Hi,

Need some advise... we have reservations for El Tovar for the first part of March. We are a family of 4, children are 4 and 7... We really want to go to GC over Spring Break in mid April but only available lodging is Bright Angel Lodge cabins, which we will need to have 2 rooms next door to each other (but they can't guarantee this). So will March be able to enjoy the outdoors or just too cold... OR should we wait to April and stay at Bright Angel lodge which would require us to split up between 2 rooms? Just looking for some advise...

Thanks,

We were there a few years back the second week of March. There was ice on the top part of the Bright Angel trail. We were wearing jackets, but it was not unpleasant. We were based in Flagstaff...some days we were hiking without coats, some days we were in our winter coats, and on the last day we were there it snowed (but over 80 degrees in Phoenix the same day!)

Either option would be fine with me. Have only stayed at Bright Angel once, in a small poorly furnished cabin with a creaky porch that groaned when others walked on it, but it was OK. For sure it was perfectly located, just a few steps from the beginning of the Bright Angel trail.

Have stayed at El Tovar three times, once the room was really good, once the room was very tiny, once got stuck in a first floor room with what seemed like hundreds of people walking by going into the lobby (from outside), and didn't enjoy that one very much. Surely ET is better furnished but it's not exactly a bargain either.

As for the weather, in early March it is typically sunny and brisk, with maybe a 1 in 4 chance of a snowstorm in any given week. Usually it snows hard, then clears quickly (fast moving storms blowing in off the Pacific across California), and the canyon never looks better than it does after a good hard snowstorm, so you'd be lucky to experience this.

Mid-April it's usually brisk but I'm guessing 8-10 F warmer than early March, so somewhat better odds on the weather. Maybe 1-in-20 chance of a snowstorm by mid-April, but still a chance.

Because of the age of your kids I'd probably go with the certainty of adjacent rooms and go to El Tovar in March. Bundle up the kids (proably 20 F at night, 45 - 50's day time highs) and go for it. And it will be less crowded too.

Bill

we were there in march several years ago and it was snowing. There was about a 5" accumulation but the next day the sun came out and much of it melted (although it was still chilly). The trails were icey, and special spiked hiking boots were recommended if you were to venture into the canyon at all. We didn't attempt to do any hikes because of this (we didn't plan on hiking all the way down in any case but couldn't really hike at all because of the ice). We took the shuttle bus that goes back and forth along the rim with stops at all the scenic spots. We were only there 1 night and stayed at the kachina lodge (generic, motel-like with good views). The El Tovar and Bright angel were right next to it so you can still relax in the El Tovar lobby or eat at the restaurants at either place.

A couple of thoughts.

I believe some of the BA cabins have two rooms with enough bedding to accommodate your whole family. I think they're called the "Historic Cabins". They don't have a rim view but then, neither will the room at ET unless you have one of the suites.

Also, April is a popular time for hiking into the canyon. Since backcountry permits can't be secured until 4 months prior, many hikers make multiple reservations to cover potential itineraries. (For instance, we have 4 different sets of reservations already for next June.) You will definitely see some cancellations between now and April.

Personally, I'd go in April and book what you can at BA and check back with Xanterra often for cancellations. Don't rely on their website; many of the cancellations don't seem to make it back into the online pool.