As the earth hath two poles, so too are the rims to the Grand. Why choose one over the other? The South Rim has more services, and hence, more tourists. That’s the big rap against it. More accessible to the outside world, the South Rim stays open all year. Owing to its greater elevation and snowfall, the North Rim remains closed from late autumn throughout the winter. If you want solitude, the North Rim retains an edge. Personally, I prefer the South Rim. For the casual tourist, it offers more overlooks and an easy rim trail connecting them. The designated viewpoints stretch out over a longer distance. Besides, if it’s solitude you’re looking for, you’ll leave 95% of the tourists behind by walking more than half-way down the Bright Angel Trail.