Mather Point

Stephen Mather spent his tenure as the National Park Service's first director arguing that magnificent scenery should come before development. The overlook bearing his name makes that case without argument: on a clear day you can see more than 30 miles east and more than 60 miles west, with the Colorado River visible below and Phantom Ranch at the canyon's floor. A five-minute walk from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, it's where the South Rim announces itself. Come for sunrise or sunset — and come early.