Honestly, congrats on that R6 Mark II! You basically bought a Ferrari of cameras, so dont feel bad about being a bit overwhelmed. I remember my first big trip to Zion where I lugged three heavy lenses and a tripod through the heat, and let me tell you... my back was absolutely killing me by day two. I barely even swapped the lenses because I was so worried about getting dust inside the camera while hiking. Since you have a $900 limit and need one lens that does literally everything, you absolutely have to get the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM. It is seriously the ultimate travel lens for people who hate carrying bags, ngl. Heres why I think its perfect for your Grand Canyon trip:

• It goes from 24mm (wide enough for those massive canyon views) all the way to 240mm (zoom in on your kids or wildlife).
• It fits your camera directly with no adapter needed since its an RF lens.
• Its way more versatile than the basic kit lens that comes in the box.
• You can find it right around $899 brand new, which hits your budget perfectly. I used this same setup for a family reunion at a lake last summer and it was amazing. I could take a wide shot of the whole group and then immediately zoom in to catch a candid of my niece laughing without moving an inch. Its fast, its sharp enough for what you need, and you wont be fumbling with gear while everyone else is enjoying the view! Seriously, just grab this one and dont look back!

@Reply #1 - good point! Consider this methodical choice:

• Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM It is a native lens covering the entire range you need for 900. Very cost-effective.

I am honestly right there with you feeling totally lost. I just switched over from a Nikon setup and the way Canon names their stuff is so confusing compared to what I am used to. It makes me really nervous to drop almost a thousand bucks on a single piece of glass when I dont even know if it is the right tool for the job. I once bought a lens right before a trip to Arches and it ended up being way too heavy, I was constantly worried about the mount failing or the lens hood falling off into a crevice... it kinda ruined the vibe of the hike for me because I was being so over-protective. Since we are both trying to figure this out, are you planning on taking more video of your kids or just sticking to still photos for the trip? Also, be careful with some of these suggestions because the weight can really vary. Are you more concerned about the image quality or the actual physical size of the setup when you are out in the heat? It is a tough call to make when you only have ten days to get it sorted and I would hate for you to end up with something that feels like a brick around your neck.

@Reply #5 - good point! The learning curve with the naming is definitely steep when you are just starting out. Those numbers like 24 or 105 basically just describe the field of view... 24 is wide for the big landscapes and 105 or higher is for zooming in on your kids from a distance. To figure out which one actually fits your trip, I have a couple questions:

• Will you be shooting mostly in bright sunlight on the rim, or are you hoping to get shots inside buildings or during the blue hour at dusk?
• Does "heavy" to you mean something the size of a water bottle, or are you looking for something that basically fits in a jacket pocket? Honestly, figuring this out now is better than being miserable on the trail. If you can answer those, it makes picking the right focal range way easier.

Regarding what #1 said about your "Ferrari," unfortunately the 24-240mm is quite disappointing and soft.

• Buy Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM used
• Better results for those canyon landscapes

To add to the point above: Wait, are you planning on doing any serious hiking into the actual canyon or just hitting the rim overlooks? I ask because unfortunately I had some major issues with gear reliability on my last desert trip. My old carrying setup actually fell apart right as we were getting to the trailhead which was way more fragile than I expected and basically ruined my morning. Speaking of hiking, that trip was actually where I met this guy who claimed he could survive on nothing but cactus water and beef jerky. We ended up following him for like three miles before realizing he was completely lost and just looking for a specific type of rock for his collection back home. He had this whole basement full of limestone samples from every single national park he'd ever visited. It was super weird but kinda cool until his car wouldnt start in the parking lot and I had to jump it using a battery pack I usually keep for my gear. Those portable jump starters are a lifesaver honestly. Everyone should keep one in their trunk just in case. Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there... just wanted to check on the hiking situation first.