Grand Canyon advice for tours

[Mbiker_101]

Planning a trip to the grand canyon in a few weeks and wanted to get tips on what to do/ not do?

We will be coming from glendale AZ for a day maybe two day trip.

Helicopter tour? Is it worth it? Best companies?

Jeep tour?

Hike?

Thanks in advance

 

[BettysNephew]

Not sure how expensive it is these days but the wife and I stayed at El Tovar when we got married. It was over Thanksgiving and not too busy. I had been told that some celebs visit from time to time over holidays. We were in the dining room and in walked Julia Roberts. That is one very Pretty Woman, pardon the pun. If you can't stay at least be sure to go in and stroll around a bit. Beautiful building, we had a suite on the Canyon side and the views were spectacular.

 

[Atomhurst]

Keep in mind the food at the Grand Canyon is terrible. I found the safest thing to eat (if you are staying at one of their cabins or hotels) is a salad. My wife watched a cook drop a spatula on the ground during the morning rush and pick it back up. Right before she was about to use it again my wife yelled at her and put her on blast. The cook looked at my wife, shrugged her shoulders and used it anyway. My wife turned to the other people standing in line and said good luck. This was on the south rim if i can remember.

 

[txclimber]

Your fitness level and the degree of commitment you want to put in will determine the number of options you have. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and ran from the north rim to the south rim. It's longish at 24 miles but you really get to see a lot of the canyon, from many different points of view.

When you go though, the north rim will be closed. However, from the south rim I highly recommend hiking (or running if that's your thing) at least part of the way in. Perhaps to the river and back? If you are making the effort to go, really experience the canyon, not just look at it from the rim. Despite being a remote and rugged place the parks staff have made this very easy and attainable for almost anyone. The trail is well groomed and there are rest stations every 2-3 miles that have restrooms and potable water.

The south rim itself is kind of a circus, somewhat of an amusement park feel. Don't get sucked into spending too much money there. If you have some specific questions about the trails or such, pm me.

 

[Mbiker_101]

Thanks guys for the tips, exactly what is was looking for. What about jeep tours?

 

[JB.]

Thanks guys for the tips, exactly what is was looking for. What about jeep tours?

Good advice from txclimber.

Wouldn't be much to see via a jeep tour. I don't think there are any around there (gawd, I hope not, but that's just me). I believe there might still be mule tours, though?

Your screen name seems to suggest a hike might be the way to go for you. On one hand, the signage goes to great lengths to scare you out of hiking to the river and back in one day. Very doable but if you have to wonder whether you can or not, then don't commit to it. You should have enough hiking in your background to easily do the math and make the elevation and weather comparisons to know with certainty whether you can or not. Don't have to go to the river, though. The hikes down give you nice, prolonged views and you can turn around any time you like. Right from the village there's a hike down to a steep overlook (Plateau Point), easily seen from the top, that eliminates 1600 feet of the drop down to the river (3000 feet instead of 4600). If you want to bite off a big chunk of hiking, you could do a loop from the Yaki Point TH (requires a shuttle to get there) down to the river and then back up to Grand Canyon Village. 16 miles with the aforementioned 4600 feet of gain (at the end, that's different). Check on water availability if you do something like that. Remember, it'll be a lot warmer below.

The south rim is best for viewing due to sun angle so it's good for a first time trip and you can quickly get away from the crowds by hiking a ways down.

If you just want to be casual about the whole thing, just leisurely drive the loop road that goes west from Grand Canyon Village and just make all the scenic stops. That's a real nice experience, too.

 

[Mbiker_101]

Great advice, i'm a big mtn biker, dirt bike but wife is not.... But small hike would still be game.

 

[Mbiker_101]

Just got back and hiked the rim on the red loop, great advice getting off the main road and walking the trails, didn't waste any time at the main torist spots. Would have loved to bike the entire road but the other half does not share the same desire for bikes.

Also made our way out to sedona and we did take a jeep tour of the mongolian rim. Jeep trail was very tame and i should have just taken my 4runner. Cost for 2hr jeep tour was only $65 for two of us. Amazing views!!! I liked sedona better than gc.