Choosing to visit the Grand Canyon is a great travel option.
If you decide it is going to be on your itinerary, you should do a little bit of research before you head out.
You don’t want to simply be standing at the South Rim with the masses, taking some pictures then heading back on your way.
The Grand Canyon is vast and beautiful plan tourist tour.
It has so much to offer beyond simply looking over the edge at nature’s accomplishments.
With a little bit of planning, even a short trip to visit can be really rewarding making the visit a once in a lifetime experience.
Visit Grand Canyon National Park
Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park can be a fantastic adventure.
Beginning from your drive into the park until the moment you leave.
Here are some hints that can make your trip extra special:
- Enter from the East Entrance – This is a less used entrance to the park that offers a scenic drive and some great food on the way.Coming in this direction allows you to look over the Little Colorado River Gorge as well as the Desert View and Grandview Point on the East Rim.You are also offered the opportunity to enjoy some good food such as Navajo tacos, homemade frybread with green chilli and taco fixings at the Cameron Trading Post.
- Don’t just Look – While the sites from the South Rim are something to behold, you should take the opportunity to hike down lower and see it from a different vantage point.Going onto the trails under the rim will allow you to experience sights from such as Moran Point, canyon flowers and trees along with other natural features that are excluded in the view from above.The Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point gives wonderful views as well.The hikes to these viewpoints are fairly short but if you want to do one that is a little more challenging, The Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point is perfect.The hike has lots to see and overlooks the Colorado River at a certain point.
You will find many hidden spots on these hikes under the rim such as the Havasu Falls.
Sometimes it just takes a little more adventure to get a better perspective.
- Get Away from the Masses – Crowds of people snapping pictures all around you takes away from enjoying the beauty of the Grand Canyon.If you want to avoid the crowds, then aim to visit in late August or perhaps December, January or February.While these are not the hottest times weather-wise, they offer spectacular views in the winter.October is another good month when the colours are changing, and the temperature is moderate.Fall lets you do a little camping still if you are daring.
If you do end up going at prime time, find a quieter place to observe.
Shoshone Point on the South Rim is closed to vehicles, so fewer people venture to that particular area.
It’s a little bit of a hike to get there but a nice walk through the forest.
If you are camping, avoid Mather and head to Desert View or Tex-X campgrounds just south of Tusayan which are part of the Kaibab National Forest.
You’ll find there are more space and less chaos.
- Extra Things to do – A visit to the Grand Canyon means there are lots of extra things to do.You can pop by the museum located at Yavapai Point or join a ranger directed history course.If you want to do something more adventurous try a mule trip into the canyon where you will go along the narrow ledges and see the best the canyon has to offer.There are also river rafting trips on the Colorado River where you look up to see the marble canyon walls.These trips offer some of the best white-water adventures you can find.
- Timing – There are some particular moments that you should experience on your visit to the Grand Canyon.One of those is sunset.Sunset is always a busy tourist time around the main areas of the park but if you take the shuttle bus from Hermits Rest Road and then go along the Rim Trail to a viewpoint you will have a spectacular view and a little more space to yourself.You’ll be away from much of the crowds and if you wait past the sunset as it fades into darkness it is a sight you won’t want to miss.
Whether you want to visit the Grand Canyon for a half-day, weekend or week, you will never run out of things to do and experience.
Exploring this natural wonder of the world can’t be done by simply looking at it from the viewpoint.
Whether you want to visit in the hot summer months and do some backcountry camping or enjoy staying in a lodge as the weather cools down both are great options.
If you don’t have the time to stay that long, then make sure you set aside enough time during the day to explore.
You can experience below the rim by hiking, mule, horseback or rafting.
One of these experiences is all easy to accomplish in a day.
Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park lets you explore and enjoy it.
You don’t have to be an observer; you can be an active participant.
