How Do You Want to Experience Grand Canyon?
Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Hiking, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon Skywalk, Grand Canyon Vacation Add commentsGood morning everyone – well, actually it’s closer to afternoon. How time 
flies when you’re having fun, and that’s precisely what we’re doing here at GrandCanyon.com (always!). Right now, we’re talking with a lot of you who are booking Grand Canyon vacations for next year, and by the way, kudos to you all for planning ahead.
For a lot of folks, the decision to go to the Grand Canyon tends to begin as an abstract notion, a vague tug at the psyche that draws us to it. Seeing the Grand Canyon is on the “life lists” of many adults (and rightfully so!); indeed, it’s on many lists of places that must be seen in one’s lifetime. The urge to go and see the Grand Canyon can sometimes come out of the blue, from deep within one’s heart or soul, but sometimes it takes the brain a little time to comprehend the actual act of seeing the Grand Canyon.
If I had a dime for every time I spoke to someone who told me, “All I know is I want to see the Grand Canyon - HOW I’m gonna go about it, I haven’t got a clue!” well… after 20 years in the Grand Canyon biz, that’d be a boatload of dimes! The great unknown that is the Grand Canyon was one of many reasons we wrote “The Insider’s Guide to the Grand Canyon.” (We just put the Winter Edition up - download it now - it’s FREE!)
But seriously, I’ve actually seen my share of folks pile into their car, zoom on up to the South Rim (’cause they heard that’s where everyone goes) and say “here I am, what do I do?” GrandCanyon.com reservationist and staff writer Sandy J. recently wrote this essay explaining the importance of asking yourself what kind of experience you want to take away from your Grand Canyon vacation and how that will affect your decisions concerning where to go, what to see, and how to plan:
What do want from your Grand Canyon Vacation? Are you content to get the best views from the rim? Do you want to hike one or more of the trails that lead you from the awe-inspiring edge of the canyon to the thundering Colorado River at the bottom? Perhaps you’d like to swim in Havasu Falls, or maybe you’d like to attempt the near death-defying feat of stepping out onto a glass walkway 4,000 feet above the canyon floor? How do YOU want to experience the Grand Canyon?
Let’s examine some options. Most who visit the Grand Canyon do so at a one of the canyon’s rims. The South Rim is the most popular because it is open 365 days a year and offers the most sweeping, panoramic views of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon West, also open year-round, is most accessible from Las Vegas and offers touring opportunities not available at the South or North Rim. The North Rim, closed by snow for up to six months of the year, is the most remote and therefore the least visited.
Which has the best views? The good news is there’s no such thing as an ugly side of the Grand Canyon. The best views are defined by the viewer.
Do you prefer seclusion or as near to it as possible? Are hiking and sightseeing your primary goals at the Grand Canyon? You would most likely want to visit the North Rim (or visit to the South Rim in wintertime). Do you like people-watching and don’t have a problem with crowds? Are you travelling with children? Do you like having a lot to do and a lot of choices as to where to stay? If so, you will probably want to visit the South Rim. Do you want to get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon without being tired or sore afterward? A trip to Grand Canyon West would best suit you.
If hiking is your chosen experience, you have several trails to choose from. If you hike the Bright Angel Trail (South Rim) or the North Kaibab Trail (North Rim), you will be sharing the trail with the Grand Canyon mules. Or you might prefer to hike the South Kaibab Trail, which is a bit less crowded. You might choose to hike from the North Rim to the South Rim or vice versa.
Depending on your hiking expertise, you might decide to hike one of the other trails at the South or North Rims which are designated as wilderness trails. These trails, which are not maintained or improved on a regular basis, are quite rough and steep, therefore they’re only recommended for experienced canyon hikers. The main thing is to determine your camping/lodging needs well in advance and obtain your back country permit before heading out.
You could hike from Hualapai Hilltop near Peach Springs to the Havasupai Indian Reservation to experience the refreshing blue-green water of the Havasu Falls, Navajo Falls and Mooney Falls. All hikers must pay a tribal entry permit. If you want to stay overnight at the lodge or campground, you will need to make reservations with the Havasupai Tribe.
