The short show is well worth the price and gives the history of the canyon, including a re-creation of John Wesley Powell's first running of the river in 1869. Then stop in to the well-staffed visitors center, where you'll find guidance, books, special programs and a display of actual river boats. Oh yes, and a lot of other tourists. Mid-October was definitely a very comfortable month to be among the park's 5 million annual visitors. The mules are another option.
Longer trips are also available.
It makes our muscles hurt to even count the ways you can explore the canyon on foot. So for the sake of the average tourist, let's stick to two that are within the realm of the barely mobile to moderately ambitious. Excellently maintained paths allow visitors to walk along the rim to view the nuances of the canyon as it changes color throughout the day. From the El Tovar, take the rim trail in either direction. More than eight miles of paved trail extends from Yavapai Point east of the Visitor Center west to Hermits Rest.