2020-09-04 04:04:51
The Grand Canyon has been amazing humans for as long as humans have been around to lay eyes on it. The Hopi revere the Grand Canyon as the place of their emergence. Explorer John Wesley Powell declared that its beauty could not be adequately represented by speech or art. The astronaut Harrison Schmitt, trying to describe what it was like to set foot on the moon, compared the feeling to three things: falling in love for the first time, the birth of his first child and “standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon.” At 277 miles long, as much as 18 miles wide and a full mile deep, the Grand Canyon is the second-largest canyon on the planet, and its colorful walls contain rock layers—the oldest of those layers being 1.8 billion years old—that reveal a timeline of Earth’s history. In 1919, the Grand Canyon was designated a national park, and since then, the National Park Service has been preserving the culture, history and natural beauty of this immortal destination, as well as welcoming generations of visitors to experience its wonder. A FIRST-TIMER’S ITINERARY Packed with attractions, adventures and activities, this three-day itinerary in Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim covers all the must-see stops for your first visit to this iconic destination. DAY 1 Perk up to the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee as you walk through the doors of Bright Angel Bicycles & Café at Mather Point. This shop at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center uses locally roasted beans for its specialty lattes, mochas and more. Rent a bike from the café and then pedal approximately 3.5 miles (one way) along the paved Greenway Trail and a traffic-restricted road (shuttle buses only) to the panoramic Yaki Point, where you can watch the morning sunlight sweep across the canyon. This family-friendly route takes about 1.5 hours round-trip. Stroll the Rim Trail to explore local history: the Yavapai Museum of Geology, with its educational exhibits; Hopi House, a Mary Colter-designed Hopi pueblo-style structure dating back to 1905; and Kolb Studio, showcasing art and history exhibits. DAY 2 Follow the 25-mile Desert View Drive and pull over at the many overlooks along the way: Grandview Point, Tusayan Ruin and the Mary Colter-designed Desert View Watchtower, built in 1932 in the style of Ancestral Puebloan towers, with historic murals by famous Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. After exploring the Desert View Watchtower, walk over to the Desert View Trading Post to grab a bite to eat for lunch. Fill up on “Indian tacos” (think: taco filling wrapped in fry bread) or hot dogs, and then order a scoop of ice cream or freshly made fudge to savor on the outdoor picnic tables. Let someone else do the driving as you take in picture-perfect views of the Grand Canyon at dusk. On a Sunset Interpretive Bus Tour, enjoy the 1.5-hour ride west along the rim, and watch the sky transform into a palette of colors as the sun dips beyond the earth. DAY 3 Hike the family-friendly Bright Angel Trail, which offers potable water stations and restrooms along the way. The first switchback is an ideal spot for turning around if you have small children in tow, and the 1.5-Mile Resthouse is a popular stop for first-time canyon hikers and late starters. Find a good spot on the outcropping at the popular Mather Point overlook, just a short walk from the visitor center, and take in one last sunset as the canyon and sky seem to meld together in a picturesque display of pinks, purples, oranges and reds. For dinner, make your way to The Grand Hotel at The Grand Canyon, located a mile from the south entrance of Grand Canyon National Park in Tusayan. Indulge in a steak dinner and live music at the Canyon Star Steakhouse, and then unwind with a draft beer at the adjacent saloon. HIKE SAFE A fun hike is a safe hike. Before hitting the trail, put safety first by taking a few basic precautions. First, choose a trail that best suits your skill level. Check weather conditions and pack the appropriate clothing and foot attire. Before leaving, tell someone where you’re going. Bring a map of the trail, and be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks. While you’re hiking, always stay on the trail, steer clear of wildlife and take breaks as often as needed. Find more safety tips at nps.gov/articles/hiking-safety.htm. the GRAND TOUR BY LAND Hop in a Hummer with Buck Wild Hummer Tours for an open-air adventure led by a knowledgeable tour guide. You’ll stop at some of the Grand Canyon’s most popular overlooks along the way while learning about the history of the region and the ancient people who have inhabited the land for centuries. BY AIR Get a bird’s-eye view on the 30-minute North Canyon helicopter tour by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Depart near the Grand Canyon Village and soar over