If you choose to hike anywhere within the Grand Canyon, you will need to be prepared. With most mountain hiking, you do the leg-cramping, uphill climb first and the somewhat easier downhill last. Just the opposite is true on Grand Canyon trails. Add blistering heat and bone dry conditions of summer (when most people choose to hike the canyon) and you have one of the most challenging hiking environments in the world.
Maybe you prefer to ride the mules from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch or Plateau Point. A horse ride to Havasu Falls may be more appealing to you than hiking. At the North Rim you could also choose to ride a mule part way down the canyon. Just remember that riding a mule or a horse is not an easier way to get down the trail by any means. In fact, hiking gives you more freedom and will likely leave you less sore afterward.
Are you planning to stay in Las Vegas and just make a short visit to the Grand Canyon? Then maybe a flight over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead to Grand Canyon West is the adventure you are looking for. The new skywalk will soon be waiting for a brave soul to step out on its glass surface and view the canyon hundreds of feet below.
If heights-on-glass is not for you (the skywalk will also not be open until 2007) there is still plenty to do. You can visit the Native American Village, view the canyon from various overlooks and eat lunch with the Hualapai Indian Tribe. They will share their culture and their handicrafts with you. You could also include a helicopter tour to the river and back plus a pontoon boat ride if you choose.
Are you coming in the blazing heat of summer? You might prefer to go to the shaded woodlands of the North Rim. It is not uncommon to see deer grazing near some of the popular overlooks as well as the lodge and cabins. You could even shoot some great pictures framed naturally with trees. There are not many options for lodging there so be sure to make reservations well in advance or choose to make Page, Arizona your base so you can enjoy Lake Powell as well as the North Rim.
Whatever you choose you can experience the Grand Canyon in the way that best suits your personality. The key is to plan ahead.
We’ll have more thoughts on this very subject in the days, weeks and months to come. In fact, stay tuned, and I’ll tell you what NOT to expect from your Grand Canyon vacation.
’til then, take care and Happy Travels!
Alley Kaye 
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November 7th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
“stepping out onto a glass walkway 4,000 feet above the canyon floor?”
That’s about a 2,000 foot exaggeration.
The “skybridge” will only be about 1,800 feet above the canyon floor. The viewpoint where it’s being built is at about 4,000 feet in elevation, and the canyon floor and river below is at about 2,200 feet in elevation. It’s not at sea level (0), and the skybridge isn’t at 6,000 feet.
For a 5,000 foot deep view, you’ll need to come to the south rim. For a 6,000+ foot deep view, you’ll need to visit the north rim.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:23 am
We are thinking of trying to hike Havasu Falls 3rd week in December – haven’t called for reservations because not sure if decent weather conditions can be expected. Any ideas on that – thanks, SM
November 9th, 2006 at 9:23 am
Hi Sharon – Boy, that’s a tough one to call for several reasons, the main one being that Arizona weather has been anything but typical for the past couple of years.
While December normally should be a time when snow is a consideration, last year, we didn’t receive any measurable snowfall until January. Snow or no snow, temperatures at the bottom of Havasu Canyon will be a bit warmer than up top.
Just so you know, here is the lodge cancellation policy: “2 weeks prior to reservation- full refund (they take payment up front). After 2 weeks $15 per night. Within 24 hours – non refundable.”
For the campground you have to put down a 50% deposit, then if you have to cancel, their policy states that “you must notify their (Havasupai Tribe’s) office of any cancellations at least 2 weeks prior to your reserved date to qualify for a refund. Such cancellations are subject to a 25% surcharge fee. Any notice of cancellation received less than 2 weeks to the reserved date becomes non-refundable and the full amount of the deposit is withheld.”
Hope that helps. For more information visit http://www.havasupaitribe.com or call (928) 448-2121 or (928) 448-2141 (be patient and persistent, that number can be busy a lot).