Desert View Watchtower vs South Kaibab Trail: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Desert View Watchtower first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 64 against 63 for South Kaibab Trail, and it has 11 ranked ways to see it versus 9. With a full day in Grand Canyon National Park, pair them: plan Desert View Watchtower in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Desert View Watchtower in Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Desert View Watchtower

South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, United States

South Kaibab Trail

Side by side

Desert View Watchtower compared with South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park
Desert View WatchtowerSouth Kaibab Trail
Ranked experiences119
Top Outty Ranking8181
Average ranking (top 10)6463
Cheapest experience$5$5
Average time needed3.8h5.3h
Free cancellation91% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Desert View Watchtower

  1. 1. Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $345 · 5h

  2. 2. Grand Canyon Sunset Hiking Adventure Deep Below The South Rim

    Outty Ranking 74 · from $345 · 5h

  3. 3. Desert View Grand Canyon Jeep Tour

    Outty Ranking 72 · from $166 · 3h

  4. 4. 45-minute Helicopter Flight Over the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, Arizona

    Outty Ranking 71 · from $359 · 0.8h

  5. 5. Grand Canyon Landmarks Tour by Airplane with Optional Hummer Tour

    Outty Ranking 67 · from $179 · 0.7h

All 11 Desert View Watchtower experiences

Best ways to see South Kaibab Trail

  1. 1. Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $345 · 5h

  2. 2. Grand Canyon Biblical Creation Hiking Tour • South Kaibab Trail

    Outty Ranking 77 · from $179 · 5h

  3. 3. Grand Canyon Sunset Hiking Adventure Deep Below The South Rim

    Outty Ranking 74 · from $345 · 5h

  4. 4. Grand Canyon Full Day Private Tour & Hike

    Outty Ranking 68 · from $973 · 6h

  5. 5. Grand Canyon Full Day Small Group Tour & Hike

    Outty Ranking 61 · from $427 · 6h

All 9 South Kaibab Trail experiences

Frequently asked questions

Desert View Watchtower or South Kaibab Trail: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Desert View Watchtower first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 64 against 63 for South Kaibab Trail, and it has 11 ranked ways to see it versus 9. With a full day in Grand Canyon National Park, pair them: plan Desert View Watchtower in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Desert View Watchtower or South Kaibab Trail?

Ranked experiences at Desert View Watchtower start from $5 and at South Kaibab Trail from $5 per person.

How long do you need at Desert View Watchtower and South Kaibab Trail?

Experiences at Desert View Watchtower run 3.8 hours on average and at South Kaibab Trail 5.3 hours, so both fit in one day in Grand Canyon National Park with a break in between.

Can you do Desert View Watchtower and South Kaibab Trail on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 91% of Desert View Watchtower options and 100% of South Kaibab Trail options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Desert View Watchtower: Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour (Outty Ranking 81, from $345). For South Kaibab Trail: Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour (Outty Ranking 81, from $345).

More Grand Canyon National Park matchups

Best things to do in Grand Canyon National ParkGrand Canyon National Park city guideGrand Canyon National Park tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works