Grand Canyon
Feb 14th, 1999, 04:26 PM
#1
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Grand Canyon
Hi, I'm going to Phoenix for four days. I want to see the Grand Canyon, the Lake Powell, Arches NP and Canyonland NP. Do you think is it possible in 4 days ? Is it a good trip to walk and sleep inside the Grand Canyon or is it true that it's enough to do only half way of the trail and coming back 'cause the last 1/2 mile is not very pretty ?
How long do we have to stay to the Lak Powell and is it better to take a boat or just walk around ?
Thank you.
How long do we have to stay to the Lak Powell and is it better to take a boat or just walk around ?
Thank you.
Feb 14th, 1999, 07:34 PM
#2
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What you propose doing is impossible to accomplish in four days. Why? Because the distances are too great. It is a one-day drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, a distance of 240 miles. You probably could hike down half way...and back...IF you are in superb physical condition. For every hour going down, allow four hours coming back to the top. It is a very steep trail. From the south rim of the Grand Canyon to Lake Powell is about 175 miles via Cameron, Highway 89, and on to Page. Take a boat ride from Wahweap to Rainbow Bridge; six hours round trip. From Page to Moab, Utah allow 175 miles, to see Arches. Allow half a day just for Arches. Canyonlands could take you a full week to see it all. And then where will you go? Back to Phoenix? That, Bruno, is a very, very, very long way. If it were mine to do, I would concentrate on the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell and leave Canyonlands and Arches for another trip. And you did not say when you were going. Summer is a poor time to go; spring or fall are much cooler and much less crowded periods. Have a great trip!
Feb 15th, 1999, 06:08 AM
#4
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I think Al has valid points on the distances and time required. From Phoenix to the GC is at best 5 hours of driving time and, on the way, you pass by some natural features worth seeing, like Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona and Sunset Crater north of Flagstaff. Two nights on the South Rim of the GC would give you a chance to visit many of the overlooks and take the West Rim Drive on the shuttle bus. Just one day there would not give you time to do the Canyon justice.
If you are going to hike down, the return trail is indeed very steep and very, very dry. I tried it once when I was 32 and in good shape from playing a lot of tennis, but I needed 3 hours to come back from 1 hour down, and I was tired at the end. Although the trail is STEEP, it is not impossible. (A friend of mine who was 60 rafted in to Phantom Ranch and then hiked out with a pack. But he was/is exceptional.)
Canyonlands as Al says is a long jump away. If you keep the Petrified Forest until last, you could always not go there, because to me it is the least interesting of the places you mention in your second post.
If you are going to hike down, the return trail is indeed very steep and very, very dry. I tried it once when I was 32 and in good shape from playing a lot of tennis, but I needed 3 hours to come back from 1 hour down, and I was tired at the end. Although the trail is STEEP, it is not impossible. (A friend of mine who was 60 rafted in to Phantom Ranch and then hiked out with a pack. But he was/is exceptional.)
Canyonlands as Al says is a long jump away. If you keep the Petrified Forest until last, you could always not go there, because to me it is the least interesting of the places you mention in your second post.
Feb 15th, 1999, 06:17 AM
#5
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In the Forums section of www.gorp.com, look under Destinations, National Parks, and then Grand Canyon. I there give my spiel about taking care while hiking in the Canyon. Unless you are in Olympic shape, you will NOT be able to hike from the Rim to the River and back in a day.
If you plan to spend the night in the Canyon, you MUST have an overnight permit, which are invariably sold out months in advance. DON'T give a sob story to the Rangers, they've heard them all a million times.
Check out www.kaibab.org for more info on the Canyon.
If you plan to spend the night in the Canyon, you MUST have an overnight permit, which are invariably sold out months in advance. DON'T give a sob story to the Rangers, they've heard them all a million times.
Check out www.kaibab.org for more info on the Canyon.
Feb 16th, 1999, 04:10 PM
#6
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This is the itinerary we use when relatives or friends visit from other states or countries. Day 1....leave early from Phoenix and drive to Monument Valley...Stay at Goulding's Lodge...have lunch and take three hour afternoon tour, back for dinner, bed. Day 2....after breakfast at Gouldings, leave for Grand Canyon, lunch, dinnner and poking around during the day and after dinner. Day 3....after breakfast and beautiful canyon sunrise, leave for Sedona, via Flagstaff and lunch there, dinner and evening in Sedona. Day 4....poke around Sedona a bit, head toward Phoenix, through Jerome, an old mining town with terrific museum, further on down the highway, visit Montezuma's Castle and back to Phoenix. Believe me, this is a full four day trip, busy every moment and our visitors are especially intrigued with the different vegetation and terrain we pass on the way to our destination and back. I was born in Phoenix and do many trips and this really covers beautiful areas...do not miss Monument Valley.
Feb 17th, 1999, 09:02 AM
#7
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Karen...your guest itinery is wonderful (having done all those things myself), but I would slightly reverse the order: From Phoenix to Sedona (via Jerome & Montezuma Castle) to Grand Canyon (via Flagstaff) to Monument Valley...then (enroute back to Phoenix) you can easily add Canyon de Chelly which is more Grand to me than the Canyon.
