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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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!

 

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.

 

I have heard some pretty poor reviews for the 'Skywalk'. I haven't been there, but those I have spoken to said it wasn't worth the really high price.

 

Skywalk website indicates that 1 vehicle parking = $20, $30/person entry and $30/person for stepping out on the skywalk. It is not really close to either the N or S rim. Haven't been there, so no advice.

But if we can convince you to extend your stay, for about that much money you can hike & camp near some pretty impressive waterfalls

Havasupai Tribe - Waterfalls

 

The South rim is much more crowded and 'touristy' and the North rim is quieter and much less crowded but also harder to find lodging. You can try here and see if you get lucky - most of the North rim lodging is booked a year in advance:

Lodging at the Grand Canyon Lodge - North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

If you are in for adventure, you could hike from the top of the South rim down to Havasupai village at the bottom, spend an overnight there, then hike out to the North rim the next day. Like Tochatihu said, there are several impressive waterfalls and pools at the bottom of the Canyon, and that alone is worth seeing. From the North rim there is a shuttle bus that will take you back to the South rim ~ a 3 hr drive and reservations are required. I think the shuttle costs around $50. I would not recommend trying to hike rim to rim in one day.

If you can't find lodging at the North rim, another good place to stay is Jacob Lake Lodge which is a bit north of the North rim at the 89/67 junction. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere but is also nice and quiet (surrounded by forest).

 

If you do go to the North rim, be sure to stop at the trading post at Cameron, AZ. They serve the best hot roast beef sandwiches that I have ever tasted. They are on Indian fry bread and are not to be missed.

 

My best suggestion for anyone planning a trip like this is to pick up a geology book on the area you're traveling to (any desert like environment) and read it before you get there, or at a minimum do some web searches on geology of the Grand Canyon. Deserts can be quite striking in beauty but once you know how to pick out ques of its historic development it makes the place 100x more interesting. We see this with students who first visit the eastern Sierra mountains which are dry and relatively "barren" compared to the western side. At first they are underwhelmed by its appearance but by the end of the trip with more knowledge under their hats they are visibly changed. They get all excited pointing out glacial moraines or river cut valleys. You can also find interesting information on places like Kaibab Plateau where we learned very important lessons in game vs. predator managment and the scars on the landscape are still recovering.

Maybe I'm just a huge nerd but I love knowing all about the places I'm going as this knowledge seems to make even the most boring drive a bit more enjoyable.

Here are some basic geology the the Grand Canyon websites. *I've only looked over the second one*


Link 1

Link2

You may already know all of this but there may be someone else reading that might benefit. I hope you have a wonderful and safe trip!

 

Ditto the remarks by sparkyAZ. The South Rim has more easily accessible trails and views but is much more crowded. (And if I recall correctly the helicopter tours are all based on the South.) Don't imagine for a second that you can hike down to the river and back out in a day. Note that the South Rim elevation is about 7000 feet and the North more than 8000 feet; if you are not accustomed to high elevations you will feel the difference.

When you are there be sure to observe the murkiness of the air near Sunset. This is caused by emissions from coal-fired power plants. If they did not exist the view would be crystalline.

 

maybe this is a good hotel and location close to the GC

Grand Canyon Hotel - The Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn