3-Hour Grand Canyon Safari from Tusayan: Wildlife & Rim Views

See the Canyon rim and its wildlife without waiting in the entrance line

A 3-hour guided safari tour departing from Tusayan that uses a back-road forest permit to bypass the south entrance gate, then stops at five rim viewpoints and the Bright Angel Trailhead for two walking segments totaling about 90 minutes. The tour includes a local guide, bottled water, and pickup and drop-off in central Tusayan. Children from age 1 are welcome, and the vehicle has forward-facing bucket seats and panoramic windows.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Grand Canyon South RimEntry included3h
2. Bright Angel TrailEntry included45m

Grand Canyon Back-Road Safari Tour

• Check in at Tusayan at 9:15 am
• Board custom safari vehicle
• Drive 4x4 scenic back-road route
• View elk, deer, and rare birds
• Stop at Yavapai Point viewpoint
• Visit El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House
• Explore Bright Angel Lodge area
• Walk along Grand Canyon rim with guide
• See Kolb Studio and Bright Angel Trailhead
• Learn about Grand Canyon history and geology
• Return to Tusayan for drop-off

The experience

The tour leaves Tusayan at 9:30 am in a custom safari vehicle with large windows and forward-facing seats. Instead of joining the queue at the south entrance gate, you take a 30-minute back-road route through the forest (the operator has held permits for this route since 1993), and enter the park without the delay. That detour also puts you in position to spot elk, deer, turkey and hawks in their natural surroundings before you reach the rim itself.

Once at the rim, the guide leads two walking segments that add up to about 90 minutes of strolling along the edge. You stop at Yavapai Point, El Tovar Hotel, Lookout Studio Viewpoint and Kolb Studio, where the guide explains the geology, the trails descending into the canyon, the history of the Kolb brothers who built their studio cantilevered over the drop, and what you're looking at: the Colorado River, Phantom Ranch, the monuments carved into the stone. At Bright Angel Trailhead you watch hikers and mules beginning their descent. The tour wraps at Hopi House and Bright Angel Lodge, where the guide discusses the historic buildings and the canyon's human history.

Bottled water is included. Check-in is at 9:15 am at the central Tusayan pickup location. The whole experience runs three hours from departure to drop-off.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at a central Tusayan location.
• bottled water.
• local guide in English.
• back-road forest permit access that bypasses the south entrance gate line.
• two guided walking segments along the rim.

Information

Lasts 3h, from US$ 130 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 14 Mar 20271 departing soon ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 to 95 years) · Child (1 to 15 years)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this shared tour if you want a guided morning excursion with two walking segments along the rim: the 9:30 am start and three-hour duration fit before other activities, while the back-road route gets you viewing wildlife and viewpoints without the south entrance gate traffic.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 15 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much walking is involved in this Grand Canyon tour?

The tour includes two guided walking segments along the rim totaling about 90 minutes, covering roughly three-quarters of a mile. The rest of the time you're in the vehicle or standing at viewpoints.

What wildlife might I see on the back-road route to the canyon?

Elk, deer, turkey and hawks are commonly spotted in their natural environment during the 30-minute back-road drive through the forest before you reach the rim.

Why does this tour use a back road instead of the main south entrance gate?

The operator holds exclusive forest permits dating back to 1993 that allow a 30-minute back-road route around the entrance gate, which avoids the traffic line and gets you into the park faster while also passing through wildlife habitat.

What viewpoints and historic sites does the tour visit?

The tour stops at Yavapai Point, El Tovar Hotel, Lookout Studio Viewpoint, Kolb Studio, Bright Angel Trailhead, Hopi House and Bright Angel Lodge, with the guide discussing geology, history and the views of the Colorado River and canyon monuments at each stop.