BEABOY

Hey everyone, need some suggestions on planning a trip to Arizona/Grand Canyon trip next April (spring break). I have already booked my plane tickets into and out of Phoenix for 1 week. My girlfriend and I are trying to see as much interesting stuff as possible. I have seen alot on Sedona, should I add that to my itinerary? What changes should I make? I am worried maybe I am packing too much stuff in. Suggestions are appreciated. Here is what I am looking at now:
Day 1: Arrive in PHX in afternoon and then drive to GC (Bright Angel Lodge)(4 hr drive)
Day 2: GC
Day 3: GC
Day 4: Leave Grand Canyon and head up to Page/Lake Powell (3 hr drive), Spend afternoon in Page
Day 5:Take the half day float on the Colorado then drive to Canyon de Chelly (4 hr drive)
Day 6: Explore Canyon de Chelly and then drive to Holbrook (2 hr drive)
Day 7: Spend day at petrified forest and painted desert then drive back to Phoenix (5 hr drive)
Day 8: Fly out from Phoenix

utahtea

Yes, that's a lot but probably do-able. Do you plan on hiking down into the Grand Canyon? If so then you will need the 3 nights there. If not, then you could cut out one night and use somewhere else.

The Colorado River Float trip in April will be between 11:15 and 3:30 so by the time you reach Canyon de Chelly it's going to be dark. I would spend the night in Kayenta, AZ instead and the next morning, at least drive the 25 miles north to see Monument Valley before heading to Canyon de Chelly. This will make for one long day. Unless you hire a guide or go on a guided tour, there's only one hike into the canyon. You can see a lot from the S. Rim but that won't take to long to do.

http://www.lakepowell.com/tours_schedule.php

Utahtea

Krissie

I agree with Utahtea (wise words as always!) if you are not hiking in GC then one night would do it. Monument Valley is a must see. We did our 7 day tour this April. Tucson,Holbrook,Chinle,Mexican Hat,GC,Tucson(2 nights) taking in Salt River Canyon,Petrified Forest, Painted Desert,Canyon de Chelly,Monument Valley,GC,Sedona,Sonoran Desert Museuem,San Xavier del Bac and Nogales along the way. The details etc are in my report at: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/58bd4/4fc/ under my Arizona Travel Page, Intro, Travelogue and Hints and Tips.(don't be put off by the header and mug shot just scroll down the page). Have a wonderful time!

justme22

absolutely if not hiking the canyon go to monument valley!!!!!

j_999_9

I don't know where you flying from, but the only thing I can add is that the 4-hour drive from PHX to the GC seems like a tiring way to start the trip, especially if you're coming off a long flight. Maybe it won't be so bad, however, if you share the driving.

BEABOY

Thanks for all of the great advice. We are planning on hiking the GC, but probably not all the way down. As for the long drive when I got in, I was a little worried about that, should I spend the night in Sendona? I will definitley add in Monument Valley to my plans... Any more help or insight is appreciated, I will post a revised plan on here later this week for comments... THanks again for everyone's help..

BEABOY

An update for this trip, here is my new plan... Looking for comments/suggestions...
DAy 1 - Arrive PHX, drive to Sedona
Day 2 - See Red Rocks, etc.. - drive to Grand Canyon
Day 3 - Day at Grand Canyon
Day 4 - Drive Grand Canyon to Gouldings
Day 5 - Monument Valley then drive to Canyon de Chelly
Day 6 - Canyon de Chelly Tour then drive to Holbrook
Day 7 - Petrified Forest then drive back to PHX
Day 8 - Fly out of PHX


Thanks

utahtea

Plan looks good!

You mentioned hiking at the Grand Canyon. Just keep in mind if you hike down INTO the canyon, they tell you to allow 2 - 3 hours for hiking back OUT of the canyon for each hour you hike down! If you hike along the rim then you can just pick up a shuttle bus to take you back where you started.

