Getting to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
 

We will be visiting USA in October from Australia for our son's wedding. One of our stops will be the Grand Canyon. Have been unable to locate any helicopter trips from the south rim to the bottom of the canyon on the internet. Has anyone done this or have suggestions on who to contact please?

There is no helicopter trip to the bottom; as a matter of fact, flights over the canyon are very restricted. Enjoy the view from the top, or hike down (you can do it part way...).

Every chopper tour follows the same exact routes as defined by the FAA. There are tours that incl both chopper and boat tours in the canyon upriver from GC south rim
This is an example
http://www.grandcanyonairlines.com/o...ntureindex.htm

"Thelma and Louise"? :D

Seriously..I don't know if they have discontinued them but they used to do either donkey or mule rides down to the bottom of the canyon. Maybe someone who has been there recently will know.

Yes, there are burro rides down, but in October? Chopper flights/small plane rides are nice, but again, no one can take you to the bottom. And, raft trips are booked years in advance. Better check pretty soon for reservations for any of this stuff...

Sylvia, I was there in October, the weather was perfect, they had mule rides and plane or chopper flights, not sure, part of our group took a flight, they said it's a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience.

My point again, being:
1: October is coming up very fast
2: Many things must be booked in advance, esp. the mules
3: There is no "to the bottom" helicopter flight

Actually, there can be flight "from the bottom" when you hike down and can't get up, but it will be expensive...

The mules are reserved 1.5-2 years out but I'd call daily for cancellations, if you really want to do it.

We're hiking down in March and we made reservations for the dorms at the bottom 1.5 years ago.

There are two mule trips to choose from: the overnite trip to the bottom and the 7 hour day trip. Weight restrictions apply: you must be under 200 lbs, full clothed and equipped for the trip. This later trip may be easier to book. Good luck on your trip. We just got back from the GC on Sunday. It was spectacular.

MY

From the South Rim there are several trails on which you can hike a short distance and then turn around. While certainly not the bottom of the canyon, it gives you a whole different perspective on the Canyon even if you only do a one mile hike. Bright Angel Trail, from South Rim has marked stops at one and 3 miles - then you turn around and hike back up.

Remeber, no matter how far and what means you use to go into the Canyon, getting out is 10 times are hard.

Hi everyone - thanks for replying.

For anyone interested in getting to the bottom without a mule I thought I'd let you know that there are helicopter trips to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

They originate in Las Vegas. I post the links here in case anyone is contemplating a trip to GC from Las Vegas.

However we have booked a hotel for the night on the South Rim and therefore are not interested in the flight/s from Las Vegas. Hiking is OUT for us, one is incapable of walking too far.

http://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/heloairgd.htm

http://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/airhlbt.html

Thanks Fairhope for the other link - it's tempting indeed.

The flight from LV is described as:

"Descend approximately 4,000 feet and land on the floor of the canyon at the Hualapai Indian reservation. This is the only place in the canyon that aircraft are allowed to fly in and land."

FYI - However, this is not the same area to which the mules or most of the hikers go. It is outside the National Park Boundries. ((R))

For anyone interested, we took the Papillon Helicopter flight to the bottom of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas and had a champagne lunch by the Colorado River. It was a wonderful experience for a very special day and was worth every cent. Spectacular!

I'm sorry for those unable to hike or ride to get a view of the canyon from within. It is lovely and surprisingly different from the view from the rim, but you take what you can and enjoy it all--it's still beautiful from above.

I just wanted to say how grateful I am, though, that the park <i>doesn't</i> allow helicopter flights into the most heavily touristed areas. The peace and quiet is part of the beauty of the Grand Canyon--helicopter tours are putting a serious dent in my enjoyment of Sedona.

But then, we are sailors, and to us there is nothing more wonderful than turning off that iron jib, hoisting your sail and enjoying the solitude of a wind driven ride across the water....the moment the motor goes off and the sail goes up is a magical transition, yet there are those who'd be bored silly by the same, but thrilled by a cigarette boat or the likes of &quot;The Screamer&quot; at Clearwater Beach! (Yikes!) :) We've just got to co-exist and the Park rangers for the GC have the perfect solution, IMHO.