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Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. While you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend at the Grand Canyon!
•Fodor’s In Focus Grand Canyon National Park features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Grand Canyon National Park.
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
About This Book ............ 5
Planner ............ 6
When to Go ............ 10
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Grand Canyon ............ 11
History of the Park ............ 13
Geology of the Park ............ 15
Flora ............ 16
Fauna ............ 19
If You Like ............ 27
Chapter 2: Exploring the South Rim ............ 31
What to See ............ 33
Day Hikes ............ 45
Summer Sports & Activities ............ 53
Winter Sports & Activities ............ 59
Exploring the Backcountry ............ 59
Educational Programs ............ 60
Arts & Entertainment ............ 64
Shopping ............ 66
Chapter 3: Exploring the North Rim ............ 67
What to See ............ 68
Day Hikes ............ 73
Summer Sports & Activities ............ 80
Winter Sports & Activities ............ 84
Exploring the Backcountry ............ 84
Educational Programs ............ 85
Arts & Entertainment ............ 86
Chapter 4: Exploring the West Rim ............ 91
Backcountry Hikes ............ 96
Summer Sports & Activities ............ 98
Educational Programs ............ 101
Arts & Entertainment ............ 101
Chapter 5: Lodging & Dining in the Park ............ 103
Where to Eat ............ 105
Where to Stay ............ 109
Where to Camp ............ 116
Chapter 6: What’s Nearby ............ 121
Tusayan ............ 124
Williams ............ 129
Flagstaff ............ 135
Cameron Trading Post ............ 152
Lees Ferry Area ............ 154
Jacob Lake ............ 158
Elsewhere in the Arizona Strip ............ 159
Grand Canyon National Park Essentials ............ 161
Getting Started ............ 162
Booking Your Trip ............ 166
Transportation ............ 174
On The Ground ............ 179
About Our Writers ............ 192
Maps
Grand Canyon National Park ............ 8—9
The South Rim ............ 34
Desert View Drive ............ 40
Grand Canyon Village and Rim Trail ............ 46
Backcountry Trails ............ 52
The North Rim ............ 69
The West Rim ............ 91
What’s Nearby in Arizona ............ 123
Tusayan ............ 125
Flagstaff & Vicinity ............ 137