Grand Canyon suggestions?

[sunflower]

So all this talk of burgers in Vegas has reminded me that I could use some insight from those who have been to the Grand Canyon. I have never seen it, and I have 3 free days in Vegas preceding my board meeting for work. I was thinking of taking a trip out there. A few things I'm wondering:

- Which is the best part to go to? I know the skywalk is at the west rim, but it seems like a ripoff, you have to spend something like $30 just to get there and then another $30 if you actually want to walk on it. I'm deathly afraid of heights, so I'm thinking that's not for me. I almost had a nervous breakdown at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The south rim seems like the most popular? The north rim seems like in March, it is not a good idea due to weather concerns, if it's even open at that time of year.

- Is it worth staying overnight in the area? I think the south rim is something like 5 hours from Vegas. Is this a look at it, turn around and drive back kind of thing? Is there anything else to do in the area? Any hotel recommendations if I do stay? (I don't mind driving...10 hours in the car doesn't scare me, so if there is nothing to do there, I'd probably prefer to get back and enjoy Vegas)

-Anything else I need to know? Any fun stops along the way? Any ways to get deals on anything?

[nitrah55]

Last time I was at the GC, I got there from Vegas.

I drove to Williams, Arizona, and took the Grand Canyon Railroad, which is a railroad that goes right into the park. The station is a short walk from the South Rim. It's a cool ride with an old steam locomotive and refurbished passenger cars. See if you can get a night at one of the inns in or just outside the park.

Edited: Used to be a steam locomotive. Looking at the web site, I see they're using a diesel engine now.

http://www.thetrain.com/

[SportsFan68]

So all this talk of burgers in Vegas has reminded me that I could use some insight from those who have been to the Grand Canyon. I have never seen it, and I have 3 free days in Vegas preceding my board meeting for work. I was thinking of taking a trip out there. A few things I'm wondering:

- Which is the best part to go to? I know the skywalk is at the west rim, but it seems like a ripoff, you have to spend something like $30 just to get there and then another $30 if you actually want to walk on it. I'm deathly afraid of heights, so I'm thinking that's not for me. I almost had a nervous breakdown at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The south rim seems like the most popular? The north rim seems like in March, it is not a good idea due to weather concerns, if it's even open at that time of year.

- Is it worth staying overnight in the area? I think the south rim is something like 5 hours from Vegas. Is this a look at it, turn around and drive back kind of thing? Is there anything else to do in the area? Any hotel recommendations if I do stay? (I don't mind driving...10 hours in the car doesn't scare me, so if there is nothing to do there, I'd probably prefer to get back and enjoy Vegas)

-Anything else I need to know? Any fun stops along the way? Any ways to get deals on anything?

I think Skoop can answer your questions -- I think she was there not long ago.

A couple general things --

Anyone who is deathly afraid of heights will want to avoid the skywalk, based on the photos I've seen.

The south rim is more popular because it's more accessible and warmer -- amazing the difference being just a little closer to the equator and a little lower in elevation will make. I agree that the north rim is not a good idea in March. I was there in April and got snowed on.

[sunflower]

Anyone who is deathly afraid of heights will want to avoid the skywalk, based on the photos I've seen.

I have a vision of myself laying on the ground crying, and having someone have to physically remove me. That's pretty much what happened at the leaning tower. I got to the top and I was all cool, thinking I could go near the edge for a picture. Then I totally freaked out and basically hugged a pillar and had to have the guide person peel me off and lead me back to the stairs!! It was not pleasant, and that's nowhere near as high as the GC!!

BUT...if anyone said it was a must see, I would do it. I might just take something first, a small sedative or something!

[nitrah55]

I hate heights. I love the Grand Canyon.

You don't have to stand at the rim to take it in.

Even if you're at the rim, in most spots the edge does not fall away sharply. In some areas, if you were clumsy enough to fall over, you might go a few feet before you hit a tree, or rolled onto the trail.

I would not do the skywalk on a bet, even if I were drunk and someone were holding a gun on me.

Teddy Roosevelt said everyone should see the GC. Go.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

I once took a 3 day 2 night rafting trip on the lower end of the Canyon. A fabulous trip. Saw the Canyon from the bottom up, while drifting down the river. Great for someone with a fear of heights, except for the helicopter ride into the canyon.

[sunflower]

Last time I was at the GC, I got there from Vegas.

I drove to Williams, Arizona, and took the Grand Canyon Railroad, which is a railroad that goes right into the park. The station is a short walk from the South Rim. It's a cool ride with an old steam locomotive and refurbished passenger cars. See if you can get a night at one of the inns in or just outside the park.

