is to the right, and mezzanine stairway straight ahead.

Grand Canyon South Rim Tour

The next three photos were taken close to the Bright Angel Lodge and Hopi House along the rim trail.

There’re plenty of paths and walkways at this point on the trail.

The trees were just starting to bud this week, the third week in April.

Here we have the Thunderbird Lodge. It’s located very close to the rim, and between the Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar Hotel.

Bright Angel lodge at night. If you like woodsy dark decor, you’ll love this place. Very similar to the El Tovar, but not as regal.

This is a Bright Angel rim cabin for rent, about 50ft to the canyon edge and very close to the Lookout Studio.

The sign says “Grand Canyon Vista.” I’m not sure you really need a sign for that, especially right here.

Spotting scopes for looking at stuff, I’m not sure what though. I guess you could see hikers down by Indian Garden, and Plateau Point.

This scene is by the Bright Angel ice cream fountain (closed during my visit) and gift shop area. This is the busiest place along the rim.

Here we have a startling picture. Look carefully and you’ll see possibly four UFOs over the canyon. Look at the people in the background getting ready to run, except for the jerk in the foreground with the camera, who is missing the shot of a lifetime by taking a picture of a building.

Next, we have Lookout Studio. The following is from a local brochure: Lookout Studio was designed in 1914 by Mary E. J. Colter as a gift shop and lookout point for the Fred Harvey Company.
Perched on the South Rim, it blends exceptionally well with its natural setting. Lookout Studio sells photography and books related to the Grand Canyon, rock and fossil specimens, traditional souvenirs, books and photographic prints. Two lookout points are open in good weather. It is located a short walk west of historic Bright Angel Lodge. Open year-round and hours vary seasonally.

Here’s a detail of the main entrance.

The studio is really located on the edge. It’s pretty stark inside, like it might have been in 1914.

The fireplace looks like it could still be in use. As usual, everything is for sale, even the items on the fireplace mantel and the picture.

This is modern Red Earth Pottery from Colorado.

There’s a stairway that leads to a balcony, like you might need a better view?

This is a lower part of Lookout Studio, maybe 20ft below the building. I spoke of Indian Garden and Plateau Point earlier. The green area 3000ft below and in the center is Indian Garden. The trail that continues is Plateau Point, and is 1.5 miles from Indian Garden. The hike to the end of Plateau Point and back would be about 12 miles from where I’m standing.

A different view here. This shot was taken in the same spot as the picture below.

This is a view of the rear of Lookout Studio. Note explorer John Wesley Powell to the right. The balcony is visible above the rear doors.

This shot looks along the east side of the Studio.

Now we’re off to the Kolb Studio. The following is from a local brochure: Once the home of the Kolb brothers, who were early photographers at Grand Canyon, the Kolb Studio features changing art exhibits displayed in the auditorium throughout the year.
Built by brothers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb from 1904 to 1926, Kolb Studio is included in the National Register of Historic Places and operated by Grand Canyon Association. The bookstore and auditorium are open to the public. The studio is located in the Village Historic District, at the Bright Angel trailhead. Open year-round and hours vary seasonally.