Grand Canyon
 

I hope to go to the Grand Canyon this summer, flying out to Flagstaff (?) and seeing several sights in just one weeks time. How much is really possible? I'm considering June or August (both probably too hot) and should be on this already. Any ideas?
Thanks.

Bring sunscreen, a good hat, plenty of water & weather-appropriate clothes & you should be fine. I've hiked the GC 3xs in August, it was hot but we had a wonderful time. If you're planning to hike in the canyon, try to stay inside the park the night before and get into the canyon early before the heat of the day sets in. Have a great time!

We were at the GC last summer in July. Yes, it was hot, but not horribly so. We hiked early in the morning. We stayed in the park at Yavapai Lodge, which I would recommend, and thought we really saw everything in two full days.

I would suggest June and as early in June as you can. Do you plan on spending all your time at the GC or do you have another destination in mind as well? Do you plan on hiking down into? Rafting trip is awesome, but pricey. But when you figure in that it includes lodging and meals, not so bad.

Since you have a week, you might consider The North Rim. A lot lot less people and a it is normally a lot cooler.

Another vote for rafting through the GC. First time that I've used the word "awesome" accurately. I'm not a camper, and this didn't convert me, but the entire 6-night trip was the most memorable thing I've ever done.

From Flagstaff in a week we did Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater/Wupatki National Monument, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park, Meteor Crater, Walnut Canyon Nat Mon, Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona, Montezuma's Castle/Well (I like the Well better, but then I've seen both several times), Verde Canyhon Railroad, Jerome, Tuzigoot Nat Mon., Lowell Observatory. Whew!!!

Don't fly into Flagstaff, unless you will be on one of the non-stops from LA. The time it takes connecting in PHX will very likely be longer than if you rent the car at PHX and drive. And that is even if the flight to Flag is not delayed.

I also suggest you try to get into one of the lodges on the rim -- El Tovar, Kachina, Thunderbird, or Bright Angel. Yavapai is about 1/2 mile or more away from the rim and Maswick is about 1/4 mile. Check now for availability

http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

If nothing is available, book what you can, but keep calling because there will definitely be some cancellations as you get closer to your travel date.

I would also recommend as early in June as you can. Sunscreen and lots of water, absolutely.

What you can see and do in a week depends a lot on whether you are big on hiking. You could easily spend 3 or more days at the GC if you are a hiker. If not, then an afternoon, sunset, sunrise, and the next morning would probably be enough.

If you spend a couple of days based in Flag, bigtyke has some good suggestions -- sunset crater/wupatki, Walnut Canyon, Painted Desert/Petrified Forest. I would skip Meteor Crater.

I would also spend a couple of days around the Sedona area. Lots to see and do:
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Red Rock Crossing / Red Rock State Park
Oak Creek Canyon
Jerome
Verde Canyon Railroad

Thanks for all the tips. Nice to think about as I hack ice and shovel snow in NY.

MikePinTucson is right about lodging on the rim if you can. In addition to the lodging listed you could try for an historic cabin. Relatively inexpensive & comfortable, we stayed in one before a 3 night stay at the Phantom Ranch. http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/bri...lodge-408.html They're a very short walk to the start of the Bright Angel Trail. If you call and they tell you "no vacancy" try again. And again if needed. They recommend you book a year in advance, but cancellations do happen. I was able to book an excellent room at El Tovar for the night of our 20th anniversary just 2 weeks in advance - while waiting to bring up the computer reservation page the agent kept politely explaining to me how unlikely it was that anything had opened up & then, there it was. An unforgettable anniversary; we stumbled out of bed to see sunrise at the rim of the canyon. MikePinTucson's suggestion for Flagstaff & Sedona are also great. I'm here in NY freezing my @#$! off as well, keep thinking desert. You will LOVE Arizona after this winter!

Would I truly be within feet of the rim at Bright Angel Lodge? And then would a walk or shuttle get me to the Kaibab trail? Daughter hoped to camp. Anyone with tips on that?

Yes, you will be very close, truly within feet or at least yards, of the rim at Bright Angel. And yes, there is a shuttle that will take you to the Kaibab trailhead. I can't help on camping. Look up the Grand Canyon on the nps.gov website, and you can see the national park's newsletter (that you get a copy of when you enter the national park). It has a lot of good info about shuttles, ranger programs, maps, etc.

Here is info on campgrounds at the south rim:

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cg-sr.htm

I would like to add -- at any of the rim lodges you will be a mere yards from the rim, in case you don't want or can not get a cabin. You can see the lodge locations on this map:

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisi...illage_map.pdf

So much wonderful info, and not some site I had stumbled onto on my own that charged a 10% fee, non-refundable, for reservations at GC. Thanks!

I just reserved a room for 3 at Bright Angel on Sunday, June 5. I was concerned I get something on the rim. My plans are still not set. Is a weekend the worst time to be at GC? Am excited to see other sights near Sedona.

During the Summer, the weekend is no worse than weekdays.

Lots to see and do around Sedona:

Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour (must-do)
Chapel of the Holy Cross (must-see, even if non-religious)
Red Rock Crossing, hike to Cathedral Rock
Bell Rock (or hike around Bell Rock / courthouse Butte)
Jerome
Verde Valley Railroad
Oak Creek Canyon
Slide Rock State Park



Favorite Restaurants:
Dahl & DiLuca
Cowboy Club Silver Saddle Room
Shugrue's Hillside (try for a patio table before sunset)

Other things closer to Flagstaff:
Walnut Canyon
Wupatki National Monument / sunset Crater

MikePin
How many days would the suggestions for Flagstaff take and for Sedona? Also, any idea how long it takes from Sedona to PHX (off rt 179- 120 miles) on either a Fri or Sat 9 am flight? Don't know if I'd be going through major rush traffic or is it more "rural" by airport?

Many thanks!

I know I would like to see into a cliff dwelling if close enough, or certainly hike near one. Thanks again.

From Sedona to PHX would be around 2 hours. No problem with traffic if on Saturday. Friday could be difficult, so you would want to allow a good 45 minutes more. If you do fly out on a Friday, I think it would be safer to stay overnight near the airport. The airport is pretty much in the center of the Phoenix metro area.

As far as amount of time to see the things around Flagstaff, You could see Walnut Canyon (primitive cliff dwellings), Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater easily in a day.

For cliff dwellings, Montezuma Castle is not far from either Flagstaff or Sedona. While not a cliff dwelling, tuzigoot National Monument does have some pueblo ruins.

Thanks.