Grand Canyon Nat'l Park

[Brian McVickers]

I'm thinking of heading up from PHX for a Saturday Sunday of checking out the Grand Canyon.:Wow1: Any idea what's the best area to visit: South Rim, North Rim, River...

Any ideas of where to stay, maybe a cabin in the woods nearby?:camping:

Any suggestions for scenic drives, not offroad since we will have our 5 month old along for the ride.:arabia:

We have never been there before.

Thanks
Brian:elkgrin:

 

[flywgn]

We prefer by far the North Rim. There's loads of dispersed camping in the NF, but I'm not sure they keep the road open this time of year. You might check.

 

[kcowyo]

Brian, I stopped at the North Rim on my way home from the ExPo Rally. I'd been to the south rim before, but everyone said I had to see the north rim. So I went to the north rim and...... I don't get it. It looks the same from either end?!

For the time it takes to get up to the north rim, I'd just go to the south rim and call it good. Others may be able to suggest a place to stay. Hope you all have a fun and safe family trip!

 

[datrupr]

Brian, There is really only one place to stay at the north rim, and that is the lodge, and I am not sure on prices, but I think it is a bit pricey. Access to the north rim might already be closed this time of year, you will have to check. You also have to add about three hours of drive time to get to the north rim. If you go to the south rim, go west on 40 from Flagstaff to Williams, and there is a very nice scenic drive just west of Williams that will take you right to the south rim. Out side of the park is Grand Canyon village with a few of the chain hotel/motels and I am sure you can get pretty reasonable room rates this time of year. I would have to get my maps out as it has been a few years since I have been up to the Grand Canyon, but I can find you a few different routes, and they all have different scenery. There is also a way to enter from the east end of the park that takes you through part of the painted desert, but allow at least an extra hour of drive time for the south rim. If you follow this road and not turn, it is the same you take to get to the north rim. I would recommend this time of year to hit the south rim, especially if you have the baby with you, as both drives are a bit on the long side, but getting to the north rim almost doubles your time and there is no guarantee that it will be open.

 

[datrupr]

Brian, to get to the south rim you have a few choices on how to get there. You could go west from Flag on 40 to the 64 and it is a pretty scenic drive on a 2 lane road, or you can go through Flagstaff and take the 180 to Valle and then north on the 64 to the park. Or you can take the 89 from just east outside of Flag up to the 64 to the east entrance to the park which takes you through a bit of the Painted Desert. You can check on room rates at the lodges in Grand Canyon Village or you can go just outside the park and stay in one of the chain hotels in Tusayan, which will probably cost less. Any way you choose to go it is very scenic and for first timers I am sure it will take your breath away. Cruise around the park and check out the different view areas and take lots of pictures. On your way out on Sunday if you leave early enough take a side trip on 40 east on Flagstaff and visit Walnut Canyon National Monument, it has some steep walks but it is just amazing, there are a whole slew of cliff dwellings there that you can walk around and in some cases into. Allow a couple of hours to explore Walnut Canyon though. And then drive home via 89a through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. It is a great drive and you should have a very good time. If you need anything else just shout out, I hope this helps a bit.



P.S. Take the time to travel some of the roads mentioned if you have not already, so you can feel like an old pro tour guide when you have people come into town that you want to show around.

 

[Brian McVickers]

Thanks!
Great Info
I'll see if I can come up with a plan:elkgrin:

 

[Nullifier]

I have been to both several times and love the north rim by far. There are alot less people on the north rim which is nice. The north rim is the only place in north america you can view a desert for an alpine forest which is cool.

The best place to stay in is Jacob Lake. There is an inn which is not bat as far rate for such a remote place. Last time I was there I think it was like $80 a night. ACross the street there is a camp Ground run by the forest service. They have power and water hook up only. There is a toilet but no shower. In the am you can go to the inn across the street and pay $5 to use a room after check out to get a shower. nice deal if your camping. The diner there is your only bet for food until you get into the national park. There is also a gas staion in jacob lake so no worry about food. The area surronding has alot of easy dirt track service roads to drive and there are some horse back trips and jhike available as well.

The daily drive into the national park is through a large meadow. There are alot of wild turkeys and coyotes visible from the road on a regular basis. I have never driven in and not seen them. TOns of wildlife on the north rim this is due to the alpine forest bordering it.

 

[Wanderlusty]

Everything I have seen shows that the north rim closes sometime in October and does not reopen until spring. Every time I have been out there, it has been late winter-early spring, so I have not been to the north rim.

