Its reputation precedes itself. Mention the Grand Canyon to practically anyone and chances are, he or she knows how this massive gorge sits right in the center of Arizona and amazes those who behold it. While travel guides do their best do capture its beauty on paper or words, those who experienced it for themselves say that nothing could have prepared them for the sheer awe-inspiring and superlative-defiant experience that is the Grand Canyon. See, even these words seem futile in trying to describe its effect on tourists!
What makes it so special?
The Grand Canyon is not only one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world; it is also a living, breathing history lesson. Several million years of raging waters from the Colorado River carved these canyons into what they are today. If you have kids, a trip won’t only be an excellent time to bond with your family; it will also be a huge and interactive learning experience. Remember, it is also a national park with 287 species of birds, 88 species of mammals, 58 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 26 species of fish. That is a lesson in biology right there.
There are five million tourists who flock to the Grand Canyon every year, that’s why it is considered as one of the most visited travel destinations in the world. So if you want to avoid the density of people, avoid traveling to the Grand Canyon during summer. In any case, you can always have that trip during spring, winter, or fall.
There is something that will hit everyone’s fancy in this place. Nature walks, for one, will allow you to breathe in the freshness of the surroundings. The scenery alone should be a great and well-deserved rest from the crowded, noisy, and chaotic backdrop of the city. Everybody needs a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life.
Making the right choices in traveling
Because of the popularity of the site, there are a lot of opportunities for people who are raring to see the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetime. Most of these packages include transportation from the surrounding areas, which range from the simple ones, like hiking and backpacking, to the downright lavish such as luxury vans and Maverick helicopters.
Needless to say, expect a Grand Canyon luxury tour to make a serious dent in your budget. And with how the economy is currently going, would you really blow a year’s worth of savings on an eight-day trip? When it means cutting down on your budget for your kids’ schooling, or having to work extra hours, or running behind on bills, can you really afford that trip?
Experience the Grand Canyon without spending a fortune
It’s true! The Grand Canyon has almost become synonymous with American tourism. Eighty percent of tourists who go to see the Grand Canyon are Americans– domestic tourists that appreciate this massive wonder practically in their backyard. However, It does not have to cost a fortune to book that trip and fulfill what is rightfully every person’s travel fantasy.
You can try the self-guided rim-to-river hiking adventure to the Grand Canyon for next to nothing! There may be millions of people who have been to the Canyon but very few can actually say they’ve gone more than a mile below the rim. Seeing the Canyon up close is more awesome!
Another option is to stay at Phantom Ranch, a friendly retreat that can accommodate up to 88 people either in stone-and-log cabins or bunk dormitories at very affordable rates. Of course you shouldn’t expect great amenities in budget places like this!
The most important part of traveling to the Grand Canyon is when you can re-live the experience for many years. It would be so much better if you can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime tour for a fraction of the price!
Watch the video related to Grand Canyon National Park
“Hike” part of the North Kaibab Trail from North Rim down. From my 6hr. 33min. “Entire Trail” DVDs, avail. at www.TrailVista.com ($28.00, free shipping)
The easist section of the park to visit for handicapped visitors is the South Rim area north of Flagstaff (which is the most developed). Even here though, there will be some challenges because of the rough and uneven terrain and because many of the historic buildings were not designed for wheelchair access.
Handicap facilities and services are outlined in a document on the Grand Canyon National Park website (see link below). The most important thing to note is that most of the shuttles in the park are not wheelchair accessible, but special shuttle arrangements can be made if you call in advance (this is covered in the link below).
Generally speaking, the area around the lodges has fairly level paved trails running along the rim which would be fairly easy to navigate in a wheelchair and still provide good views. The drive-up overlooks at Yavapai and Mather points also have decent viewing areas that could be reached by wheelchair (although both involve going up some slopes). A particularly nice view could be had from the Yavapai Observation Station – a little geology exhibit and viewing room built right on the edge of the rim with large bay windows.
For lodging, Maswik and Yavapai Lodges are probably the most wheelchair accessible and have the best parking. All of the major eating places are also wheelchair accessible.
Note that one possible challenge is that there are a lot of little ups and downs in the lay of the land around the overlooks and lodges. Most of them are not very steep and all (that I can think of) can be reached by going up a slope, ramp or other incline without requiring steps, but the lodge area is definitely not a perfectly flat plain.
One other little note… the South Rim is at 7000 feet elevation and can have snow and icy patches on the ground well into April which can make it hard for everybody to negoiate the paths and walkways.
