Very well put together with knowledgeable guides. The mules are easy going animals and I enjoyed my ride. The Canyon Vistas ride is a rim ride along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It doesn’t go down into the canyon, but runs along the East Rim Trail.The ride is about 4 miles total — around 2 hours riding on the mule. With the added transport / check in etc, it’s more like ~3 hours total.It includes multiple scenic stops where guides talk about geology, history, flora/fauna, and views.
A must when visiting the Grand Canyon. Lots of fun, even for new riders. I would highly recommend doing the outer Canyon ride before trying the long haul into the Canyon. Our guide Tex was really informative and helpful for new riders. The ride was very fun, the view was breathtaking, and the experience was unforgettable. John-John was my mule, and he was awesome. Friendly, well-mannered, and great for a first-time rider. I recommend this to anyone interested, and I would definitely do this again!
Decent experience that unfortunately got cut short due to approaching thunderstorms in the area. Was fun whilst it lasted though!Rating 4 stars due to the lack of information provided as to what was and wasn’t allowed on the ride itself. Everything (phones, sunglasses, etc) on your person must be strapped or on some sort of lanyard (they provide string). Water is provided and long pants must be worn. All of this was mentioned as we arrived to check in and had to rush as we would’ve missed the bus to the stables.Prices are OK but can run up if you’re a family. As others have mentioned, be careful which tour you book; day tours only go around the rim of the canyon and it is only the overnight one that actually goes into the canyon (as far as I’m aware).
I apologize for the one star. There was definitely some value and the Wranglers were kind and knowledgeable. The one star is to get people's attention. As mentioned by at least one other reviewer, going into the canyon such as the Havasupai Garden ride is not for the person who is has some physical decline in their old age, for example, and who has never or very rarely ridden. It's just physically and mentally a huge challenge for hours. It is not easier to ride a mule down and up than to walk. I m wrting this 2 days after my trip down to Havasupai garden and I still am having trouble walking. My thigh muscles are not coordinating with the rest of me. People are going to do what they're going to do. but, Try to understand, this was hours of pain and depending on which mule you get, a constant job of motivating and trying to control this huge animal, at times, cliff side.
Loved our Canyon Rim Ride! The team was fantastic. Please keep in mind, the Rim Ride is a leisurely ride to take in the sights and have the mule experience at the Grand Canyon. Our family really enjoyed it! Please keep in my also they are safety first as a priority. Really enjoyed the ride. Very special memory for the family. We went with our 11 and 9 yo son. Appreciate the team and the memories we made!
Historic 1906 barn that houses Grand Canyon’s sure‑footed mules and serves as the departure point for South Rim mule rides.
Built in 1906 by the Fred Harvey Company, the Mule Barn first served as a livery stable for horse‑drawn carriages serving El Tovar Hotel. When carriage tours ended in the 1920s, it was converted to house the mules that transport visitors, rangers, and supplies along Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails. Operated today by Xanterra Travel Collection, the barn remains a working facility; while interior access is restricted to staff and riders, the exterior corral offers an authentic glimpse of Grand Canyon’s living history.
By Car: South Entrance Rd → Village Loop Dr; limited curbside parking beside barn. By Shuttle Bus: Free Village (Blue) Route, Bright Angel Lodge stop; 2‑minute walk. By Train: Grand Canyon Railway Depot is a 5‑minute walk east of the barn.
Local advice to help you make the most of your visit.
13 months ahead; morning departures sell out first.
early‑morning braying can be loud.
No. For safety, visitors must stay behind the rail and avoid feeding or touching animals.
No. Only the standard Grand Canyon National Park entrance fee is required.
Hours may change. Please call ahead to confirm before you visit.
“This livery barn is the home of the Xanterra mules that carry visitors and supplies into the canyon.” — National Park Service“The mule barn and the nearby livery stable were two of the most important buildings in the original Grand Canyon Village.” — Historical Marker DatabaseGoogle Maps listing for Mule Barn: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HW1xBgWpuMiF4QSb9
Discover attractions, viewpoints, restaurants and experiences within a short distance.
