Grand Canyon is very diverse in it’s scenery and enjoyment. Planning your trip is extremely important to the success and enjoyment of your trip. Many people have refuse to heed the warnings and it has cost them their lives. Don’t let this happen to you! Research your trip, especially your hiking itinerary. Hiking is the best way to get into the solitude the canyon offers to those chose to seek it. There are many excursions offered but you must plan ahead such as: mule rides, helicopter/airplane rides, hiking, and smooth/whitewater rafting trips. Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, and ranges from 1 to 18 miles wide. It covers the width of Northern Arizona. It is a 5 hour drive from the North to South rims and the Havasupai Reservation is in the Western part of the park. Tuweep/Toroweap area is the most unaccessible. Desert View is 25 miles from South rim and Hermits Rest is 7 miles. The Colorado River trip is, in my opinion, the greatest way to experience the beauty & excitement the canyon has to offer. I did an 18 day river trip on my honeymoon!

Quick Tips/Suggestions:

There are many great websites on hiking the Grand Canyon. I feel that the Supai trail from Hualapai Hilltop to the Village of Supai is the most scenic with it’s blue green waterfalls and stream against the blood red rocks of the canyon. It is an Indian reservation and horses are the norm. But the dogs have a great adopt-a-visitor program and walk with you on the trail! Grand Canyon is crowded(especially the trails) pretty much all year round anymore. The heaviest hiking visitation months are April and October. The North Rim is only open May to October and is 1000 feet higher in elevation. A river trip takes from a week to three weeks and must be booked nearly a year in advance. Remember to always check for cancellations, there is usually some for the asking. Last but not least! Never, Never, hike to the river & back in one day! It sounds easy but it is a great way to ruin your vacation and the canyon will still be here for the next time you come. It’s not worth your life or the life of your hiking companions!

Best Way to Get Around:

In the village, park by your room or in the Historic area instead of the Yavapai& Mather Pt areas. When the shuttle buses stop running at night you will appreciate it. There is more parking then you realize. I never have trouble finding a spot but sometimes I don’t get the perfect spot just next to the door. A car is needed to enjoy the East Rim Drive and a free shuttle is available March through November for the West Rim Drive. There is a shuttle service called TransCanyon that will take you between North & South Rims if you need it for those rim to rim hikes.

Tags: airplane rides, colorado river trip, desert view, grand canyon, havasupai reservation, helicopter, hermits rest, hiking, itinerary, mule rides, northern arizona, scenery, solitude, south rim whitewater rafting

Grand Canyon is very diverse in it’s scenery and enjoyment. Planning your trip is extremely important to the success and enjoyment of your trip. Many people have refuse to heed the warnings and it has cost them their lives. Don’t let this happen to you! Research your trip, especially your hiking itinerary. Hiking is the best way to get into the solitude the canyon offers to those chose to seek it. There are many excursions offered but you must plan ahead such as: mule rides, helicopter/airplane rides, hiking, and smooth/whitewater rafting trips. Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, and ranges from 1 to 18 miles wide. It covers the width of Northern Arizona. It is a 5 hour drive from the North to South rims and the Havasupai Reservation is in the Western part of the park. Tuweep/Toroweap area is the most unaccessible. Desert View is 25 miles from South rim and Hermits Rest is 7 miles. The Colorado River trip is, in my opinion, the greatest way to experience the beauty & excitement the canyon has to offer. I did an 18 day river trip on my honeymoon!

Quick Tips/Suggestions:

There are many great websites on hiking the Grand Canyon. I feel that the Supai trail from Hualapai Hilltop to the Village of Supai is the most scenic with it’s blue green waterfalls and stream against the blood red rocks of the canyon. It is an Indian reservation and horses are the norm. But the dogs have a great adopt-a-visitor program and walk with you on the trail! Grand Canyon is crowded(especially the trails) pretty much all year round anymore. The heaviest hiking visitation months are April and October. The North Rim is only open May to October and is 1000 feet higher in elevation. A river trip takes from a week to three weeks and must be booked nearly a year in advance. Remember to always check for cancellations, there is usually some for the asking. Last but not least! Never, Never, hike to the river & back in one day! It sounds easy but it is a great way to ruin your vacation and the canyon will still be here for the next time you come. It’s not worth your life or the life of your hiking companions!

Best Way to Get Around:

In the village, park by your room or in the Historic area instead of the Yavapai& Mather Pt areas. When the shuttle buses stop running at night you will appreciate it. There is more parking then you realize. I never have trouble finding a spot but sometimes I don’t get the perfect spot just next to the door. A car is needed to enjoy the East Rim Drive and a free shuttle is available March through November for the West Rim Drive. There is a shuttle service called TransCanyon that will take you between North & South Rims if you need it for those rim to rim hikes.

Tags: airplane rides, colorado river trip, desert view, grand canyon, havasupai reservation, helicopter, hermits rest, hiking, itinerary, mule rides, northern arizona, scenery, solitude, south rim whitewater rafting