25 minutes or 45 minutes
The short flights, Maverick’s Canyon Dancer and Papillon’s North Canyon, cross the Kaibab National Forest and the Colorado River toward the North Rim and come back through the Dragon Corridor, the widest and deepest part of the canyon. On the way you see the Tower of Ra and the Vishnu Schist.
The longer flights go further east. Maverick’s Canyon Spirit (45 minutes) follows the Colorado River upstream with the Painted Desert and the Desert View Watchtower in the distance, passes the confluence with the Little Colorado River, Marble Canyon and Point Imperial and climbs above the North Rim before turning back through the Dragon Corridor. Papillon’s Grand Kingdom (40 to 50 minutes) looks down more than 5,000 feet to the same confluence, passes Imperial Point and flies at the height of the North Rim.
With a Hummer tour
Papillon combines the North Canyon and Grand Kingdom flights with a 2-hour guided tour in an open-air Hummer that stops at viewpoints on the South Rim, such as Mather Point and Duck on a Rock. Since 1 January 2026 the National Park Service charges non-US residents an entrance fee on commercial ground tours, and that applies to these Hummer combinations. Children 15 and under are exempt, and an America the Beautiful annual pass covers it. The fee is not part of the booking price.
Check-in at the airport
Be at the terminal 30 minutes before your flight. There is no hotel transfer. Maverick does not allow food, drinks or large bags on board and requires a second seat from 275 lb; Papillon from 300 lb. Children 16 and under fly with Papillon only with an adult, and infants under two sit on a parent’s lap with proof of age.
