Grand Canyon: a must-do trip
All Americans (well, all humans) owe it to themselves to go to Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their life. It is truly amazing to see how a little trickle of water eventually turned into the Colorado River, which eventually carved out the Grand Canyon.
You can approach your trip to the Grand Canyon in two different ways. One way is to stay within the park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take the time to experience all the different things the park has to offer. The other way is to stay in one of the surrounding Arizona cities and take a day trip to the Grand Canyon for a “hit and run” view of the Canyon. Both have their advantages.
The part of the Grand Canyon The South Rim is the part of the Grand Canyon that most people are familiar with. It is located on the Arizona side and can be accessed year-round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the South Rim.
The benefit of staying inside the park is the ability to take your time to see the magnificent Canyon from different viewpoints, which you can access by walking along the rim path or by taking a shuttle service from one point to another. For those of you staying for several days, a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon would be a lovely addition, although the trip takes between 4 and 5 hours. For those who don’t want to drive, there is a shuttle that offers edge-to-edge service from mid-May to mid-October.
For those staying on the south rim, there are numerous trails through the canyon, as well as a trail along the top of the canyon called the “Rim Trail.” If you are staying at one of the lodges and planning a day hike into the canyon, be aware that you probably won’t be able to go down and back in a day. In fact, each year around 250 people are rescued from the interior of the Canyon, most of whom are healthy young people between the ages of 18 and 40 who tried to walk down and back in one day. Do not be one of them. A good day hike would be a couple hours down and then back. The climb will take longer than the descent. Also, be sure to wear good walking shoes as some trails can be very rocky.
Some people choose to hike down one day and camp at the bottom or stay at the Ghost Ranch. However, keep in mind that you need to make arrangements well in advance of your trip if you decide to stay at the bottom. Campers require a backcountry permit, and Phantom Ranch is usually reserved months in advance. Permits are sometimes available that day, but why risk it? To make reservations at Phantom Ranch, you can call 888-297-2757.
Some people prefer to stay out of the park and visit the Canyon for a few hours and move on. There are numerous areas in northern Arizona where one can stay and take a trip to the Grand Canyon, such as Sedona and Flagstaff. While these places are still a long drive (one hour from Flagstaff, two from Sedona), it’s still close enough for a day trip. Both Sedona and Flagstaff are lovely places to stay, with Sedona being the more “touristy” of the two cities. For me, Flagstaff is the more peculiar of the two, perhaps because it is a “college town”, home to the University of Northern Arizona.
Sedona and Flagstaff are also visually different. Flagstaff is surrounded by pine forest, while Sedona is in “red rock” country. Sedona abounds with numerous high-end resorts, galleries, and expensive restaurants. Flagstaff is cheaper in every way, with cheap lodging and restaurants. Both are close enough for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.
Of course, you can always opt for an even faster bus tour, hopping from one tourist stop to the next. But why not follow the example of that little trickle that started it all? Take your time and enjoy the view.