Edited: Used to be a steam locomotive. Looking at the web site, I see they're using a diesel engine now.

http://www.thetrain.com/

Thanks for the site. I will keep it in mind. Holy expensive though! I'm wondering if I'm in coach, am I getting the same experience as in my car, and therefore the $70 fee is not worth it? Plus I'll be alone and at least in the car, I can sing!

I will check out the hotels in that area though...and the train is definitely an option.

[MarleysGh0st]

I loved the Grand Canyon Airlines discovery air tour, that left from the airport on the south rim, right near the entrance to the park. The only other flight that compared to that was one up to Mt. McKinley. If you're afraid of heights, perhaps you should skip that. But if you're afraid of heights, why would you want to go looking into one of the deepest canyons on Earth in the first place?

I had the chance to spend a night at the El Tovar Hotel, right on the South Rim, but I decided not to. Now I'm sorry I didn't take that splurge. Five hours driving each way is more than you'd want to make in one day, I'd think, but there are motels all along the route that you can stay at.

Reservations for the river raft trips down the canyon have to be made impossibly far in advance, but you might be able to sign up for the mule ride down into it, if that's not too scary a thought for you.

[tanstaafl2]

I hate heights. I love the Grand Canyon.

You don't have to stand at the rim to take it in.

Even if you're at the rim, in most spots the edge does not fall away sharply. In some areas, if you were clumsy enough to fall over, you might go a few feet before you hit a tree, or rolled onto the trail.

I would not do the skywalk on a bet, even if I were drunk and someone were holding a gun on me.

Teddy Roosevelt said everyone should see the GC. Go.

If you do want to stand where the edge falls away sharply then there is a truly remarkable spot on the north rim called Toroweap. However I would not recommend it for a first time visitor. Or anybody who doesn't want to drive 60 miles over a rough dirt road where a flat tire and/or running into cattle is a common occurence (I managed to avoid both on my trip). It is a tricky place to find and generally poorly marked (or was back then in about 1995).

The south rim and Desert view on the east rim at sunset are the more traditional places that people visit the Grand Canyon.

The north rim has its own charms, is usually less crowded and is easier to combine with trips to the National Parks in Utah if you had lots of time. On the trip where I went to Toroweap I was on a 2 week car trip starting in OKC and traveled through Santa Fe, Mesa Verde NP in Colorado, the parks in Utah and the north rim, a stop over in Las Vegas and then a return trip along the south rim and the painted desert.

It was a grand trip indeed!

http://www.zionnational-park.com/toroweap.htm

This one focuses on the south rim:
http://www.parkfilms.com/gcviewpoints.html

Desert View provides a great spot for viewing the sunset over the Canyon.

Some years before on one of my trips to the south rim I stayed in the lodge on the rim, where I was greeted in the morning by a skunk ouside the picture window who apparently was a regular visitor and did the mule trip down to Phantom Ranch and back. Great fun but requires advanced planning and may not be possible all times of the year.

Toroweap!

That was the kind of thing I would do back in those days...

http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np-i ... a5500.html

[tanstaafl2]

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/mule_trips.htm

According to this South Rim mule rides are year around (which surprised me a bit) but require early reservations and are a tad spendy (which doesn't surprise me too much).

Although given your concern about heights it might not be for you anyway. The mules seem to like to walk on the outside edge of the trail!

[Beebs52]

I hate heights. I love the Grand Canyon.

You don't have to stand at the rim to take it in.

Even if you're at the rim, in most spots the edge does not fall away sharply. In some areas, if you were clumsy enough to fall over, you might go a few feet before you hit a tree, or rolled onto the trail.

I would not do the skywalk on a bet, even if I were drunk and someone were holding a gun on me.

Teddy Roosevelt said everyone should see the GC. Go.

If you do want to stand where the edge falls away sharply then there is a truly remarkable spot on the north rim called Toroweap. However I would not recommend it for a first time visitor. Or anybody who doesn't want to drive 60 miles over a rough dirt road where a flat tire and/or running into cattle is a common occurence (I managed to avoid both on my trip). It is a tricky place to find and generally poorly marked (or was back then in about 1995).

The south rim and Desert view on the east rim at sunset are the more traditional places that people visit the Grand Canyon.

The north rim has its own charms, is usually less crowded and is easier to combine with trips to the National Parks in Utah if you had lots of time. On the trip where I went to Toroweap I was on a 2 week car trip starting in OKC and traveled through Santa Fe, Mesa Verde NP in Colorado, the parks in Utah and the north rim, a stop over in Las Vegas and then a return trip along the south rim and the painted desert.

