Imagine.
You step out of a historic train car from a bygone era and you can already feel the sense of excitement and wonder build. As you glance upon the words “Grand Canyon” over the train depot, the anticipation grows as you walk up the steps to the Grand Canyon, South Rim’s Historic Village–a living time capsule of a world from the turn of the 20th century. And then, so suddenly that you become breathless, you find yourself there. You are peering into the abyss of this Natural Wonder of the World and as time stands still, you understand.
It is here where the sublime and the spiritual intersect. Where your sense of smallness is not belittling, but awe-inspiring. This is where wonder lives.
Welcome to the Grand Canyon.
Since 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel has been taking passengers on a fabled journey to the heart of one of the seven wonders of the world. Grand Canyon Railway is more than just a mode of transportation: it’s a trip back in time on lovingly restored rail cars with entertaining musicians and the antics of cowboy characters. Out your window, the terrain changes from high desert to prairie, prairie to pine. It’s a view that’s ever-changing until you come across a view so brilliant, it could very well change you.
The canyon itself is only half of the experience. After your historic and scenic ride on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon, South Rim you will disembark in the heart of the South Rim’s Historic Village. Revel in the architectural marvels of Mary E.J. Colter–from Lookout Studio, to Hopi House, to Hermit’s Rest–while you walk along the Rim Trail. You may even encounter some of the elk who call the rim home in the distance.
About 3 hours from Phoenix or Las Vegas, getting to Williams is easy.
Want to give yourself the ultimate experience? Couple a trip aboard the Grand Canyon Railway with a stay inside Grand Canyon National Park. Whether you choose to stay at The El Tovar Hotel (the crown jewel that has housed past presidents, dignitaries, and even one of The Beatles), Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins (located steps away from the rim), Kachina or Thunderbird Lodges (where canyon views can be seen right from your window), or Maswik Lodge (nestled in the middle of a peaceful Ponderosa pine forest), you can expect a level of hospitality that is only dwarfed by the majesty of the canyon.