grand canyon info needed

[cherokeegeorge]

The wife and I are thinking of going to the grand canyon in late june or july and are in need of info. It would be a 1 week trip.

Where to camp?
Other things to see or do around there?
Any info is welcome

[Mukilteo]

It should still be there when ya go.

[notned]

Hi, my wife liked the East Rim more.

We camped at Mather and thought that we'd be riding the shuttle from the campground but it was too far. We ended up driving to the visitor center and catching it there.

We listened to a Ranger talk that explained how the canyon affects the weather of the Northern Hemisphere.

Try to make time to hike down at least a little but leave energy for the hike back.

There's Bedrock Campground that might have been interesting.

Unless you're doing a lot of hiking you may find that a week is a long time. On that note there is Bearzilla in Williams. We also liked the main street in Williams.

[notned]

Cameron Trading Post

If you're into astronomy then Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.

Riordan Mansion - Flag

[wagondude]

There is a huge campground at the main south rim. From what I saw, It fills up quickly. You would probaly need reservations. There are also two KOA campgrounds. When I was there a few years ago, the closer one was open only to self contained RVs ad they had had a fire and all facilities were under reconstruction. I would guess they have fixed that by now. We stayed at the other one. It was nice. The wife wanted to stay in one of the cabins as we are still tent campers and she thinks the entire world wants to steel my bottom of the barrel chinese camping gear. I am sure there are other camp grounds in the area, but those are what I know of. If there is space, I would go for the south rim camp ground.

[goramsey]

If you go to the North or South rim. This time of year is going to be NUTS. Crowded as all get out. Camps are already booked – unless you are lucky. Again, as already mentioned, unless you are a hiker, I would say one night only for the south rim. But, there are some really great campgrounds just outside of the north rim park. Cheaper as well. Forest service I think. I have not personally camped in the forest service area campgrounds, but have been told a lot by the locals that is where you want to go. Jacob Lake is said to be a nice little place. Again, this is on the north rim, just outside of the park.
This link should help.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cg-nr.htm

[emiller]

Never camped in the Grand Canyon but did camp at Ten-X camp ground just south of the entrance. You could camp somewhere near Williams, AZ and do the train ride into the Grand Canyon, Donna and I did that last year and was great. We didn't.t have to deal with the traffic there.

[wagondude]

Those folks in Williams really know how to part the tourists from thier money. Very cool little town. I will second the train. Its a fun ride.

Bill

[emiller]

Donna and I will be at Camp Land on the Bay in San Diego the 7th through 12th in June with Joe and Shawn and there teardrop, your welcome to join us there we will be camped right next to the pool.

[stumphugger]

July and August are Monsoon months. Scary lightning. Maybe some rain.
I used to live up on the Mogollon rim, and the folks there expected the storms to start around July 4.

This is a while back, 1994, but we boondocked, with tents, in the National Forest near the park boundary. We did a dayhike halfway down -- Indian Gardens, and then back up. We started down early in the morning, parking was easy to find. Whe we came back up, the area was full of people, cars, and busses. That was in March.

The National Forest has an office in Williams, where you could see if they still allow dispersed camping. It is on the Kaibab National Forest, both south and north rim areas.

I returned with some different folks in 2006, and we hiked all the way down, camped, and spent two days at a leisurely pace coming back up. When we got back up to the top, even though it was March again, the place was a zoo. I had to hurry back for work stuff, so stayed in motels. I actually negotiated the price for a room in Tusayan, but it sounded like they kept a herd of elephants in the room above. Going home, the Williams motel guy looked at my gimp and gave me a handicapped room.

I guess I would go there expecting crowds, unless you hike down into the bottom. Even that area looked well used.

I'd still like to go back. There is a lot to see on the rim, and I have not explored that. There are some short hikes on the South Rim. I believe there are ranger led hikes. You can always hike down into the canyon. The Bright Angel trail off the South rim has drinking water along it. Indian Gardens is about 4 miles down and is a halfway point.

You won't be alone. I live in the sticks and found the people watching to be interesting. There are tourists from all over the world there.

You could look into riding the mules. The trail they use is the Bright Angel trail and it is very wide. It was less scary than some of our local trails in the Cascades, but it consists of steps. Some steps were quite high for my short legs. The mules looked bored and well trained.

The north side is said to be less crowded. I have not been there. It is snowed in during March.

You do not need a permit to dayhike in the canyon. You will if you do an overnight down there. The park service sends out a dvd detailing all the dangers of hiking in the canyon if you reserve a hike in advance. Apparently you shouldn't wear flipflops and set off in 100 degree heat packing a cooler of beer.

[nrody]

We did a road trip to the Canyon in January. Actually to Williams and took the train ride to the Canyon. Williams was beautiful in the snow and we caught the last evening of the Polar Express train.

While at the canyon we lunched at a buffet. Cant remember where exactly. PACK YOUR PICNIC BASKET! The food was yuck! I cant speak for the higher priced places at the visitors center except you will pay a premium.

Make sure you have lots of drinking water! Hydrate hydrate hydrate!

Take lots of pictures cause this is one of the most beautiful places in the world

[doris s.]

We camped in Williams when we went to the Grand Canyon. We took an airplane ride over the Grand Canyon, which was great, kids enjoyed it very much.

Doris

[ssrjim]

Camping in the park on the South Rim is restricted to established campgrounds. Camping fees are in addition to entrance fees, and are charged per night. Campsite reservations fill up fast; make reservations as far in advance as you can.

How Can I Make Campground Reservations ?

On the South Rim, Campground reservations can be made for The Mather Campground.
The Desert View Campground 25 miles/ 41km to the east, is first-come, first-served.

Reservations for the Mather Campground can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at http://www.recreation.gov/
Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.

I've never stayed at Mather (I don't think, can't remember) but it is pretty easy to get a spot at Desert View.

I do like the north rim but it is a very long way around the canyon to get there. Jacob Lake is very nice. It takes like 4 hour to get from one side to the other.

The Train is fun, done that several times. It won't leave you a huge amount of time at the canyon.

It is not that hard to escape the crowd, most people are too lazy to get very far from the bus stops. Just walk the rim, you will be by yourself with little effort.

The biggest pain has always been parking, I have not been there since they made lots near the entrance, but if you have a camping spot that is not an issue.

Here are a few Photos:
http://gallery.me.com/ramjim#100719

[toolman]

Been to the Canyon 3 times. It did not change much over the years. Beautiful to look at, some people like to hike down into it, not me. Lots of people when you are planing to go.

Here is a great link to the Canyon.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
Jerry

[Blumie]

We've tent-camped at the USFS campground at Jacob Lake, 30+ scenic miles north of the North Rim. Gorgeous old-growth ponderosa pine forest, those interesting Kaibab squirrels with ear tassels... we'd gladly return with teardrop to Jacob Lake.