Grand Canyon - best approach/trip??
Discussion
chris7676 said:
There is so much more there than Grand Canyon there that is worth exploring by car.
I loved the Horseshoe Bend just south of Page(AZ) and the Lake Powell itself.
I would stay at least a night somewhere close by. Preferably a few, unless Vegas is your main target.
Agreed. We rented a kayak and paddled the Colorado river from Glen Canyon dam to Horseshoe Bend. We camped there (alone) overnight.I loved the Horseshoe Bend just south of Page(AZ) and the Lake Powell itself.
I would stay at least a night somewhere close by. Preferably a few, unless Vegas is your main target.
MrDan said:
Hollywood is definitely a "Bit Council" though!!!! like Blackpool on steroids.
Which reminds me.......When I was a lad back in 1979, a holiday had us staying in the Roosevelt Hotel for two nights.
One morning a guy with a long heavy trench coat was fighting with one of those 70's style newspaper dispensers just outside the hotel.
My dad having just read the paper at breakfast passed it to this guy. He gave us a look of total confusion at this act of generosity and when he realised it was genuine he decided to gave my dad something back.
He opened his coat to reveal a large collection of adult magazines and asked my dad to pick one.
Totally bonkers place.....
Truckosaurus said:
Don't forget there a 2 different Grand Canyons. The West Rim is run by the local Indian tribe, has the glass walkway and is where the helicopter flights go to. The South Rim is the run by the National Park Service and is further away (c.6hrs drive from Vegas) and is more spectacular. Too far for helicopters but you can get flights to the local airport. There is a North Rim that you have to come in via Utah and is untouristy.
The West Rim trips allow you to fly into the Canyon and land at the bottom. The NPS area only lets you stop at the top of the canyon.Gratuitous photo. Taken last month.
Blib said:
Truckosaurus said:
Don't forget there a 2 different Grand Canyons. The West Rim is run by the local Indian tribe, has the glass walkway and is where the helicopter flights go to. The South Rim is the run by the National Park Service and is further away (c.6hrs drive from Vegas) and is more spectacular. Too far for helicopters but you can get flights to the local airport. There is a North Rim that you have to come in via Utah and is untouristy.
The West Rim trips allow you to fly into the Canyon and land at the bottom. Gratuitous photo. Taken last month.
I got to fly through the Canyon before the ban came in. I actually thought the ban was throughout now. Well worth checking out.
V8A*ndy said:
Which reminds me.......
When I was a lad back in 1979, a holiday had us staying in the Roosevelt Hotel for two nights.
One morning a guy with a long heavy trench coat was fighting with one of those 70's style newspaper dispensers just outside the hotel.
My dad having just read the paper at breakfast passed it to this guy. He gave us a look of total confusion at this act of generosity and when he realised it was genuine he decided to gave my dad something back.
He opened his coat to reveal a large collection of adult magazines and asked my dad to pick one.
Totally bonkers place.....
When I was a lad back in 1979, a holiday had us staying in the Roosevelt Hotel for two nights.
One morning a guy with a long heavy trench coat was fighting with one of those 70's style newspaper dispensers just outside the hotel.
My dad having just read the paper at breakfast passed it to this guy. He gave us a look of total confusion at this act of generosity and when he realised it was genuine he decided to gave my dad something back.
He opened his coat to reveal a large collection of adult magazines and asked my dad to pick one.
Totally bonkers place.....
Twice I've been to Hollywood. Once taking my Aunt and Uncle and the second time with friends. Both times I felt as though it was seedy and riddled with undesirables. It's something I'm glad I've seen but equally I won't be rushing back.
V8A*ndy said:
Blib said:
Truckosaurus said:
Don't forget there a 2 different Grand Canyons. The West Rim is run by the local Indian tribe, has the glass walkway and is where the helicopter flights go to. The South Rim is the run by the National Park Service and is further away (c.6hrs drive from Vegas) and is more spectacular. Too far for helicopters but you can get flights to the local airport. There is a North Rim that you have to come in via Utah and is untouristy.
The West Rim trips allow you to fly into the Canyon and land at the bottom. Gratuitous photo. Taken last month.
I got to fly through the Canyon before the ban came in. I actually thought the ban was throughout now. Well worth checking out.
chris7676 said:
Rollin said:
Agreed. We rented a kayak and paddled the Colorado river from Glen Canyon dam to Horseshoe Bend. We camped there (alone) overnight.
How easy and safe is that and could you do it with a bigger boat? I would love to get down the Horseshoe Bend.
There are rafting trips which start up river at the base of the dam. Since there's no boat access at the dam, rafts have to be put in the water at Lee's Ferry and then piloted up the river to the dam.
The rafts therefore go up to the dam empty. We hitched a lift on one whilst towing the kayak.
They drop you off at the base of the dam which is amazing.
You then paddle downstream back to Lees Ferry. The water is flat and safe. We had bought a cheap Walmart tent and camped next to the beach on horseshoe bend. There are no facilities/buildings/lights on the camp area and we were the only ones there.
It was an eerie feeling looking at the people on the edge of the cliffs slowly disappear and leave us in total darkness. Amazing starry skies and weird noises from the wild life.
The next morning we paddled the rest of the way to Lee's Ferry.