Centered on Mule Barn · showing places within 1.9 mi
Establishment0.1 miVictor Hall provides basic, affordable housing for Xanterra employees working on the South Rim. The three‑story brick structure contains roughly 100 double…
Gas Station0.1 miParking Lot A serves as Grand Canyon Village's most dependable parking option, strategically positioned near Park Headquarters to offer visitors a peaceful…
Restaurant (food)0.1 miLocated on the ground floor of Bright Angel Lodge, Harvey House Café operates as a cafeteria‑style diner with counter ordering and table delivery.…
Restaurant (food)0.1 miArizona Steakhouse (formerly the “Arizona Room”) is Bright Angel Lodge’s showcase restaurant, designed to “tell the story of Arizona on a plate.”…
Restaurant (food)0.1 miOperated by Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, the stand opens before sunrise so hikers can fuel up and closes at 6 PM,…
Lodging0.1 miThe Bright Angel Lodge Shuttle Stop is a vital part of the Grand Canyon's shuttle system, providing easy access to various amenities…
Lodging0.1 miSteps from the Bright Angel Trailhead, it offers budget‑friendly rooms, historic log cabins, multiple dining venues, and unmatched canyon views—all within walking…
Park0.1 miSitting at ~7,000 ft (2,134 m) elevation, it provides numerous viewpoints along a 32-mile (51 km) rim drive, ranger programs, lodging, dining,…
Park0.1 miGrand Canyon stretches 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, and over 6,000 ft (1,829 m) deep.…
Hotel0.1 miFamily‑friendly rooms, some with partial canyon views, make it one of the most convenient in‑park stays.
Lodging0.1 miStaying with Grand Canyon Lodges lets guests wake up steps from the South Rim, enjoy exclusive dining venues, and access park shuttles…
Lodging0.2 miBuckey’s Cabin (Buckey O’Neill Cabin) Quick Facts Type Historic Cabin – Lodging (part of Bright Angel Lodge) Location South Rim, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA…
Parking0.2 miThe lot is free, open 24 hours a day, and often has spaces available when larger Lots A & B are full.…
Parking0.2 miParking Lot D sits beside the Backcountry Information Center (BIC) on the South Rim. It is the park’s go-to overflow lot, with…
Hotel0.2 miKachina Lodge features 49 contemporary guest rooms arranged in a long, low profile that mirrors the canyon’s horizontal layers. All rooms include…
Establishment0.2 miAlthough the building is not open to park visitors, its exterior is easily viewed from Village Loop Drive. Colter Hall remains an active…
Viewpoint0.2 miPerched on the very edge of Grand Canyon’s South Rim, Lookout Studio functions as a hybrid: part observation station, part retail shop.…
Establishment0.2 miThe restroom sits beside the stone retaining wall that marks the start of the Bright Angel Trail. Built in the Park Service’s…
Church0.2 miEl Cristo Rey serves park employees, residents, and millions of visitors who seek worship or reflection at the canyon’s edge. Officially established in 1960,…
Viewpoint0.2 miNestled between El Tovar Hotel and Kachina Lodge, this section of the Rim Trail features a low sandstone wall built by CCC…
Viewpoint0.2 miKolb Studio clings to the Kaibab Limestone rim at the head of Bright Angel Trail. Inside, interpretive panels, original Kolb cameras, and…
Trailhead0.2 miCut into the canyon’s Coconino Sandstone in 1891 by the Havasupai Tribe and later improved by the Santa Fe Railroad, the Bright Angel…
Hotel0.2 miMaswik Lodge is the South Rim’s largest lodging complex, spread across two areas: Maswik South (90 standard rooms & 30 kitchenettes, completed…
Restaurant (food)0.2 miOriginally part of Maswik Lodge’s 1960s cafeteria, the Pizza Pub was fully revamped during the lodge’s 2021 renovation. Today it serves as the South…
Store0.2 miMaswik Gift Shop occupies the ground floor of Maswik Lodge’s main building in Grand Canyon Village. The bright, climate‑controlled retail space stocks…
Restaurant (food)0.2 miOperating on a food‑hall concept, Maswik Food Court lets guests choose dishes from multiple counters, pay at a central register, and seat…
Establishment0.2 miBlink’s dual‑port Level 2 station lets visitors top up while exploring the South Rim. Located in Maswik Lodge’s south parking lot, it…
Hotel0.2 miEl Tovar blends early 20th‑century luxury with National‑Park‑Service rustic architecture. Cedar‑shingled roofs, Oregon pine beams, and Navajo‑inspired décor create an atmosphere that…
Restaurant (food)0.2 miSet on the stone terrace of El Tovar Hotel, the Grand Canyon Beer Garden offers a casual, open-air atmosphere where hikers, families,…
Restaurant (food)0.2 miEl Tovar Cocktail Lounge Quick Facts Category Cocktail Lounge / Sports Bar Inside Historic El Tovar Hotel, South Rim Village Address 1 El Tovar Rd, Grand Canyon Village,…
