We are searching for a place to go for the Winter Break in December/January. We live in Miami and don't want to do the beach.
I know the weather in Sedona is mild in the winter, but we aren't sure if the Grand canyon is doable in the winter.
Any thoughts??
Thanks!!!

You are probably to late for Lodging unless you get can get a cancellation by someone.

I just checked lodging and most of the in park hotels have availability. I really want to know if the weather is OK in the early winter to do all that is to do in GC.

we aren't sure if the Grand canyon is doable in the winter.
Any thoughts??

I've driven up many times in the winter, trying to time it so I could photograph during snowstorms. South rim is definitely doable, but the north rim is basically shut down unless you can cross-country ski for many miles.

It will definitely be real cold (probably teens at night, maybe lower) but usually bright sunny days with highs in the 40's or 50's.

In a "dry" year there are few snowstorms, in a "wet" year maybe a storm blowing thru once a week. To give an example of the extremes, at the ski area near Flagstaff they could only open 4 days all winter a couple years ago in a dry winter, but are sometimes open from November to April during a wet winter.

Personally I like it up there when it snows so I'd just go for it. As long as it's not snowing on your travel days it's actually preferrable to be there while it's snowing because of the great beauty when the storm clears.

As you've seen there are many openings (El Tovar usually fills up around Christmas but typically Maswik and Yavapai have openings) so you could always fly into Phoenix and then keep an eye on the weather and if it's OK then go up there on fairly short notice, and if not then stay in the lower desert areas, where it isn't cold and you might get a bit of rain but no snow.

I really want to know if the weather is OK in the early winter to do all that is to do in GC.

You can't do river trips and the hiking can be challenging in the upper sections because the trails are usually icy, but you can still hike if you rent crampons at the store. Other than that, the roads get shut down for brief stretches when it snows hard but they are usually plowed quickly. Everything on the south rim is open.

Bill

The Grand Canyon south rim is at 7300 feet. You should be prepared for winter driving and winter climate conditions, which would be freezing temps and snow.

Hmmm, we drove from Yosemite last winter on highway 49, although it was unbelievably spectacular I am not sure we have recovered from that drive!! I will have to think about it.

Any other ideas on a great non beach and non ski winter vacation??