National Park Series: Grand Canyon National Park
- Alex A.
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Welcome to our new blog series at Military Living® Publications, all about our national parks. Over the next few months, we will work our way through some of our team's favorite national parks and why you should consider them for your next travel destination.
An Introduction to Our National Parks
There are 63 formal national parks in the US, as well as countless national forests and monuments, and they are excellent travel destinations. For the most part, they are relatively inexpensive to travel to (especially if you are heading there on a roadtrip, or willing to reserve a campsite in a tent or RV instead of more developed lodging), some of the most beautiful places in the country, and offer a plethora of activities for visitors.
National Park Passes for Veterans and Military
As a veteran or active duty military member, you are eligible for free entrance into the national parks. Active duty armed forces receive free annual passes to our national parks, and veterans receive free lifetime passes.
Disabled veterans are eligible for an "Access Pass". Not only does this provide you with free access to the national parks, it also affords discounts on certain amenities like camping and tours.
See the National Park Website for instructions on how to get your passes, and what you might need to bring with you on your first visit to show eligibility.
Grand Canyon National Park
Our first national park to delve into is Grand Canyon National Park. Situated in northwestern Arizona, the boundaries of the park cover 1.2 million acres of remote and diverse landscape. The one-mile deep canyon is the central feature of the national park and has been forged by the Colorado River over millions of years of erosion.
Often classed as one of the "Wonders of the World", the Grand Canyon is a must see in any domestic travel you have coming up. Visiting the Grand Canyon can be as adventurous or simple as you'd like.
Important note: In July of 2025, wildfires closed the North Rim of the park, and closures may still be in place. Please utilize the link at the end of this post to check current closures.
What to Do at the Grand Canyon
"Rim to Rim" Backpacking - An Overnight Hike
For a truly wild experience, you can reserve back country campsites for a "rim-to-rim" hike, enjoying a descent into the canyon from the South Rim, camping along the Colorado River at night, and pushing through a grueling day of hiking from the Canyon floor to the North Rim the next day. If you go this route, however, make sure you are up for the task - with the sweltering temperatures in the canyon, remote location of the park, and the taxing amount of elevation, even experienced hikers can find themselves unprepared. For this route, you will also need to arrange transportation or a shuttle at one rim to get you to the other.
A Day-Hike Down Into the Canyon
For an adventurous experience that doesn't require primitive camping, you can opt for a day hike into the canyon. With the steep trails, you will still take plenty of grueling steps and retire from the trail with a good workout under your belt, but can enjoy the comfort of a developed campground, your own RV, or a plush bed at the end of your day. Try out the Bright Angel Trail or South Kaibab Trail from the South Rim, or the North Kaibab Trail from the North Rim for hikes that take you into the Canyon.
A Rim Hike or Lunch with a View!
For a relaxing day at the canyon, opt for a hike along the rim. The rim trail will carry you as little or as far as you'd like, and you can enjoy lunch or dinner from the many lookout points along the way. This is a great way to see the canyon with less time or preparation, especially if you plan to visit in the summer months, when the weather makes hiking much more challenging.
To Plan Your Visit
At the Grand Canyon, there is plenty to do for the whole family. For safety information, current closures, navigation, and even more activities, visit the Grand Canyon National Park website, here: https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.
If you are a current subscriber, you can find information such as military lodging, RV camping sites, and Space-A flights near Grand Canyon National Park with access to militaryliving.com.
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This article is written by Alex Alley, a member of the Military Living Publications staff. Alex and her husband enjoy camping, hiking, trail running, and of course, visiting our national parks. Grand Canyon National Park was her first national park that she visited and she hopes to make it back for a "Rim-to-Rim" Hike.