the Kaibab National Forest, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. BY WATER Most Grand Canyon rafting trips require a multi-day expedition, but the Antelope Canyon & River Adventure by Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines includes a scenic flight to Page, a guided hiking tour of Antelope Canyon and a 15.5-mile motorized float on the Colorado River—all in a day. BY MULE Book a Canyon Vistas Mule Ride to travel along the East Rim Trail on the back of a surefooted mule—the way canyon visitors have been transported since the 1800s. This 4-mile trek includes a number of stops to take pictures of panoramic vistas. GRAND CANYON Practical Planning Tips PEAK SEASON May October BEST TIME TO VISIT January February With the kids out of school, summertime is undoubtedly the busiest time of year, as visitors from all over the world come to the Grand Canyon to enjoy camping, outdoor adventures and family vacations. If you’re staying during this time, be sure to book your lodging early, as reservations start filling up nine months to a year in advance. For cooler weather, lighter crowds and better lodging availability, plan your trip during winter months. Bring your tent or RV to enjoy the great outdoors at one of the many campsites in the park. Two of the three National Park Service campgrounds accept reservations: Mather Campground on the South Rim and North Rim Campground. On the South Rim, Desert View Campground is first-come, first-serve, and Trailer Village RV Park is a concessioner-run RV park with full hook-ups. If roughing it isn’t quite your style, choose from numerous hotels, both inside and outside the park. Located at the top of Bright Angel Trailhead, the historic Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins, designed by Mary Colter in 1935, provides rustic accommodations close to outdoor adventure. Take your pick from budget-friendly lodge rooms with shared bathrooms, standard lodge rooms with private bathrooms or private cabins (one of which was home to one of Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”). Thunderbird Lodge and Kachina Lodge are popular choices for families, due to their casual, modern aesthetic and convenient location within walking distance to many of the park’s attractions. Perched on the edge of the South Rim, the European chalet-style El Tovar Hotel, which opened in 1905, offers spectacular views, one-of-a-kind rooms and suites, and fine dining in the famous El Tovar Dining Room. Just a mile from the entrance of the park in nearby Tusayan, The Grand Hotel at The Grand Canyon is the area’s only AAA Three Diamond hotel. The rustic chalet-style hotel offers an indoor heated swimming pool and hot tub, a steakhouse and saloon, and plush rooms with a kitchenette. On the North Rim (open mid-May to mid-October, weather dependent), book one of the cozy cabins at the historic Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim to stay amid towering pine trees and just steps away from the Bright Angel Point Trail. This landmark lodge boasts cliffside views and an on-site restaurant serving up hearty, regionally inspired dishes. GETTING AROUND Take advantage of the Grand Canyon National Park’s free shuttle buses that operate on set routes throughout the park, including the Village (Blue) Route, connecting the visitor center with lodging and other facilities; Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route, a figure-eight route between the visitor center and five scenic viewpoints; Hermit Road (Red) Route, connecting Grand Canyon Village and Hermits Rest, with scenic overlook stops along the way; and the Tusayan (Purple) Route, a park-and-ride service between the community of Tusayan and the park. The early-morning Hiker’s Express Shuttle transports hikers to the South Kaibab Trailhead from Bright Angel Lodge, the Backcountry Information Center and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. For a $90 fee (one way), the Trans-Canyon Shuttle takes visitors between the North and South Rims. SOUTH RIM Most easily accessible from Phoenix, Sedona or Flagstaff, the South Rim welcomes more visitors than the North Rim and offers the most amenities and attractions in terms of lodging, dining, tours, transportation, viewpoints and family-friendly experiences. It is also open year-round. As this area tends to be much busier—particularly during peak season—be sure to book reservations well in advance. OR 5 HOURS: approximate drive time between North and South Rim NORTH RIM Quieter, more remote and offering fewer services, this rugged portion of Grand Canyon National Park receives fewer visitors and offers a more outdoor-minded experience. Due to its higher elevation, the North Rim is also cooler in temperature and experiences heavy snowfall in winter, resulting in a shorter season. (It’s open from mid-May through mid-October.)
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