Train_station0.2 miXanterra Garage—often called the Public Garage—is operated by Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (Xanterra Travel Collection). Located behind the historic railroad depot,…
Visitor Help0.2 miLocated in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, the center is the first stop for anyone intending to camp below the…
Establishment0.3 miGrand Canyon Unified School District #4 was established in 1911 to educate the children of park rangers, concessionaire employees, and residents of…
Transit_station0.3 miHermits Rest Transfer is the South Rim’s primary hand‑off point between the Village (Blue) Route loop and the scenic Hermit Road (Red)…
Transit_station0.3 miThe Village Route Transfer (also called the Hermit Road Transfer Station) is a covered, open‑air platform built of native stone and timber…
Scenic Location0.3 miHermit Road is a scenic drive that provides access to some of the most breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon. It is…
Viewpoint0.3 miNamed for the Pima people, this overlook sits at 6,600 ft / 2,012 m on the South Rim. A short spur from the Rim Trail leads…
Tourist_attraction0.3 miHopi House was conceived by architect Mary Colter for the Fred Harvey Company as a living marketplace where Native artisans could demonstrate…
Visitor Help0.3 miInside three compact exhibit rooms, interpretive panels, artifacts and multimedia displays tell the canyon’s human story. Visitors can stamp National Park passports,…
Car_repair0.5 miRV Master Technicians specializes in on‑site RV diagnostics, maintenance, and repairs. The service van carries OEM parts for major brands (Forest River,…
Museum0.6 miCompleted in 1999, the Grand Canyon Museum Collection is the National Park Service’s dedicated repository for the canyon’s tangible heritage. Specimens range…
Tourist_attraction0.6 miOperated by Grand Canyon Lodges (Xanterra), the Grand Canyon Kennel provides a temperature‑controlled haven for pets while owners explore the canyon. Each…
Viewpoint0.6 miTrailview Overlook offers breathtaking views of Grand Canyon Village, the Bright Angel Trail, and the canyon below.
Trailhead0.8 miTracing the very lip of the Grand Canyon, the South Rim Trail links visitor‑favorite overlooks—Mather, Yavapai, Hopi, Mohave, Powell, and Hermits Rest—along…
Visitor Help0.8 miLocated in the heart of Grand Canyon Village, Emergency Services is the park’s primary hub for medical and rescue operations. Staffed by…
Cemetery0.9 miGrand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery Historic cemetery on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park Overview Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery—also known as…
Church1.0 miGrand Canyon Baptist Church is an independent Southern Baptist congregation founded in 1984 to minister to Grand Canyon National Park’s employees, residents, and millions of annual visitors.…
Establishment1.0 miThe Shrine of the Ages is a one‑story limestone and timber structure completed in 1970 to serve as Grand Canyon’s first inter‑faith…
Visitor Help1.0 miOpened in 1957 under the Mission 66 program, the headquarters building originally served as the South Rim Visitor Center before administrative functions took…
Visitor Help1.1 miLocated in the Mather Business Center at Market Plaza, this United States Postal Service (USPS) facility has served park visitors, employees, and…
Store1.1 miGrand Canyon Outfitters sits inside the Canyon Village Market complex on the South Rim. The store carries tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, trekking…
Visitor Help1.1 miEstablished in 1932, Grand Canyon Community Library serves residents, park employees, and millions of visitors. Housed in a former 1920s schoolhouse within…
Gas Station1.1 miMarket Plaza Parking – Lot B stands as the beating heart of Grand Canyon Village's visitor services, offering the most comprehensive parking…
Visitor Help1.1 miBuilt to serve the high‑traffic Market Plaza hub, this restroom is the go‑to facility for hikers stocking up on supplies, families grabbing…
Store1.1 miLocated in Market Plaza, the Village Market & Deli has served park visitors since the late 1960s as the South Rim’s 'general…
Campground1.1 miOpened in the 1960s and named for first NPS director Stephen T. Mather, the campground contains 327 reservable sites plus a small…
Visitor Help1.1 miMather Campground maintains multiple modern restroom buildings so campers never walk far for necessities. According to AllFamousFAQs, “There are bathrooms located throughout…
Visitor Help1.1 miMarket Plaza Parking – Lot B anchors the commercial heart of Grand Canyon Village. Built to relieve congestion near the canyon rim, the paved lot…
