Trail of Time

Top choice in Grand Canyon National Park South Rim


This outdoor interpretative display traces the history of the canyon's formation – each meter equals one million years of geologic history, for a total of about 2.1 billion years in just over a mile. Begin with the canyon's oldest rocks and walk forward in time from Verkamp's east to the Yavapai Geology Museum, or do the reverse. Rock samples from within the canyon line the trail, and specially positioned metal cylinders allow you to view these rocks on the far canyon wall.

Transportation

  • bus: Village

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Grand Canyon National Park South Rim attractions

1. Yavapai Point and Geology Museum

0.01 MILES

Views don't get much better than those unfolding behind the plate-glass windows of this little stone building, but if weather allows be sure to enjoy the…

2. Mather Point

0.61 MILES

Mather Point is the busiest and most popular overlook at the Grand Canyon, due in large part to its close proximity to the visitor center complex and main…

3. Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery

0.9 MILES

More than 390 people are buried at the Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery; the lives of many of them, including the Kolb brothers, John Verkamp, Ralph Cameron…

4. Verkamp’s Visitor Center

1.15 MILES

The arrival of the railroad in 1901 opened up the canyon to more and more tourists, and in 1905 John G Verkamp opened the Mission-style Verkamp’s Curios…

5. Hopi House

1.2 MILES

A beautiful Mary Colter–designed stone building, Hopi House has been offering high-quality American Indian jewelry, basketwork, pottery and other crafts…

6. Grand Canyon Train Depot

1.23 MILES

This train depot, designed by Francis Wilson and completed in 1910, was built nine years after the first train arrived in the Village from Williams. A…

7. El Tovar

1.24 MILES

Built in 1905 as a railroad hotel, El Tovar was designed by Charles Whittlesey as a blend of Swiss chalet and the more rustic style that would come to…

8. Grand Canyon Village Historic District

1.26 MILES

The South Rim's historic district is comprised of several early-20th-century national historic landmarks clustered along and around the rim between Hermit…

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