Utahtea

wliwl

Don't forget to leave time to stop at the National Monuments between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. They are wonderful. I loved Wupatki, Walnut Canyon, and Sunset Crater. For more info go to:
http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/index.shtml

desertduds

MUCH better itinerary.....can I add one more thing? Navajo National Monument, we had never stopped there as I thought it was just a monument beside the road, but it is a wonderful little museum and can do a walk to some cliff dwellings, well worth the trip...I might even skip Petrified Desert. I'm glad you are staying at Gouldings instead of Kayenta and try for Thunderbird Lodge at Canyon de Chelly's entrance area, neither lodge is much, but they are the best you can get in the area and Gouldings is really historic and their tour drivers are good....at that time of year, might be best to do the tours in the afternoon, though both times may be cool and they give you blankets.

utahtea

Navajo National Monument is a about 10 miles off of Highway 160 and unless you are there first thing in the morning for the ranger lead hikes that take 3 or 4 hours, you can only go to see the ruins far off from overlooks.

Utahtea

Molly2

Wow - I think you need a couple of extra days!

Two full days at the Grand Canyon I think is perfect, one day to do the rim walk, another to walk a ways nto the canyon.

We didn't have to be at Navaho National Monument all that early to make the hike - maybe 10 or 11 a.m. You do need to sign up, either the evening before, or when you arrive, preferably a little early in case it's busy (it wasn't when we were there). The ranger-led tour to the ruins was a highlight of our trip. The ranger shared lots of good information about history, vegetation, etc., and we got to climb into the ruins and see petroglyhs and ancient pottery. The Anasasi Inn is an excellent, more reasonable alternative choice for lodging near Kayenta and closer to Navaho National Monument. It's on a lovely canyon, the rooms are very clean and comfortable and have refrigerators, and microwaves. There is a 24 hour cafe on the premisies and the people who run it are friendly.

There is one hike at Canyon de Chelly. It's an excellent one. With good binoculars, we found that we enjoyed taking the hike into the valley and viewing the points from the rim better we would have a tour. Of course, we relied upon a book, rather than a guide, to point out information. Canyon de Chelly is a must-see. Amazing.

We are perhaps the only people on this board who didn't especially enjoy the tour into Monument Valley. It was too commercial for our tastes, with people vying for business, and an Indian posed on a horse waiting for a dollar tip. We would have been happy enough hiking the short trail and viewing the scenery from the overlooks. If your vechicle has good suspension, you can drive into the valley yourself. If you do take a tour, try to arrange a private one with a guy named Richard - anyone remember the name of his tour? He was very good.

desertduds

The overlooks at Navajo Natl Monument are well worth the trip, though the ranger talks make the tour so much more complete, but what can you do??? You just squeeze in what you can and hope you'll be back to do more.

kansasmom

Hi Beaboy --

Have fun on your trip in April. Let us know what you enjoyed. We're heading that way later in the summer.

Molly2

Richard Simpson - now I remember!

utahtea

I'm not saying that Navajo National Monument isn't nice, I'm just saying that with the very limited time BEABOY has, it would be much better spent enjoying the different scenic overlooks between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View as he exits the park and at Monument Valley.

Utahtea

Molly2

Good point, utahtea, some of us let our enthusiasm for certain spots guide our comments, forgetting that this complicates a limited schedule. Hopefully BEABOY will like the area so much that he and his girlfriend will be back to see more!

dina4

We , also , were very disappointed with Monument Valley for all the reasons Molly2 gives.
You have gotten a lot of good advice on this thread.
Have a great trip!

BEABOY

I really appreciate everyone's input. I think this trip will be fnatastic, I know we are packing alot in, but I don't think it is to much. I definitely would like the trip to be longer, but since she is a school teacher, we are limited by her spring break. Thanks again for all of the input and I will report back on how the trip goes.

utahtea

I always look forward to trip reports of this area!

Utahtea