Grand Canyon News

Good morning travelers, and we do apologize for the lag time between posts. We’ve been really busy helping folks like you plan Grand Canyon vacations, particularly for Spring Break. What with the economy in its present state, 2009 Grand Canyon vacation season is proving to be one dominated by last minute planning – understandable, all things considering – which puts activities like blogging on the back burner. In the interim, we have received some important news to share with you all:

Grand Canyon North Rim will reopen for the season on May 15th. Once called "the connoisseur’s Grand Canyon," this Grand Canyon park is strikingly different from the South and West Rims. The North Rim receives only a fraction of the visitation the South Rim does. This is partially due to it being less accessible from most major Western cities than the South Rim: 6 hours’ drive from Las Vegas, 8 hours’ drive from Phoenix, and 7 hours’ drive from Salt Lake City. While the South Rim has close to two dozen major viewpoints, the North Rim has only three, which tend to highlight the width of the Grand Canyon more than its depth. Seeing the Colorado River is next to impossible from the North Rim. At 8,000’ above sea level, spring and fall days at the North Rim are crisp, and summers are warm and pleasant. Nighttime lows remain quite cold until late spring, and can dip back down below freezing as early as August.

The Grand Canyon Lodge is the sole in-park hotel at Canyon National Park North Rim. Built in 1928 under the auspices of the Union Pacific Railroad, the Grand Canyon Lodge was designed in the popular “Arts and Crafts” style of the day by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed Yosemite National Park’s Ahwahnee Hotel and the lodges at Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Sadly, the original lodge burned down in 1932, but was soon rebuilt according to a similar design, harmoniously blending the earthy with the opulent. Though decidedly rustic-looking on the outside, the interior of the lodge’s main building is almost castle-like in appearance, with high ceilings, a dining room reminiscent of a medieval meeting hall, and a crescent-shaped “sun room” with plush lounge chairs, a fireplace and oversized windows which allow guests to enjoy the setting sun in comfort. Those who prefer to experience their Grand Canyon sunset “al fresco” can choose from two flagstone porches with rocking chairs and tables for beverages.

In keeping with the North Rim’s relative isolation and quieter atmosphere, the accommodations at the Grand Canyon Lodge are simple and low-key. The majority of Grand Canyon Lodge guest rooms are cabins, in three classifications: Western cabins, which have two queen beds, a full bath and a front porch; Pioneer Cabins, which are actually two rooms separated by a ¾ bath (shower only), these sleep up to 5 people with three single beds and a double bed and ¾ bath; and Frontier Cabins, which contain one double and one single bed. There are also standard motel rooms with one queen size bed and private bath. All rooms at Grand Canyon lodge have phones, but there are no TV’s in any Grand Canyon Lodge rooms. All accommodations are non-smoking; pets are not permitted. On-site facilities at the Grand Canyon Lodge are: the Grand Canyon Lodge dining room, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (reservations not accepted); the Deli in the Pines; the Rough Rider Saloon and Coffee Shop; a convenience store and gift shop.

Grand Canyon Mule Rides are available by advance reservation (visit www.canyonrides.com) as well as a dinner cookout, featuring live entertainers who have performed in such venues as Nashville and Branson. The Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim is only open from mid-May through mid-October. Its short season, coupled with a relatively small room inventory, means that the Grand Canyon Lodge is typically booked up to a year in advance. For more information and to make reservations at the Grand Canyon Lodge, contact its concessionaire, Forever Living Resorts toll free within the US at 877-386-4383 or 480-337-1320 outside the US. On the web, visit www.grandcanyonlodgenorth.com or www.grandcanyonforever.com.

If your trip is within peak season and less than 3 months away, you are unlikely to be able to secure lodging inside the park. Out-of-park lodging is also limited, with two small facilities situated within an hour of the park, and two others located about 90 minutes away. They are in order of proximity to the park: The Kaibab Lodge, 30 miles North of the park (open seasonally), 928-638-2389; The Jacob Lake Inn at  Jacob Lake, Arizona, 60 miles North of the park, (928) 643-7232 or (928) 643-7898; Marble Canyon Lodge, at Lees Ferry, Arizona, 90 miles North of the park, 1-800-726-1789 or (928) 355-2225; Cliff Dweller’s Lodge, at Lees Ferry, Arizona, 90 miles North of the park, (800)962-9755 or (928)355-2261.  The next nearest lodging is about 90 minutes from the park in Kanab, Utah, or 2.5 hours away in Page-Lake Powell Arizona.  For more information about hotels in Page or Kanab, visit www.grandcanyon.com/page-hotels.com or call 1-800-916-8530.

Grand Canyon North Rim is best visited by outdoors-minded people seeking a quiet getaway, especially those who’ve already been to the South Rim. Visitors traveling in the fall, particularly late September, should seriously consider at least a brief visit to the North Rim to experience the spectacular fall colors of the Kaibab National Forest. Because of its high altitude, Grand Canyon North Rim is not recommended for those with cardiac or respiratory ailments. It is also not recommended for families traveling with younger children, especially those who have a high requirement for sensory stimulation.

Shuttle from Grand Canyon Village to Tusayan to run for 2nd year   This is great news, especially for those of us concerned about parking problems and pollution at the Grand Canyon.  The National Park Service offered this program last year on a “trial” basis and all indications were that it worked quite well.  Starting May 16th, shuttles will run from the town of Tusayan (2 miles outside the park gates) to the Canyon View Informational Plaza (or “CVIP” as we call it) at 15 minute intervals from 8 AM to 9:30 PM.  Shuttles will pick up from 4 locations in Tusayan: the IMAX Theatre/R.P.’s Stage Stop, the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, the Grand Canyon Airlines Terminal at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, and the Canyon Flight Trading Company.  Upon arriving at the CVIP, you can then connect with other free shuttle lines to Grand Canyon Village and the Hermit’s Rest Road. 

These shuttles are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks, plus they run on clean burning compressed natural gas.  And this service is free – how cool is that?!  BUT – you must have proof of having paid your Grand Canyon Park Entrance Fee in advance.  If you’re staying at one of the Grand Canyon hotels inside the park and drove in, that would be your Grand Canyon Park Fee receipt that you got at the National Park Service park entrance station.  If you came in on the Grand Canyon Railway, that would be your train ticket.  If you’re staying at one of the Grand Canyon hotels outside the park, you can purchase your entrance pass at your hotel, or at the IMAX Theatre, or the Grand Canyon Airlines Terminal.  These are good for 1 week, so hang onto ‘em the whole time you’re there.  If you’re planning on visiting several National Parks and/or Monuments during your vacation (which is totally easy to do in the Southwest), then think about purchasing the America the Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass, which grants you access to all the National Parks and Monuments in the country for one year’s time. 

So here’s wishing you good weather and happy, safe travels – til next time,

GrandCanyon.com

Related posts:

1. Grand Canyon Weather: MORE SNOW! Good morni
2. Roadwork Advisory for popular Flagstaff to Grand Canyon route Good morn
3. Question of the Week: Is the Grand Canyon wheelchair accessible? Good after
4. We have 4 children, ages 8yrs to 15 yrs., where is the best place for us to stay? The best p

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.