
Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon’s dizzying cliffsand vast scope can easily overwhelm ― as can its more than4.5 million annual visitors. One remedy for absorbing the park’simmense beauty and rim-gawking crowds is to spend a night beneaththe stars. You’ll feel a greater sense of peaceful solitude whensleeping in a tent, and you’re more apt to capture the canyon’sdazzling light, particularly at sunrise and sunset. If you’re afterviews alone, the South Rim won’t disappoint; its overlooks galoreoffer varied perspectives on the canyon. The higher, cooler NorthRim ― claiming only 10 percent of the visiting throngs― is more remote and bordered with wildflower meadows andthick stands of spruce.
Camping
• North Rim. Facing the canyon, site 14 is lovely. Set at thefar end of the campground, it’s fringed with aspens and ponderosapines and offers easy access to the Transept Trail. An added bonus:a perfect sunset view. 87 sites mid-May-mid-Oct, many reservable; $18-$25.800/365-2267.
Also great
• Desert View. Head 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village forthe most peaceful and scenic camping on the South Rim ― notto mention the park’s most beautiful sunrise spot. Professionalphotographers camp here to capture the unfolding layers of colorand shadow at dawn. The best time to secure a spot is midmorning,when people are packing up camp. 50 sites mid-May-Oct; $12.928/638-7888.