I'll be in Las Vegas on the 15th and we're planning to take a land tour to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Is this tour advisable at this time? I heard that the weather is pretty cold right now. Would it be difficult for a group of sun lovers to enjoy the trip? I need your help! Can you also suggest an alternate tour from LV? Thanks.

You might try a trip to Zion National Park. The S. Rim is at 7,000' elevation and Zion is only around 4,000' elevation.

I won't guarentee that it will be sunny but it will be a lot warmer than the S. Rim. It's also a lot closer and makes a perfect over night trip.

Other warmer areas would be Valley of Fire State Park, NV and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area just outside of Las Vegas.

Utahtea

Thanks. Would substituting Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam make up for missing the Grand Canyon?

Don't miss the Canyon!

I've been to all of the places noted there (including Zion twice), and combined they don't equal the Grand Canyon.

It will be cold at the Canyon, particularly at night. It may even snow (of course, it may even snow in Vegas). But the Grand Canyon is one spot that's an absolute must-see.

Arrange overnight lodging in Tusayan (it'll be pretty much impossible to get lodging within the Park at this late a date, but it can't hurt), then drive the five hours from Vegas to the Canyon in time for sundown. Get up early enought the next morning to see the sunrise. Yes, it will be VERY cold as you do this, but it WILL be worth it.

One minor disclaimer: if the humidity is high, fog may cover the Canyon and be a pre-cursor for snow. Try to go on a crisp, clear day. That will make it colder, but the view will be all the better.

Can you save the Canyon for another trip? If so, I agree with Utahtea- Zion is a much shorter drive, and close by LV is Valley of Fire, the dam, and Red Rock. You could also drive over to Furnace Creek in Death Valley.

For what this is worth, these two Floridians (plus kids and their spouses from Dallas and warm sunny Phoenix) just returned Monday from the Grand Canyon, and although cold, it was as fabulous as ever!

We did the 12 mile hike to Plateau Point and all had stripped down to T-shirts by the time we got down. I have silk long underwear for ski trips and was fine with that. There was a bit of ice on the upper portions of Bright Angel, but I've seen it much worse other years and it wasn't a concern for hiking. It would be absolutely incredible to see the Canyon with snow in/on it.

I was astounded at how crowded it seemed this year--people evidently aren't put off by the cold. I was also amused to note that as Americans, we just may have been in the minority there.

I just checked Xanterra's online res system and there is availability at Bright Angel, El Tovar, Kachina and Maswik for your dates. Yavapi, where we stayed this time, is now closed for the season. That tells you it's a pretty slow time, but I'd far rather see it then, than with hordes of people!

All this said, I also love Zion and would prefer that for the wider variety of hiking, though not the scenery. The Grand Canyon is just something you have to see once, and if you can chose a time when there are fewer tourists, the better you are going to like it no matter the temperature, I'll guarantee!

IMHO, Red Rock Canyon is no comparison to the Grand Canyon or Zion. I'm not a big fan of visiting dams.

I would wait and see what the weather is like once you get to Las Vegas. I just can't imagine hotel accomodations filling up at either the Grand Canyon or Zion at this time of the year.

There is really no place like the Grand Canyon. You are at the rim looking down and bad weather (snow, fog) can keep you from seeing the canyon.

In Zion, on the other hand, you are in a canyon and even with the worst of weather you can't miss the beauty.


Utahtea

Can't you just bundle up? It might be chilly at the Canyon, but it won't be unbearable. Seeing it in the off-season, without the crowds, is really wonderful.