Grand Canyon - Sunrise, Sunset
 

I've been reading threads about staying close to the Rim to view sunrise and sunset.

I've read that the motels aren't very close to observation points.

Could somebody explain the difference between walking over to the Rim and viewing from an observation point?

Thanks.

I see no difference. If you are speaking of various in-Park lodging at South Rim, distances are really short - you are talking about a 5 minute walk at most.

During most of the season, various observation points are reached only by NPS shuttle bus. We boarded at Bright Angel cabin area - it then makes a loop that I would estimate takes about an hour if you do not get off, but there are a couple dozen options for getting on and off - and you can walk in many places from one to another and then re-catch the bus.

However, I do not know how early in the AM or late in PM this bus runs.

Even though we went in mid-summer a few years ago we found peace and relative solitude at several observation points - only a few other people at many places - not the mobs some people fear.

So close is relative - unless you stay outside Park which involves a drive of 10-20 minutes.

Actually, I was trying to find out the viewing difference between walking to the Rim from Bright Angel or going to one of the observation viewpoints.

Ok, here is the deal.

When you stay at Bright Angel, you are about 25 feet from the edge of the GC where there is a large plaza where people come and observe all day long. What lots us early birds do is get up around 5am, throw on some sweatpants, get a cup of coffee at the BA cafe and take a seat on the rim to watch the colors of the canyon change as the sun comes up. when the sun has risen, the morning show is over and you can go back to bed, or go back to your room to take a shower and get ready for your day.

If you are staying at one of the motels outside the park, I imagine you would get up much earlier to shower and dress, drive to the park where you have to go through the entrance tolls, drive to the observation area and watch the sunrise. The observation area where the drive-in people go is a few miles from the BA area.

hmmm. I wonder if I answered your question.

The Bright Angel Lodge (not motel) is right at the rim. There is a trail along the rim in both directions. You are separated from a drop of oh, a thoughsand feet or so in most places, by a low stone wall. Many of us like to sit on that wall. You can see the sunrise from anyplace along the trail.

But---the edge of the rim curves around alot. Think of water with bays and peninsulas. The "peninsulas" are points that jut out into the canyon, and most are named. I think this is what you mean by "observation points". I think only one, Yavapai, is referred to as an observation point---there is an observaton station there, formerly the park's first interpretive center. There are other points---Hopi Point, Mohave Point, Powell Point, etc.---scattered along the rim. MOst are stops on the shuttle bus route, but there is nothing but a parking lot or pull-out there. Some are known for particular views---the Colorado River is visible from Mohave Point, for example.

The lodges (Bright Angel and El Tovar) are in an area of the rim tha is akin to a "bay"---a curve back from the canyon. You look down into a creek valley. There is a wall of stone leading out to Maricopa Point to your left; the stone is mostl the light-colored layer and doesn't not catch the first rays of the sunrise. If you walk from that area to the east, towards Yavapai Point, you will get an ever-expanding view of east-ward facing formations that catch the sunrise.

Enzian is correct. The observation/view points jut out into the canyon, so you will see more of the main canyon. The area right by the Bright Angel trailhead (which is close to Bright Angel cabins) will give you a view of that side canyon, but not the grand, sweeping views that GC is known for. If you got the nps.gov/grca website and download a few maps of GC and the village area, you'll get a better understanding of all this.

Whoa--correct, but my typing is atrocious. I do know how to spell a "thousand", and I'd love to able to edit out that double negative in the next to last sentence. Gotta take time to proofread next time.

What are the approximate times for the sunrise and sunsets in early July?

Sunrise, sunset for anywhere in the world --
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunrise.html

Use Flagstaff or Phoenix for approximation if Grand Canyon AZ if isn't an option.

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/

Click on the state you're interested in to get a listing of most cities/towns in that state.

Well, it was clear until people started to dispute things.

Life isn't easy.

Myer, The only way for you to settle this is to spend 2 nights in the Grand Canyon, so you can do the sunrise/sunset from the walkway next to Bright Angel Lodge one day and from one of the points the next. I'm pretty confident that you will like both. Just to make sure you do a good comparison, try for 4 nights so you can do each sunrise/sunset twice at each location. We really liked the sunset at Yaki Point and only shared it with a very few people. Not crowded at all.

I'm confused. Is there a dispute here? Or is Myer being given conflicting information on a different thread?

Most guidebooks do say the Yaki Point is one of the best places to watch the sunrise. But after March 1, it can only be reached by shuttle, or a long walk. Does the shuttle run early enough to catch the sunrise?

Last week the shuttle ran early enough to catch the sunrise. We could have gotten there in total darkness if we had wished, I believe.

Well, that's good to know.

But I'm still wondering why Myer said "it was clear until people started t dispute things"? What isn't clear?

It isn't clear whether to stay at Bright Angel and go out and mingle with the crowds while the sun rises and shows only what part of the canyon you can see from back on the valley or if you should get up a half hour earlier to catch the shuttle out to a point where you get to watch the sunrise light up the whole expanse of the canyon. Clearly a dilemma.

I see. What a terrible quandary!

When we were there last April we found no "crowds" right in front of Bright Angel at sunrise. At sunset, yes, lots of people, but not at sunrise. We saw only one photographer setting up his tripod, and one or two joggers. We walked east along the rim for a mile or so just to catch the ever-changing views and watch the sun strike the different cliff faces. But hardly anyone else was up at that time of day. It was, by the way, very cold, which may have been the reason.

I don't want anybody to think I've abandoned the thread I started. I've been reading the responses but have been at the Doaral golf torunament and haven't had time to jump back in.

I expect to take the Desert View Drive the day I get there. Based on what I see and if I can find out when the shuttle runs, I'll make a decision where to watch sunrise/sunset.

Thanks to all for the info.

The shuttle buses only go east as far as Yaki point. If you want to view the sunrise or sunset from a point farther east than that you will have to drive. Here is the information from the National Park Service on the shuttles.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/gran...sportation.htm

Note that the shuttles begin one hour before sunrise and continue until one hour after sunset.

When we were there we viewed the sunset from the main area outside BA lodge - beautiful! We caught the sunrise from the South Kaibab trailhead - beautiful! Storm rolled in that night, no sunset just thunder and lightning - awesome! Next day, cloudy, misty, light rain, sun peeking though clouds - beautiful!

I guess what I am saying is don't get too hung up on being at the right spot for the sunrise/sunset, it's all spectacular!