Establishment1.1 miThe SRM office is primarily a working facility for park scientists and partner researchers. Public walk‑ins are not typical. Researchers, university partners,…
Visitor Help1.2 miLocated beside the Mather Campground registration office, this stop is one of 13 on the Village (Blue) Route. Buses run year‑round and connect…
Park1.2 miPositioned just west of the main Mather Point overlook, this stop lets visitors step off the Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route and follow a…
Lodging1.2 miOpened in 1958, Yavapai Lodge is the largest accommodation inside Grand Canyon National Park. The East section—often listed as “Yavapai E” or “Yavapai East”—contains…
Hotel1.2 miOpened in 1958 as part of the National Park Service’s Mission 66 program, Yavapai Lodge offers 358 guest rooms split between East (air‑conditioned,…
Restaurant (food)1.2 miLocated inside Yavapai Lodge, the tavern provides a casual refuge after canyon adventures. Order at the bar, grab a pager and settle…
Visitor Help1.2 miLocated in front of Yavapai Lodge East, Building 1, this station provides three Tesla connectors (up to 8 kW) plus three J1772…
Viewpoint1.2 miMaricopa Point offers a stunning 180-degree view of the Grand Canyon, making it a prime location for photography and sightseeing. The overlook…
Lodging1.4 miOpened in the early 1980s, Yavapai Lodge East consists of six two-story motel-style buildings; #5 sits closest to the Market Plaza grocery,…
Trailhead1.4 miCreated in 2010, the Trail of Time transforms a section of the Rim Trail into an outdoor geology museum. Starting at Yavapai…
Viewpoint1.4 miPowell Point juts into the canyon between Maricopa and Hopi Points, offering an unobstructed look down Bright Angel Canyon and across to…
Establishment1.4 miCompleted in 2011 as part of an eight-building modernization project, Brandt Hall helps the National Park Service and concessioners house the workforce…
Establishment1.4 miSet on the north side of the Yavapai Point parking lot, this masonry building provides men’s and women’s restrooms with flush toilets,…
Viewpoint1.5 miBuilt in 1928 as the Yavapai Observation Station, the stone-and-glass building was designed by National Park Service architect Herbert Maier to blend…
Establishment1.5 miHopi Point is the fourth overlook west of Grand Canyon Village along Hermit Road. Because private vehicles are restricted for most of the…
Viewpoint1.5 miBecause the overlook faces due west, it is widely considered the premier sunset location in the park, while its unobstructed eastern view…
Camping1.6 miOperated by Delaware North, Trailer Village RV Park offers 123 paved sites that fit rigs up to 50 ft (a few up to 65 ft).…
Viewpoint1.6 miPerched at 6,600 ft / 2,012 m, The Abyss sits on a fault line that allowed erosion to carve a vast amphitheater…
Visitor Help1.7 miParking Lot 4 is one of four main visitor lots surrounding the South Rim Visitor Center Plaza. It offers free, first-come parking…
Viewpoint1.7 miGreat Mohave Wall Viewpoint sits between Hopi Point and the Abyss on the South Rim’s historic Hermit Road. The overlook takes its…
Cafe1.7 miCanyon Adventures Bike Tours & Café (often branded “Bike Grand Canyon”) makes exploring the South Rim easy. Located steps from the Visitor…
Store1.8 miGrand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) operates all official park stores—often called “Park Stores”—inside Grand Canyon National Park. From the busy South Rim Visitor…
Store1.8 miOperated by Grand Canyon Conservancy—the park’s official nonprofit partner—the Park Store is the go‑to spot for reliable trip information and authentic merchandise.…
Visitor Help1.8 miOpened in the mid‑1990s, the Grand Canyon Visitor Center is the main information gateway for South Rim guests. Rangers provide trip planning,…
Park1.8 miOpen each year from mid‑May to mid‑October, the North Rim Entrance Gate sits at 8,700 ft (2,650 m) on Arizona Highway 67. It is the…
Parking1.8 miThe small lot is the quickest way to reach Mohave Point, one of the South Rim’s premier sunrise & sunset overlooks. From…
Visitor Help1.8 miParking Lot 3 functions as the primary overflow lot for the busy South Rim Visitor Center complex. Clearly marked signs, animal‑symbol posts,…
Viewpoint1.9 miNamed for the Mojave people, Mohave Point sits 6.6 mi/10.6 km west of Grand Canyon Village along Hermit Road. Guard‑railed overlooks perch at ~7,000 ft (2,130 m),…
Visitor Help1.9 miPositioned 50 feet east of the famed Mohave Point Overlook, this covered shelter serves hikers, cyclists, and sightseers exploring Hermit Road. From March through…
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