GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, South Rim — The grandest views in the one and only Grand Canyon, many will attest, are best discovered from the rim.

From the clifftops you can better absorb the vastness of the Colorado River-carved abyss, the seemingly endless mesas, buttes and formations, from the most panoramic of locations.

That doesn't mean under-the-rim trails should be ignored, but really they are another experience entirely, offering close-ups of slices of the immense canyon. The paths also often require endurance, planning and effort, and the elevation gains and losses can be daunting.

Not so with the rim walks, especially on the canyon's South Rim, on either side of Grand Canyon Village.

In most spots, rim walks are relatively easy. Treks spontaneous or long can be crowded at times (especially sunset at specific points) but still offer ample opportunities for solitude and reflection.

"It's awesome. I know that's not quite the right word, maybe 'speechless,"' Joe Farrey of Dayton, Ohio, said during a walk along the South Rim.

"It was gorgeous. I hoped to see as many colors as possible," said John Schoten of Holland, Mich.

If you are planning a visit to the South Rim in summer or fall of 2008, however, be aware that the Hermit Road — with seven popular viewpoints west of Grand Canyon Village — will be closed or partially closed to all visitation, making an extended rim hike more of a challenge. (See related sidebar story.)

Perhaps the most popular rim viewpoint in the Grand Canyon Village area is Mather Point, according to Maureen Oltrogge, park spokeswoman.

"It's the first viewpoint most visitors come to," she said.

It is named for the first director of the National Park System — Stephen T. Mather. An early visitor at the overlook, the French Gen. Ferdinand Foch, of the Allied forces in World War I, was reputed to have said, "What a wonderful place to drop one's mother-in-law!"

What's the most overlooked / underrated rim viewpoint?

Oltrogge said it is definitely Yaki Point, named for the Yaki tribe. The most eastern viewpoint in the village area and directly east of Mather Point, it is usually only appreciated by the hikers who use it access the South Kaibab Trail. Since the park went to a shuttle bus system, Yaki receives relatively few visitors, but it offers great views of the upper Kaibab Trail below and Cedar Mesa.

For the winter season, visitors here can enjoy a less-crowded park. The North Rim is closed for the season, but the South Rim is open year-round.

"We clear some of the rim trails (of snow)," she said. But they can get slick, and visitors should dress for the cold.