Hiking from Mather Point to Pipe Creek Vista (Grand Canyon NP, South Rim, Arizona) - Trip Report
Mather Point to Pipe Creek Vista is a nice, easy walk with dramatic views of the Grand Canyon. I did this hike on my first day to the park which was perfect to stretch my legs after a long drive and get some stunning first looks at the Grand Canyon. I was especially lucky to visit the day after a snow storm, adding even more magic to an already magical place.
Moody and stormy view from Mather Point, not pictured - the very large crowds in the area
Hiking Information
Location: Grand Canyon National Park (along the South Rim, near Tusayan, Arizona)
Trailhead & Parking: Google Maps
Date Hiked: November 9, 2020
Trail Type: Out & Back (with the option of going one-way & taking the bus back to your starting point) - both distance totals do not include the walk from any parking lot as it can vary.
Elevation Change: 386 ft
Distance Roundtrip: 3.2 miles
Distance One-Way with bus ride back: 1.6 miles
Nearest Restrooms: Mather Point Restrooms near the Visitor Center (no restrooms at the Pipe Creek Vista)
Fees: There is a fee to enter Grand Canyon National Park, here is information Grand Canyon entrance park fees.
Season Accessibility: Year round (they can close access to the Grand Canyon when the weather is too severe)
Trail Tip: After a snow storm, this will be a mellow and safer way to enjoy the views of the Grand Canyon versus the trails that require some sort of traction devices to safely navigate
The Drive/Parking
To get to this part of the South Rim, you’ll need to enter via HWY 64 (just above Williams, AZ), which is located to the south of the Grand Canyon. And usually you could reach this part of the South Rim via HWY 64 Desert View road as well (near Cameron, Arizona) which is east of the Grand Canyon, but that road is closed at the Watchtower along Desert View road due to COVID-19 restrictions. So after heading up HWY 64 and once you’ve passed through the pay station, you’ll stay on the road until you seeing the first parking lots available (parking lots 1-3). If you are planning to only go one-way on the hike, parking in parking lot 2 will put you nearest to the Shuttle Bus pick-up location.
If you are planning to use the Shuttle Bus, please check on the Grand Canyon National Park website to ensure the shuttle you need is running.
The Hike
I started the hike about 9am as I couldn’t bring myself to get there any sooner with how cold it was and I didn’t want to leave my cozy sleeping bag. It was a high of 30 degrees that day but I felt like it never hit those temps as my car read a 16 degree Fahrenheit temperature at the warmest part of the day. I put on all my layers and headed out from parking lot 2 to the beautiful Mather Point. The walkways were still snowy with some ice here and there. When I finally got my first clear view of the canyon, I got to feel that first time magic that comes with new adventures. I was so overwhelmed with excitement, shock, amazement and giddiness then washed over with a calm and stillness. Nothing like a giant canyon to ground you and remind you how small you are, it’s those humbling moments that I truly enjoy in the great outdoors.
Anywho, back to the hike! Mather Point has quite a few great view points, but had a lot more people than I cared for so I snapped a few pictures and videos then continued along the Rim Trail towards Pipe Creek Vista. Once I was about 5 minutes away from Mather Point, the crowds were practically non-existent - my favorite ;) There was a stunning view nearly every minute walking along the Rim trail, and I couldn’t help but stop at every view. The most surprising discovery upon my first time at the Grand Canyon was seeing all the exposed drop-offs. It seemed like any popular stops along the Rim Trail like Mather Point had railing along the cliff sides for safety, but anywhere else along the rim of the Grand Canyon was completely exposed. With that said, I am all for that, because the railing can take away from the beauty of being in nature, but I still found it very surprising (and trusting in the general public to not fall). Just something to keep in mind if you have little ones with you!
As I got closer to the Pipe Creek Vista, I realized I did not bring my extra batteries with me and my camera + GoPro were not handling the 10 degree morning very well. I snapped a few more pictures and videos before the batteries called it a day. Once reaching Pipe Creek Vista, I encountered the big crowds again, but not as bad as Mather Point. I think Mather Point is a lot of people’s first stop when getting to the Grand Canyon because it’s one of the first places you can get to once entering the park.
I think the pictures speak for themselves on the views of this hike, especially if you can do it right after a snow storm passes through. I knew going into this trip that I would be blown away by the views, and yes it is true, pictures can’t even do this magical place justice. There is a grandness that simply can’t be captured by any camera or video, hence why it earned the name, the Grand Canyon. I hope you can still enjoy the photos and videos even if it doesn’t match the level of beauty that is experienced here and Happy Trails!
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Tiare Kirkland
Hi! My name is Tiare, but you can just call me ‘T’. I’m a California based hiker and I spend most of my free time taking photos and videos of some of my favorite hikes. You can usually find me ‘Out Hiking’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or road-tripping to new areas. Read more about me here and follow along with my adventures by subscribing below!