The Grand Canyon, Arizona
Markus smiling on the Rim Trail off the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Earlier this year, we took a two-week road trip with Markus and we have slowly been sharing our trip with you. So far we’ve covered a few parts of the road trip already - from Vancouver to California and stopping by Joshua Tree National Park on the way to Las Vegas. From Las Vegas, we made our way to Arizona where, on our way to Utah, we made a stop to one of the most famous national parks in the world: The Grand Canyon.
Markus looking at the grandness of the Grand Canyon and realizing how small he is
About the Grand Canyon
Type: National Park
Size: Medium (well, the actual Grand Canyon is obviously extremely large, but where we were allowed to go with dogs is limited)
Traffic: Moderate to Heavy
Route Type: Paved Paths & Car
There's a reason the Grand Canyon is as famous as it is. We’ve seen the pictures and heard of how grand it is, but to experience its immensity in person is something else. Since we were in the middle of our road trip and cutting through Arizona, we had Markus with us. We had some reservations about what we were able to see and do at the park with Markus, but I can say that although there are plenty of restrictions for dogs, I didn’t feel our experience of the Grand Canyon was any less.
With that, I wanted to share a few things about visiting the Grand Canyon with a dog.
To visit the North Rim or the South Rim?
Taken along the rim trail down from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
The first thing I’ll say is that if you're visiting the Grand Canyon with your dog, you're most likely going to be driving yourself. Dogs aren’t allowed onto busses or buildings, so you’ll have to find your own transportation. Assuming you have your ride figured out, the next thing is to plan your trip.
When you look at the Grand Canyon on a map, you’ll quickly realize that because of how big the Grand Canyon is, most people on a limited schedule have to decide whether they're doing the North or the South Rim. To do both on the same day isn’t impossible depending on where and what time you’re starting, but that’s a very long day so most people just end up choosing one.
The two rims are fundamentally quite different, so it really depends what you're hoping to see. With a dog, though, your choices are even more limited.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon boasts the highest viewpoint along the two rims. If that's what you're looking for, the South Rim won't be able to offer you the same thing. It's been said that the North Rim is the more "relaxing" of the two because it has a lot more trees for shading and its elevation also makes it cooler. The downside of the North Rim is that there are fewer viewpoints and people say that the view is not as dramatic.
In contrast, the South Rim is the one for the views and it’s generally the one that day tours will go. The South Rim comes with a lot more facilities and parking areas for visitors, which you’ll nee if you're bringing your dog (more on this below). It also has more viewpoints along the way that are accessible from the road as smaller parking lots or pullouts. If this is your first visit to the Grand Canyon or you're limited on time, I'd recommend going to the South Rim first just to get the most out of the day.
The Dog Rules
The rules of visiting the Grand Canyon with a dog are laid out pretty well and because of these rules, it makes a bit more sense to visit the South Rim if you’re bringing a dog. The rules for dogs are as follows:
Dogs must remain on a leash at all times.
Dogs are not permitted below the rim, in park lodging (like hotel rooms) or on park busses.
Dogs are not allowed on any trails or in any buildings.
Dogs must stay within the area by the paved trails along the rim.
What is there to do at the Grand Canyon for Dogs?
Photo of Markus taken at the lookout by Mather Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
All of the rules pretty much ensures that dogs are only allowed in the main visitor areas. Since there are more of these paved areas along the South Rim in the form of visitor centres or pullout areas, you’ll be able to do more with your dog.
If you (like us) are only planning to be there for the day and you’re okay with just hitting up the touristy spots, you will be able to do most of the same things with your dog except for going into buildings.
We started at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (that’s what we put into Google Maps) and this is the main visitor’s area with plenty of parking. From here, you're free to walk around the center with your dog as long as it's paved and you're not going indoors. From here, you can make your way down to the Rim Trail where you’ll be able to take in the Grand Canyon. From this trail, there are a few dedicated viewpoints such as Mather Point, which tends to get busy with tourists.
Along the trail, there are plenty of quiet areas for you to sit and enjoy the view on your own just off of the path. These areas might require a little bit of care getting down to because they're a few steps off of the paved path, but once you get past some bushes, it'll be just you, your dog and the Grand Canyon.
A few notes to add: As I’m sure you’re aware, the Grand Canyon gets pretty hot depending on the time of year you go. The Grand Canyon and its facilities weren't made with dogs in mind, so there aren't going to be things like fountains or bowls for your dog. Please plan carefully so you don't have to leave your dog in the car and bring treats and water and something to drink out of with you!
What we liked
It's the Grand Canyon!
Despite the rules in place for visiting dogs, you don't lose much in your experience of the park.
Outside of the main visitor areas, there are quieter areas a few steps off of the paved path where you can sit and enjoy nature.
Along the South Rim, there are many viewpoints where you can stop at a small parking lot or a pullout to soak in even more Grand Canyon.
What we didn't like
Nothing
Our Recommendation For Reactive Dogs
At the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, you’re more likely to come across people than dogs. I don’t recall coming across many (if any) dogs during our time there. The reason is that a lot of the visitors travel here through tour busses and dogs aren’t allowed on them. There’s also not that much to do with a dog here, but it was enough for us to soak it all in. As long as your dog isn’t reactive to people, you’ll likely be fine here.
Disclaimer
Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.
Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.
