Grand Canyon Trips

Vacation and Holiday Ideas!

Grand Canyon Trips

Want to see what a little trickle of water can do? Then take a Grand Canyon trip, where you'll see how that little trickle eventually turned into the Colorado River, which eventually carved out the Grand Canyon. It is truly a natural wonder that inspires awe in all who see it. From its golden cliffs to the magnificent California Condors that hover over the rim, it offers sights like no other in the world.

First, a few dry facts about the Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona. The canyon is over 275 miles long and a mile deep. In parts it is 18 miles wide, four miles at the narrowest point. Elevations range from 2,400 feet above sea level to over 7,000 feet. The canyon extends from Lees Ferry at the Arizona-Utah border to Grand Wash Cliffs near Las Vegas, Nevada.

The park itself covers over 1,900 square miles (4927 km²) and consists of two parts - the South Rim and the North Rim. The South Rim is the part of the Grand Canyon most people are familiar with. It sits on the Arizona side and can be accessed all year round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the South Rim.

The South Rim and North Rim are separated by the Canyon and Colorado River, and are only 10 miles apart. However, if you were to drive from the South Rim to the North Rim it would take you an average of 5 hours, because the connecting road is 215 miles long. For those not wanting to drive, there is a shuttle which provides rim to rim service from mid-May to Mid-October.

You can approach your trip to the Grand Canyon in a few different ways. One way is to stay within the park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take time to experience all the different things the park has to offer. Another way is to hike down into the canyon (or take a guided mule trip) and stay at the Phantom Lodge below, or at a campground. You can make lodging reservations by going to http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/Lodging-Overview-411.html. A third way to experience the Grand Canyon is to stay in one of the surrounding Arizona towns and take a day trip to the Grand Canyon for a "hit and run" view of the Canyon.

There are dozens of hiking trails for anyone who wants to get out of the train of cars and walk around. For those staying on the South Rim, there are numerous trails down into the canyon, as well as a trail along the top of the Canyon called the "Rim Trail." The Rim Trail's great if you're not conditioned for hiking, or if you're short on time and want to get in some exercise and see some different views of the Canyon. There are several shuttle bus stops along the way if you find you're getting tired.

As for trails going into the Canyon, the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab are the most accessible. Do note, however, that you cannot hike to the bottom and up again in one day, so if you're not hiking all the way down and staying at the bottom, it's best not to hike more than a couple hours down, as the hike back up will take longer.

On the trek you'll pass over two billion years of geological history. It's impossible to miss the change as you walk past layers of rock exposed from eons of natural carving. For those who prefer guidance, there are lots of guided tours covering many different areas of the park. If you're at the South Rim, you can find Ranger-led day hikes into and along the rim of the Grand Canyon year round. For the North Rim, you'll find Ranger-led hikes between mid-May and mid-October. You'll find a schedule of these Ranger-led hikes in The Guide, which is a park newspaper handed out at the entrance station. You'll also find guided hikes which are educational in nature through the Grand Canyon Field Institute, which offers hiking, mule trips, photography trips and more. For more information go to www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute/

Whitewater rafting trips are a favorite of many. Trips range anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks along sections from 100 miles to 300 miles of the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon Field Institute offers some whitewater rafting trips, although they are about 3 weeks in length. You can also find other whitewater rafting companies which offer shorter, cheaper treks, including O.A.R.S. which offers a couple 4 and 5-day trips, and Arizona River Runners, which offers several 6 to 8-day trips, and one 3-day trip which begins in Las Vegas, where you'll be flown to the Grand Canyon, and helicoptered to the river on the canyon bottom.

But from any vantage point - whether by bus or car, hiking or paddling along the river - visitors to Grand Canyon National Park will experience the same majesty that has awed tourists for generations.

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