It was a grand trip indeed!

http://www.zionnational-park.com/toroweap.htm

This one focuses on the south rim:
http://www.parkfilms.com/gcviewpoints.html

Desert View provides a great spot for viewing the sunset over the Canyon.

Some years before on one of my trips to the south rim I stayed in the lodge on the rim, where I was greeted in the morning by a skunk ouside the picture window who apparently was a regular visitor and did the mule trip down to Phantom Ranch and back. Great fun but requires advanced planning and may not be possible all times of the year.

Toroweap!

That was the kind of thing I would do back in those days...

http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np-i ... a5500.html

Just looking at this picture of sitting on the edge makes me all iggy-wiggy inside. omg It totally creeps me out.

[sunflower]

I agree with Beebs...just looking at that picture, I need a valium! I can't imagine if I tried to even go remotely close to a place where I'd see down that far with nothing holding me back.

Helicopter ride - would be okay, if I am enclosed in something such as a plane or helicopter, I am not at all afraid. Semi-enclosed - like a roller coaster - has its moments but I'll do it. A mule or walking alone the edge myself, probably not so much!!!

It does seem like everything is really expensive, but I feel like I'm supposed to see it once in my life, so what's a couple hundred dollars. Better than losing it in Vegas, I guess.

[MarleysGh0st]

It does seem like everything is really expensive, but I feel like I'm supposed to see it once in my life, so what's a couple hundred dollars. Better than losing it in Vegas, I guess.

Well, you can certainly see a lot of magnificent vistas by just paying the standard park entrance fee and driving from one scenic overlook to the next, but this is one of the most exceptional places on Earth!

They also have (or had, at least, in '95) an Imax theater near the South Rim entrance, that can give you a glimpse at some of those big thrills for a fraction of the cost.

[sunflower]

It does seem like everything is really expensive, but I feel like I'm supposed to see it once in my life, so what's a couple hundred dollars. Better than losing it in Vegas, I guess.

Well, you can certainly see a lot of magnificent vistas by just paying the standard park entrance fee and driving from one scenic overlook to the next, but this is one of the most exceptional places on Earth!

They also have (or had, at least, in '95) an Imax theater near the South Rim entrance, that can give you a glimpse at some of those big thrills for a fraction of the cost.

That would be great, I won't even go to the canyon itself...I'll just tell people I saw the movie!

This is all, of course, weather permitting...

Marley, I looked up that hotel you mentioned and it looks fabulous! Unfortunately, they don't have any availability for the dates I can potentially be there. The Yavapai Lodge had a deal for $139 that included breakfast and a motorcoach tour. So maybe that's a possibility.

[Bob Juch]

I was there in 2006. You can see my photos at http://www.juch.org/2006_vacation_slideshow.htm

We didn't stay there so I got only a few photos.

The ones following the Grand Canyon are of Monument Valley and the Goosenecks.

[ghostjmf]

I have been to both rims (south a bunch of times) & in my memory while the north rim is still plenty scenic, if you want the views you "see in the pictures", go south rim.

I would make a day of it, just saying "yeah this is really it" & basking in the view & so forth, but you don't want to be there many days unless you're actually climbing down. Rafting through would be fun, but I haven't done it. (They run official trips, not "bring your own raft", dunno how far ahead they're booked.)

[andrewjackson]

I've camped on the South Rim the last two times I went. The campgrounds are about what you would expect at a huge tourist attraction.

We did that so we could get up early and do the Bright Angel trail up and down in one day. Once we only went to Indian Garden and the other time we went all the way to the river and back. They tell you not to do that and they are probably right.

[bazodee]

The road to the North Rim doesn't open until May; there are ways of visiting the North Rim off-season but it requires beaucoup planning.

From the National Park Service website:

North Rim Lodging and camping along with all other visitor services and facilities are only open from mid-May to mid-October. Reservations are strongly recommended. Additional facilities are available in the surrounding Kaibab National Forest, the Kaibab Lodge area, and Jacob Lake.

During winter months, the road to the North Rim, Highway 67, is often closed due to snow. After the close of visitor facilities in mid-October, there may be a period when the North Rim is open for day use only. (before the snow comes) During this time there are no services or overnight facilities available inside the park. The road from Jacob Lake to the North Rim (Highway 67) is subject to closure due to snow with little or no notice during this interval and then remains closed until mid-May.

[ulysses5019]

Toroweap was absolutely gorgeous when I went. I hiked down to the river to watch the rafters/kayakers go through (or portage around) Lava Falls.

http://roytennant.com/bubble.html

I've also hiked down the canyon to Havasupai:

http://www.havasupaitribe.com/waterfalls.html

The falls are incredibly beautiful.

[hbomb1947]

I'm going to the Grand Canyon myself next month (also an excursion from Las Vegas). I'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Express, about a mile from the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/gcnaz

The way I'll be getting there is to fly to Flagstaff, then rent a car (it's about an hour and a half drive from Flagstaff). I'm doing this to minimize my time behind the wheel, as I hate driving (IIRC from when I made my arrangements, Flagstaff is the closest airport to the chasm that is served by commercial airlines). But my journey will actually take a bit longer than if I just drove straight through from Nevada, since my flight plan involves changing planes in Phoenix. Total time between takeoff from McCarran to me pulling up at my hotel at the GC will be probably about 6 1/2 hours, and that doesn't even account for time spent at the airport before departure.

Actually, it will take even longer than that because, en route from Flagstaff to my hotel, I will be stopping at this place:

http://www.bedrockcityaz.com/

(I think it's also on the way if you're driving from Vegas, if you are going east on 40 and then north on 64; it is situated at the junction of highways 64 and 180, which you would pass as you are driving north towards the South Rim).

I had thought about the Skywalk on the West Rim, but everything I've read about that "attraction" tells me that it's horribly overpriced, and they don't even let you take your own camera on it (they try to force you to buy their own photos for like $20), and there are virtually no other amenities at the site. I would sort of be interested, though, in looking at the Skywalk from above or from a little distance back (to see all those people walking out over the abyss). The Skywalk is also nowhere near the place at the South Rim where I'll be staying.

[minimetoo26]

Suggestions for a nice day trip that isn't strenuous hiking, but walking and sightseeing. This is what I do with kids when my husband is trekking down to the bottom of the canyon, which is too much for little kids and hips and knees of a 40-something woman who has been pregnant four times:


Go through Williams, AZ. If it's lunch time, eat at Pine Country Diner (I think that's the name. Near the RR station.) Then have a malted at the counter of Twister's on the main street.

Go to the South Rim in the Bright Angel area. There's plenty to see and do just strolling along the rim path and if you feel like descending down a bit into the canyon the trail near the studio is easy enough for even a toddler in sandals to maneuver for a short distance and there are some old drawings on the wall you can see from there. The rim trail is paved and easy to walk and there is a bunch of stuff clustered around that area. You can drive to some of the other scenic overlooks easily (the most famous view is from Mather Point) and we usually go all the way to the Watchtower area. Going in the opposite direction from Bright Angel there are plenty of other overlooks, but that road is closed to cars in the summer when we go, so I've only gone by the free bus and gotten out where it stops so I don't know what parking is like in that area. It's also worth the trip and probably isn't a very long drive at all. Shorter than to the Watchtower.

Go back to Bright Angel and have dinner in the nearby El Tovar hotel, or if it's full then the Arizona Room behind Bright Angel. There is also a dining room in Bright Angel if the others are too expensive for what you were looking for, and a cafeteria in the Thunderbird that is off the rim and just down the road from Bright Angel.

We usually stay for at least 5 days, so that might be an ambitious itinerary for one day, but you'll see most of the high points. I'd love to do the railroad trip nitrah mentioned someday, but I think that usually involves an overnight at GC or Williams. I'm not sure what they offer outside of the summer season, though.

Sometimes heading back toward Vegas the road over the Hoover Dam is backed up for like forever in the summer since they inspect the trucks and vans crossing over, so go back through Bullhead City if that's the case.

My husband and my dad did one of those helicopter trips from Vegas, and that also included a bus tour of some of the overlooks with it. That was good for my dad who hadn't seen the canyon and wasn't as active as we are. I wasn't about to get into a helicopter for any reason, but it turned out they used a small airplane instead, so I could have gone but I'd been to the canyon several times before, so I just played some slots and took a nap instead, and they were back by 4 pm. So some of those tours are good for hitting the highlights in half a day!

[Bob Juch]

My photos were taken at Bright Angel.

[sunflower]

Thank you all for your great suggestions and cool pictures! Now I just need to figure out what I want to do!! I don't think I'm going to do anything that requires mega-planning (i.e., mules, rafts or helicopters) so I might just play it by ear, see how the weather is and figure it out when I get there. I can't imagine all of the hotels in the area will be booked up (although the one Marley recommended is...but I still might try to eat a meal there for the scenery!!). But I think the consensus is, south rim, especially at this time of year. Thanks again!!!