Hopi Point

Ask around about the best sunset spot on the South Rim and Hopi Point comes up more than any other overlook. Sitting along Hermit Road, it juts farther out into the canyon than most viewpoints, which opens up an unusually wide panoramic sweep — the Colorado River visible below and canyon formations stretching in both directions. With a 4.9 rating from over 3,500 reviews, it's one of the highest-rated stops on the entire South Rim.

What makes it worth the stop

The width of the view is the draw. Reviewers consistently point to it as the top pick if you only have time for one sunset stop on the Hermit Road route, and several note the light is worth sticking around for — the 15 minutes or so after the sun actually dips below the horizon often produces the best color. It's open around the clock, so sunrise works too if you want to beat the crowds.

• Getting there: most of the year, Hopi Point is accessible only via the free red shuttle along Hermit Road; from December through February the road opens to private vehicles
• Parking: limited to small pullouts when driving is allowed — don't expect a large lot
• Best time: sunset is the main event, though it's quieter and just as striking in the off-season cold

Bring a layer regardless of season — reviewers mention it gets windy and chilly fast once the sun starts dropping.