The south rim is great, but I also HIGHLY reccomend the East rim, as it is quite a bit less crowded. You also get to check out the Watchtower.

http://scienceviews.com/parks/watchtower.html

If you visit the South rim, make sure to make the trek to Hermit's Rest. It should be open to auto traffic this time of year.

If you do get up there during the regular season, as far as the drive from South rim to North rim, I have done about 3/4 of it on the way up to Utah, and it is some really pretty areas. I can't remember if it is before or after the turnoff for the north rim, but the Vermillion Cliffs are up there and they are pretty neat to view.

Every time I have stayed in GC, I have stayed in Tusayan at the Holiday Inn Express. Ask about their Arizona rooms. They are in a building to the back and they are all suites with bedroom and seperate living room, and at not much more than any of the other rooms. A couple of years ago, I got on early and reserved a suite there for $50 a night! The next year it was up to $75, but still a great deal. Just checked, it's going for $84 with AAA this year.... Online it is referred to as 'King Feature' room.

 

[Brian McVickers]

Well so far I've got a room booked at the Yavapi Lodge inside of Grand Canyon National Park. It's located 1/4 mile from the canyon rim in the South Rim area and was $88 including tax!:clapsmile

I did find rooms for as low as $50 but they were pretty much motels out on the highway outside of the Park. I think the extra $40 will be a small price to pay for the added convenience and scenery of being in the park!

Very excited!!:jump:

 

[Wanderlusty]

Good Deal! Dunno if you will have a direct line of sight from the Yavapi Lodge, but still within walking distance, and that is worth something just by itself!

I love the Grand Canyon during the winter...

 

[datrupr]

It will be cold up there so pack warmly. There is nothing more breathtaking than looking at the Grand Canyon with a nice dusting of snow. Good find on the lodge as well. I am not sure if you be able to see the canyon from the lodge, but it is a quick trip to it in any case. You will enjoy it.

 

[Brian McVickers]

I think we're going to go:
Up I17 to Exit 298 at Rimrock
Then 179 to Sedona
Then 89A to Flagstaff
To 180 over to 64 and then on to GCNP

It's about 215 miles, about 4 hours.

 

[Brian McVickers]

We had an amazing weekend driving up to Grand Canyon National Park!
Jumping off of 17 and taking the mountain road through Sedona and Flag is a great route if you can afford the extra hour it takes. We left at 7am and arrived in the park at 12pm, we drove leisurely and stopped often for picture opportunities and dirty diapers!

The canyon was absolutely incredible! We put baby in the backpack and hiked along the rim to several view points and then took the shuttle back to the car. Since it's winter they open up all the roads to private vehicles so we were able to drive the length of the park roads along the south rim and had a great view for sunset. The next morning we woke up before the sun and made it out to one of the points to watch the sunrise over the canyon, It's amazing to watch it all come alive! After that we wandered around and took one of the dirt Forest Roads that runs through the park out for about 30 minutes and then turned around. There was no one out there and we saw at least a dozen dear and about 5 Elk! Amy jumped out of the car and followed one Elk into the forest. She got within 10 feet and took some great pictures.

We also had a wonderful breakfast at the El Tovar Lodge and had a great view of the canyon. Everyone told us to get sunset reservations at the El Tovar restaurant but I have to suggest breakfast since you always have a view.

The park is more user friendly than we would have ever imagined. They even have a general store that sells everything from tents and outdoor gear to groceries. I did not look at the gear but we bought some groceries and a bottle of wine, the prices were normal and we were glad to see they did not jack the prices and take advantage of their location.

We are planning some overnight trips down into the canyon for later in the spring. It takes about 3 months to get a back country pass which is required. You can park in the back country parking lot and then take the shuttle bus to the trail heads. Trials down into the canyon range from maintained to hard to find and they qualify them all at some increasing level of "difficult". They say to schedule 1/3 of your time for hiking down and 2/3 for hiking back up!

Can't wait to go back!

 

[erin]

:clapsmile :clapsmile

Very nice pics, I haven't been to the canyon in years. Sure makes me want to go back for some more great sunsets!!

 

[datrupr]

Great pics Brian, and a nice report too. Glad to hear you had a good time and enjoyed yourselves. It is nice to get up there in the late spring as well, as it is not too hot or too cold, it is just right. If you can manage to get reservations, it is a great hike down to the Phantom Ranch, stay the night there and work your way back up the next morning. Reservations are limited and they are usually booked up a year in advance, but I would reccommend it, it is an experience that you will never forget.