Spend a Couple of Days Visiting the Grand Canyon
Located just a few hours from Henderson, the Grand Canyon is a magical place to visit with friends, family, or simply for a stunning solo trip. But if you’ve never been to this natural wonder, it can be challenging to determine the best way to spend your time. At De Castroverde Personal Injury and Accident Lawyer, we want you to make the most of your journey to this local spot. Read on to learn more about the Grand Canyon and discover a few ways to spend a few fun-filled days.
The Different Grand Canyon Sections
South Rim
The South Rim is the most popular area of the Grand Canyon. It features the most viewpoints, visitor centers, services, hotels, and dining options. If you’re looking to see the Grand Canyon for the first time, the South Rim may be a great place to start. This section of the canyon is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also features a shuttle bus system that can transport you around the park.
North Rim
At around 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, the North Rim may warrant a whole separate trip as its about a four-hour drive from its Southern counterpart. Because of it’s higher elevation, this area receives more snow and ice and is only open from May 15th through October 15th. If you’d like to make this trip by the end of the season, though, it will be worth it for the magical views, wild nature, and minimal crowds.
West Rim
Although less frequent than other locations, the Canyon’s West Rim includes some spectacular sights. Located on the tribal lands of the Hualapai, the West Rim is a perfect spot to visit if you’d like to explore the Canyon a bit further. It also includes the popular Grand Canyon Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped, glass-bottom bridge that sits over the canyon.
East Rim
A bit lower in elevation, the East Rim is a part of Navajo Nation. It features smaller canyons throughout, carved by the Little Colorado River. While you may not sit within the Grand Canyon National Park‘s official borders in this area, it may still be a magical trip for someone familiar with the park or looking to explore the less-traveled territory.
Inner Canyon
The Inner Canyon includes everything below the rim. To experience this section firsthand, you may want to explore hiking, backpacking, mule riding, or river rafting options. A harsh desert environment, the Inner Canyon can hit summer temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with little shade available. While the fall can be a great time to explore this section of the park, make sure that you and your party are physically ready for its demands. You can also look into tour options with experienced guides.
Tours
You can explore many guided Canyon tours to get the most out of your trip. These tours largely operate around the South or North rims, within the National Park. Some options may also take you down into the Canyon. Opt for a bike tour, mule ride, jeep tour, or even specialty landscape, geology, or eco-tours. If you’d like to fly a bit higher, there are helicopter and airplane tours to discover as well. Explore the national park’s tour page to learn more about your options.
Transportation
There are many different ways you can get to and around the canyon. If you choose to drive to your destination, there are plenty of available parking lots throughout the park. These spots can get crowded, though, especially in peak season. You may want to consider some alternative transportation options.
If you elect to visit the South Rim, a free shuttle bus system operates around the Grand Canyon Village, a popular area with various dining and lodging options and modern conveniences like ATMs. You can travel between visitor centers, lodges, campgrounds, and various popular viewpoints. Even options connect you to the local town of Tusayan, although this route may only operate through September 9. Many other routes run all year at least until after sunset, with more popular options going all the way until 11 p.m.
If you’d like getting to the Grand Canyon to be as fun as being there, check out the Grand Canyon Railway. This vintage train runs between Williams, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon Depot, allowing you to leave your car behind. You can even enjoy actors dressed up as cowboys as you look out at the spectacular views. While this option will get you into the park, it may not be the best choice if you’d like to do a bit more exploring outside of the park’s designated areas.
Lodging
There are endless options if you’d like to stay a while in and around the Canyon. You can elect for historic lodges, hotels, and campgrounds within the park, but these options will fill up early, so book well in advance. You can also check out options around the park or in the local towns.
While you can’t go wrong with any of these lodging options, the El Tovar Hotel offers historic luxury for those who’d like to get a really good night’s sleep in between hikes. If you’d like to stay somewhere to match your adventures, check out various camping options or explore Phantom Ranch. As the only lodge below the canyon rim, you’ll only be able to access this spot by foot, mule, or by rafting the Colorado River.
Dining
There are plenty of dining options to fuel you up for your next adventure. You can check out delis, taverns, grocery stores, and restaurants within the South Rim’s Market Plaza. There are also various food trucks and snack shacks around the park. For those who’d like to dine in luxury, historic hotels like the El Tovar have upscale dining options to fill you up.
You can explore some similar dining, grocery, and deli options in the North Rim, open seasonally. There are also endless options to consider in the town surrounding the park. For more information, check out the National Park’s dining guide.
There you have it. De Castroverde Personal Injury and Accident Lawyer offered some of our favorite spots in and around the Grand Canyon. How’d you find our guide? Any tips or spots we missed? Contact us today to let us know. In the meantime, happy trails on the Canyon adventure of a lifetime.
Photo Credit: Grand Canyon 25 by Tony Hisgett is licensed with CC BY 2.0