Grand Canyon travel question

qbee42 · 03-05-2008, 06:20 PM

This is a question for any of you with experience regarding the Grand Canyon. My wife and I are planning a road trip for this fall, covering a bit of the area I normally fly over (between the Mississippi River and the West Coast). We will be doing some climbing, camping, and site seeing. I'd like to spend a couple of days near the Grand Canyon, but I get mixed reports on what to see from which rim. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Tom

h2photo · 03-05-2008, 07:18 PM

We just spent the weekend at the South Rim (North Rim was closed) I've always wanted to go to the North. But if you plan on staying up there, I've heard there's maybe one Hotel? I'd do some research. We really enjoyed the South. But maybe someone here has been to both.

ksstathead · 03-05-2008, 08:58 PM

Check out the new cantilevered overlook. In my mind it is on the North (Edit: wrong!, South) side.

I've been to both sides; it's a good drive around as I recall. Kinda depends where you come from & where you're headed unless you have time to see it all. I think the South is more developed for paths, tours, food, lodging, etc.

Hoping to see it myself this summer. Been a long time.

icarus · 03-05-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksstathead

Check out the new cantilevered overlook. In my mind it is on the North side, but truly I have no idea.

I've been to both sides; it's a good drive around as I recall. Kinda depends where you come from & where you're headed unless you have time to see it all. I think the South is more developed for paths, tours, food, lodging, etc.

Hoping to see it myself this summer. Been a long time.

It's (the sky walk) on the south rim, but it is not in the park, but rather a 100 miles+- downstream from the south rim entrance. You get there from down by Boulder City.

tochatihu · 03-05-2008, 09:11 PM

North rim access closed by snow about 10 Nov. The official web site has details.

Two days at the Grand Canyon is just not enough! But I am speaking as a big fan.

Campmgrounds at both rims offer advance reservation, and this might be needed for you visit depending on visitor #s. Camoping anywhere below the rim requires a back country permit and reservations. Almost always, you would need to reserve those in advance.

Read the park web site in detail and if questions persist, I might be able to answer them.

Visit during full moon is great, unless you want to see 1000s of stars, in which case go during new moon.

Danny Hamilton · 03-06-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbee42

My wife and I are planning a road trip for this fall, covering a bit of the area I normally fly over (between the Mississippi River and the West Coast). We will be doing some climbing, camping, and site seeing. I'd like to spend a couple of days near the Grand Canyon, but I get mixed reports on what to see from which rim. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Hey Tom,

My wife and I are doing the same thing this fall. This will be her first trip west of the Mississippi. We're planning on trying to fit both Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon into the same trip. Are you headed out there early fall or late?

finman · 03-06-2008, 09:31 AM

Take the time to hike INTO the Grand Canyon. that's what is truly amazing. Did that a few moons ago, like (gulp) 15 years. there are pack mules to take camp stuff down there, or pack it all in and out yourselves. Campsites for tenting or cabins and a restaurant at the bottom. My trip was a basic tenting, campout, cooking over a small stove at a campsite next to the Colorado River. Suspension bridge, layers of rock as you descend. Really, really cool. I actually don't remember which route/rim we did all this from. Stupid short-term 15 year memory. But the pics I have were fun, so I know I did it!

qbee42 · 03-06-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny Hamilton

Hey Tom,

My wife and I are doing the same thing this fall. This will be her first trip west of the Mississippi. We're planning on trying to fit both Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon into the same trip. Are you headed out there early fall or late?

Right now it looks like somewhere around September 19th through October 5th. Watch for a black Prius with Michigan plates.

Tom

Michgal007 · 03-06-2008, 05:32 PM

I went to the south rim once. I think there is a quite a bit distance from south to north rims.

I want to go to yellowstone this summer.

qbee42 · 03-06-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michgal007

I went to the south rim once. I think there is a quite a bit distance from south to north rims.

Okay, good to know. I won't try to jump it.

Tom

03-05-2008, 06:20 PM	#1
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,492 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 95 Thanked 392 Times in 290 Posts Friends: 10	Grand Canyon travel question This is a question for any of you with experience regarding the Grand Canyon. My wife and I are planning a road trip for this fall, covering a bit of the area I normally fly over (between the Mississippi River and the West Coast). We will be doing some climbing, camping, and site seeing. I'd like to spend a couple of days near the Grand Canyon, but I get mixed reports on what to see from which rim. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Tom

03-05-2008, 07:18 PM	#2
h2photo Turning greener day byday Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 423 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: G Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 4	Re: Grand Canyon travel question We just spent the weekend at the South Rim (North Rim was closed) I've always wanted to go to the North. But if you plan on staying up there, I've heard there's maybe one Hotel? I'd do some research. We really enjoyed the South. But maybe someone here has been to both.

03-05-2008, 08:58 PM	#3
ksstathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 188 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 95 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Grand Canyon travel question Check out the new cantilevered overlook. In my mind it is on the North (Edit: wrong!, South) side. I've been to both sides; it's a good drive around as I recall. Kinda depends where you come from & where you're headed unless you have time to see it all. I think the South is more developed for paths, tours, food, lodging, etc. Hoping to see it myself this summer. Been a long time. Last edited by ksstathead; 03-06-2008 at 09:52 AM.

03-05-2008, 09:11 PM	#5
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,413 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 39 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 14	Re: Grand Canyon travel question North rim access closed by snow about 10 Nov. The official web site has details. Two days at the Grand Canyon is just not enough! But I am speaking as a big fan. Campmgrounds at both rims offer advance reservation, and this might be needed for you visit depending on visitor #s. Camoping anywhere below the rim requires a back country permit and reservations. Almost always, you would need to reserve those in advance. Read the park web site in detail and if questions persist, I might be able to answer them. Visit during full moon is great, unless you want to see 1000s of stars, in which case go during new moon. __________________ DAS Tochatihu, the Hopi hummingbird kachina

03-06-2008, 09:31 AM	#7
finman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 992 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 14 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Grand Canyon travel question Take the time to hike INTO the Grand Canyon. that's what is truly amazing. Did that a few moons ago, like (gulp) 15 years. there are pack mules to take camp stuff down there, or pack it all in and out yourselves. Campsites for tenting or cabins and a restaurant at the bottom. My trip was a basic tenting, campout, cooking over a small stove at a campsite next to the Colorado River. Suspension bridge, layers of rock as you descend. Really, really cool. I actually don't remember which route/rim we did all this from. Stupid short-term 15 year memory. But the pics I have were fun, so I know I did it! __________________ 04' Seaside Pearl #7. Fumoto oil drain, add-on mudflaps, rear bumper scuff protector & rear sensor warn, compass mirror, EV mode, synthetic oil, 8" custom sub in right rear cubby, 6" subs under front seats, power lumbar and seat heaters in front seats, Coastaletech hitch with Aspen bike/snowboard rack, iPod2car, DVD video, 2 amps, Alpine component speakers, solid 47 MPG @81000 miles, best tank 56 MPG.

03-06-2008, 05:32 PM	#9
Michgal007 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 832 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 3	Re: Grand Canyon travel question I went to the south rim once. I think there is a quite a bit distance from south to north rims. I want to go to yellowstone this summer.