Tusayan, AZ is the closest town to Grand Canyon Village and the South Rim, as well as the only town located right outside Grand Canyon National Park. The word Tusayan is derived from the Hopi term meaning "country of isolated buttes." The owners of this swath of private land were able to have Highway 64 routed through their property, making this a valuable piece of real estate, and an area to build much needed tourist infrastructure. With a population of only 500, most people who live in this area, reside and work within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park, making Tusayan a cluster of hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Tusayan's main draw is of course Grand Canyon National Park, and the South entrance is only a few miles from town. There are a couple restaurants and bars in town, and The Best Western Squire even has a bowling alley and arcade. The Grand Canyon Airport is just south of town, and anyone wanting to enjoy a scenic helicopter or plane flight will have several options. The Grand Canyon Imax is also located in town at the National Geographic Visitor Center, and is a great way to see places within the Canyon you didn't get to visit on your own.
The major source for outdoor recreation is of course the Grand Canyon. Tusayan however is surrounded by Kaibab National Forest and does offer other activities, including a short Single Track loop right outside of town. There are also many forest service roads to drive and camp along, two of which are back ways into the Park. The more scenic of these dirt roads is FS 302, which comes out near Grandview Point, and makes for a nice back road drive when its not closed off. This road also passes the Arizona Trail, which makes for a peaceful hike though the forest, or a longer trek across Arizona. For outdoorsman there is one thing that may even top the Grand Canyon. This part of the National Forest contains some of the largest trophy elk in the country, and hunter may wait many years before pulling a tag for a chance at a big bull elk.
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