Back in 93 I went on a road trip around the mid west, started out in Houston and went across New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Colorado then back down across Texas. Spent a couple of days in Page Arizona and was advised to drive out to the North Rim rather then do the more touristy thing on the South rim. It was well worth the drive, the route out to the rim along route 67 was pretty stunning and went through the snow line then dropped back down to the lodge on the edge of the Canyon. I managed to get a table for dinner in the lodge and sat right in the window watching the sunset wishing I had someone to share it with.
In 98 I went back to the West Coast with my new wife and we toured around California, Arizona, Colorado then up to Yellowstone before coming back through Utah, Arizona and California. We called in to Las Vegas and flew out to the Canyon and the South Rim. A few days later as we were driving north from Vegas we passed the turning for route 67 and I was explaining that day from 5 years earlier. My wife convinced me to turn around and go back and drive out to the North Rim again. It was worth it, we even managed to get a table for dinner......The same one I had sat at the last time.
If you get the chance, make the drive, you will not regret it.
In 98 I went back to the West Coast with my new wife and we toured around California, Arizona, Colorado then up to Yellowstone before coming back through Utah, Arizona and California. We called in to Las Vegas and flew out to the Canyon and the South Rim. A few days later as we were driving north from Vegas we passed the turning for route 67 and I was explaining that day from 5 years earlier. My wife convinced me to turn around and go back and drive out to the North Rim again. It was worth it, we even managed to get a table for dinner......The same one I had sat at the last time.
If you get the chance, make the drive, you will not regret it.
Edited by tuffer on Friday 28th August 16:58
tuffer said:
Back in 93 I went on a road trip around the mid west, started out in Houston and went across New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Colorado then back down across Texas. Spent a couple of days in Page Arizona and was advised to drive out to the North Rim rather then do the more touristy thing on the South rim. It was well worth the drive, the route out to the rim along route 67 was pretty stunning and went through the snow line then dropped back down to the lodge on the edge of the Canyon. I managed to get a table for dinner in the lodge and sat right in the window watching the sunset wishing I had someone to share it with.
In 98 I went back to the West Coast with my new wife and we toured around California, Arizona, Colorado then up to Yellowstone before coming back through Utah, Arizona and California. We called in to Las Vegas and flew out to the Canyon and the South Rim. A few days later as we were driving north from Vegas we passed the turning for route 67 and I was explaining that day from 5 years earlier. My wife convinced me to turn around and go back and drive out to the North Rim again. It was worth it, we even managed to get a table for dinner......The same one I had sat at the last time.
If you get the chance, make the drive, you will not regret it.
In 98 I went back to the West Coast with my new wife and we toured around California, Arizona, Colorado then up to Yellowstone before coming back through Utah, Arizona and California. We called in to Las Vegas and flew out to the Canyon and the South Rim. A few days later as we were driving north from Vegas we passed the turning for route 67 and I was explaining that day from 5 years earlier. My wife convinced me to turn around and go back and drive out to the North Rim again. It was worth it, we even managed to get a table for dinner......The same one I had sat at the last time.
If you get the chance, make the drive, you will not regret it.
Edited by tuffer on Friday 28th August 16:58
Done both maybe 5 times each, this July did two nights freedom camping north rim , 20 metres from the rim. 4 mile gravel track, waking up overlooking the canyon was great( you have to take a shovel ) no facilities! Being nat forest was free, next two nights in the mandarin in Vegas was not! The train from Williams to the south rim is nicer than driving. For me the North, a cabin over looking the canyon is $220
So when I did a 'Grand Canyon' trip, this was my itinerary:
Saturday: Fly out. Land Las Vegas Saturday afternoon, and drive straight out to Boulder City. Stayed at the Boulder Dam hotel, which was basic but had charm. Stay in LV if you want more excitement
Sunday: Hoover Dam. Afterwards, drive to Grand Canyon National Park.
Monday: Grand Canyon. Walk the South Rim. Helicopter ride from Grand Canyon airport.
Tuesday: Drive to Page, Arizona. Rented a speedboat for the afternoon on Lake Powell.
Wednesday: Drive to Las Vegas. Walk the strip. Go to a show in the evening.
Thursday: Fly home in the evening, on the overnighter to London.
Friday: Land in London
Saturday: Fly out. Land Las Vegas Saturday afternoon, and drive straight out to Boulder City. Stayed at the Boulder Dam hotel, which was basic but had charm. Stay in LV if you want more excitement
Sunday: Hoover Dam. Afterwards, drive to Grand Canyon National Park.
Monday: Grand Canyon. Walk the South Rim. Helicopter ride from Grand Canyon airport.
Tuesday: Drive to Page, Arizona. Rented a speedboat for the afternoon on Lake Powell.
Wednesday: Drive to Las Vegas. Walk the strip. Go to a show in the evening.
Thursday: Fly home in the evening, on the overnighter to London.
Friday: Land in London
Anyone had experience of this company or these trips ?
http://www.westernriver.com/trips/grand3day/#prett...
We are looking for 2017 as we plan to visit South Carolina for the solar eclipse for a week in August then looking for what to do for the other week we will be in the US. I've no desire to visit Las Vegas but I do fancy a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. This would be for the family and include a 13 year old.
http://www.westernriver.com/trips/grand3day/#prett...
We are looking for 2017 as we plan to visit South Carolina for the solar eclipse for a week in August then looking for what to do for the other week we will be in the US. I've no desire to visit Las Vegas but I do fancy a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. This would be for the family and include a 13 year old.
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