Cross-country travel 2009

Most Dramatic Rim View: Lipan Point (on Desert View Drive, South Rim). Above a sweeping curve in the river and with views far downstream to the west, Lipan Point is the most dramatic and easily accessible place from which to view the canyon. It's also a superb spot to watch the sunset. The Unkar Delta, one of the park's archaeologically richest areas, is visible directly below the overlook. (That said, all of the points overlooking the Colorado River along the rim offer dramatic views. These include Pima, Mohave, Hopi, Moran, Lipan, Desert View, and several unnamed pull-offs.)

Best Scenic Drive: Desert View Drive (South Rim). You'll see more of the canyon on this route than on either of the canyon's other two main drives (Cape Royal Road and Hermit Road). From the western overlooks, behold the monuments of the central canyon; the eastern overlooks have far-ranging views of the Marble Platform and the canyon's northeast end. Along the way, stop at 825-year-old Tusayan Pueblo, which was once occupied by the Ancestral Puebloans. The Watchtower, a historic edifice fashioned after towers built by the Ancestral Puebloans, is a perfect place to finish the drive.