South Rim Visitor Center

"Beautiful and unique sight to behold, it’s hard to see the magnificent and breathtaking depth that these canyons are, it was an easy walk from the visitor center to a great overlook. There is some informational content in the visitor center. There is no water up here. Outhouse was clean and heated"

"Great views from the visitor center. The rangers/park volunteers are super informative and positive. Absolutely one of my favorite National Parks I've had the pleasure to experience. I would 10/10 recommend visiting both the North and South Rims."

"5* for the kind gentleman at the park store and the park. 1* for the nasty lady working at the park store at 4 pm on 09/29/23. The gentleman was very kind and informative. The park is beautifully maintained. The lady working in the store was mean and bitter. I was looking at a shirt, waiting my turn to turn the display while another couple was looking at them. The mean park lady told me to just turn the display. I answered that I didn't want to barge in front of the couple. The couple and I were now uncomfortable. I walked away to look at the books. The mean lady followed and watched me in the store. When the display was free, I turned it to get my size. The mean lady walked over and turned it hard to the extent I had to quickly pull my hand away. Then her phone started ringing pretty loudly. The kind gentleman told her that her phone was ringing. She sarcastically said she was a mediator and that it was one of her clients and that if they called to schedule again, she'd make them wait until November. I don't know how she got that job at the park, but a nasty, bitter person like her would be fired from the firm from where I'm retired."

"Excellent location for this visitor's center! Inside there's the typical ranger's desk complete with maps and all the information you could need; a store; and some fascinating information regarding the geology and history of the park. Just outside there's a picnic table (having it labeled as a picnic area on the park maps is a little misleading) and some benches, and a boardwalk a short distance down to an amazing overlook. There's also 2 separate restroom buildings, so potty opportunities abound here! For what it's worth, we did just about everything the south rim has to offer (short of going into the canyon) in under 8 hours or so. Kids did the junior ranger program, we hit all the overlooks and did the Warner Point Trail, as well. Did the Rim Rock Trail from here to a little ways past Tomichi Point, but turned around as it was getting dark. Also drove down the East Portal Road and got as close to Crystal Dam as we could. Skipped the Uplands and Oak Flat Trails, but did stick around after dark for a pretty cool astronomy program near the campground."

"The main attraction is the views of the canyon from the trails just outside the visitors center. The parking lot tends to fill up, so we parked at a pull out that was about a half mile from the visitors center and walked along the rim trail to the center. You get many different glances at the gorge, and it is not as crowded as the area right around the visitors center."