The South Rim and North Rim of the canyon are two very different places and because there are no bridges across the Grand Canyon it is a long 5-hour drive around to get from one to the other.
The South Rim of the canyon is more developed (more lodges, stores and overlooks) and is easier to reach because it is nearer to Phoenix and I-40. The North Rim has only one lodge and there are no major cities nearby (even the small towns of Fredonia and Kanab are a good 1.5 hours away). Because the North Rim is a 1000 feet higher in elevation, it is cooler in summer and has more pine trees. However, for the same reasons (colder and less developed), it is closed from mid-October to mid-May. So unless you are planning on going during summer, the South Rim is your only option.
As far as RVs and camping goes. Both the North Rim and the South Rim have large nice car-camping campgrounds with designated spots, picnic tables and bathrooms. If your RV is small enough to fit in a regular spot, than you could go there. However, if it is a large RV that needs a true full-size RV spot and hookups than your only option is going to be the South Rim where they do have a full size trailer park where visitors can rent a space (see links below).
As for which rim is better to visit (aside from RV options), that sort of depends on your interests and when you are visiting. I personally greatly prefer the North Rim during the summer because it is cooler and much more peaceful, while the South Rim can be a zoo between Memorial Day and Labor Day with difficult parking and crowded attractions. However, if you are going outside of summer, need to a full RV hook-up or want more shops and attractions than the South Rim is your best bet.
Note that you can make reservations for both the campground and trailer village and it is a good idea to do so well in advance as getting last minute spots (especially as summer gets closer) is difficult.
Tusayan, AZ is just south of the park enterance. There are a few hotels there. Check out Williams, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ as well. There is lodging for almost every budget in eithe of those 2 towns.
I know it is cold there right now! But, the temperatures can vary quite a bit from the rim to the bottom of the canyon.
From the National Park Service website http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm:
With an elevation spanning from around 2000 feet to over 8000 feet (760-2440m), the Grand Canyon area experiences a variety of weather conditions. This weather variety includes cold winters and mild pleasant summers, moderate humidity, and considerable diurnal temperature changes at the higher elevations, with hot and drier summers at the bottom of the Grand Canyon along with cool damp winters. Summer thunderstorms and winter snowfall adds to the weather variety in this region.
Spring
By mid-April, winter weather usually begins to break, and although snow is not uncommon in May, warm spells become more frequent. The winter cold gives way to a warming and pleasant spring period with average high temperatures gradually rising from the 50s and 60s (10-21°C) in April through the 70s to 80s (21-32°C) by June along the Rim, and from the 80s (27-32°C) in April to near 105 (41°C) by June along the river. Low temperatures will typically fall below freezing on the Rim in April and May and warm into the 40s (4-9°C) by June, with low temperatures from the 50s (10-15°C) in April to the 70s (21-26°C) by June along the river. Spring is typically breezy to windy with winds occasionally gusting over 40 mph (18 m/s) and dry with little precipitation occurring in May and early June. Due to the very dry airmass typical of the late spring months, late season frosts and freezes are still a possibility, with sub freezing temperatures being recorded as late as July at the North Rim. Snowfall has been reported as late as the middle of June.
I am unsure of what you mean by sources so I will answer in two different ways.
The natural source of the Grand Canyon is the Colorado River. In the prehistoric past, the Colorado River had become a wide, slow river similar to the Mississippi. It flowed across a flat plain down to the Gulf of California. A geologic uplift occurred and the Colorado's windy course began to cut down into the new plateau creating the deep, winding Grand Canyon.
The historic source of the Grand Canyon National Park dates back to 1848 when the Grand Canyon became a U.S. territory at the end of the Mexican American War. In 1857, the U.S Military traveled up the Colorado from the Gulf of California to the western reaches of the Grand Canyon. In 1869, the Powell Expedition mapped the depths of the Canyon.
Between 1869 and 1906, the Canyon was exploited as a commercial enterprise by the railroads. In 1906, portions were set aside as a game reserve followed by the creation of the Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908. On Feb. 26, 1919, Woodrow Wilson signed the law that created the Grand Canyon National Park.
Phoenix is the best price wise. Flagstaff is the closest but it might be more expensive. Phoenix is about 4 hrs away. Flagstaff is about 1-1/2 hrs away.
Big horn Sheep, condors, and reptiles…go to the link for more info…then you can research their adaptations by googling them
ex: "big horn sheep adaptations" etc.
Good luck!
Great answers so far, I might add-
http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/
Yes, there are roads all over both of those parks. I have driven them.