Grand Canyon Depot
4.7(2.6K)google
3.6(12)yelp
TrainHistory
Overview
Grand Canyon Depot, also known as Grand Canyon Railroad Station, was constructed in 1909–10 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, in what is now Grand Canyon National Park. It is one of three remaining railroad depots in the United States built with logs as the primary structural material. The station is within 330 feet (100 m) of the rim of the canyon, opposite the El Tovar Hotel, also built by the railroad.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration0.5-1 hour
Best TimeYear-round; it's recommended to go around 11:30 a.m. daily, when you can catch the sightseeing train pulling in—the atmosphere is very lively, with a strong retro Wild West feel
Getting ThereLocated in the core service area of the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim (Grand Canyon Village Historic District); after parking, you can walk directly or take the free in-park shuttle (Blue Line) to reach it
Travel Tips
- This iconic log-structure station, built in 1910, is one of the few railroad stations in the U.S. still in use and built entirely of logs; it is a National Historic Landmark
- It is the terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway on the South Rim; every morning a vintage train arrives from Williams and departs in the afternoon
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- Even if you don't take the train, you can go to the station when the train pulls in (usually near noon) to take nostalgic shots of the vintage steam or diesel locomotive framed together with the century-old log building
Reviews
Positive
- The station building is itself a work of art; the all-wood structure has a strong sense of history, and seeing the vintage little train slowly pull in and whistle feels like being whisked back to the gold rush era in a second
- An extremely prime location, just steps from the El Tovar hotel at the canyon's edge, with complete amenities nearby—perfect as a starting point for walking the South Rim
Heads up
- If you don't plan to take the train or aren't interested in photographing trains, this is actually just a fairly small log-cabin station; spending ten minutes to check it out is enough