This article originally appeared in Travel+Leisure.

The Grand Canyon is one of those places you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate. At a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide, the canyon slices through the earth for 277 miles, carrying within it the roaring Colorado River. Each year, between five and six million people visit the national park, which is split into two sections: the accessible South Rim, with its year-round access, airport, and train system, and the noticeably more remote (and less crowded) North Rim. 

While you could visit the Grand Canyon for a day trip (or book a night in one of the lodges), nothing beats finding a perfect tent site with stunning views and watching the colorful canyon walls come to life in the morning light. Plus, when you're sleeping in the park, it's easier to beat the crowds to the trails and canyon overlooks.