Grand Canyon - October - help with itinerary
 

Is late October to late to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon (weather wise). If it is not, would appreciate help with planning a ten day trip. What areas to see, time we should spend at Grand Canyon and other places, etc. Much help needed! If this area is not good for this time of year, then were? California (red wood forest area?)

I've been in early October and the weather was perfect. Not sure about late October. Other places to see would be Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. They make a great circle trip if you start in Las Vegas.

Utahtea

I assume you're referring to the South Rim? The North Rim closes mid-October I believe.

I really don't know anything about the south or north rim, so I'm not sure, but I assume if north is closed, I'd have to consider south. Thanks for any imput and I've never been to the western side of our great country.

The North Rim does close mid-October but the South Rim is open all year. The South Rim has more and IMHO, the better views anyways. By October the crowds have cleared out.

How long you spend at the Grand Canyon will depend on if you plan on hiking down into the canyon or not. I'd spend 2 days and 3 nights just to explore the rim and then add one more day and night if you plan to hike into the canyon.

Utahtea

We did an 11-day trip to Arizona in late Oct.2 003 ... It was great and 11 days was just right (so would 10) Here was our itinerary ...

Fly into Phoenix; drive to Sedona
3 nights - Sedona (Enchantment Resort)
3 nights - Grand Canyon S.Rim (ElTrovar)
1 night - Monument Valley (Gouldings)
1 night - Canyon de Chelley
3 nights - Phoenix

With just 10 nights I would have stayed only 2 nights in Phoenix. Let me know if you want any more details. It was a great trip and the weather in October was just right. High 80s in Phoenix; High 70s/low 80s in Sedona. Low 70s/high 60s at Grand Canyon (although cool at night). I think we ran into a bit of a heat spell and it could be a bit cooler that time of year.

Cher: You would fly into Phoenix, instead of Los Vegas?