I have been to the Grand Canyon three times now; once to the West Rim and twice to the South Rim. The South rim is where the big magnificent classic vistas are found. The West rim is smaller, but you can take a day trip from Vegas. They have helicopter trips that are reasonably priced and take only half a day.
The company we chose was Maverick Tours, but there are many in Vegas. I picked this company because it has the top safety record of any tourism-based aviation company in the world, they have new quiet ECO-Star helicopters, and their helicopters feature wrap around glass and theatre seating for good visibility. Everyone has a good view. By the way, the pilot is pointing to Lake Mead. We also flew over Hoover Dam.
We had great seats right up front! It was perfect for filming my video. They have various packages, but we took the afternoon trip which was about 4 hours in total. The ride was unbelievable! I loved looking at the desert from above and then when you approach the canyon – WOW! The chopper flies into the canyon and down to the reserved picnic area.
This company has a dedicated spot that they are allowed to land in about half way down the canyon. The West rim is not as impressive as the South Rim, but it does give you a sense of what it is like, and if you have never been, it still is quite spectacular. The Grand Canyon is 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep. Based on archeological evidence, hunter gatherers passed through the canyon 10,000 or more years ago. The ancestral Puebloan people have lived in and around the canyon for several thousand years, leaving behind dwellings, garden sites, food storage areas, and artifacts. Modern tribes still consider Grand Canyon their homeland.
When you are in the Canyon, the thing you notice most is the utter silence. It is quiet like you have never experienced and very peaceful. Plus it is very hot (over 100 degrees F) but dry heat so it was bearable.
The tour company provides a light lunch with sparkling wine and water. We were both very impressed with this tour and highly recommend it for a quick glance at the Grand Canyon. And with a helicopter tour, you bypass all the long lines at the canyon. Apparently they are getting very long these days, especially at the South Rim.
On a previous trip I travelled to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon by car from Las Vegas. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Hoover Dam, and then it can take a while to get across since it is very congested and everyone drives slow to see the view. You can park and walk around. The structure is gigantic and worth a getting a few pics. Total travel time to South Rim from Vegas is about 5 hours.
I stayed at the Best Western in Tusayan, which is about a 15 minute drive to the South Rim entrance (without traffic). There are several good hotels within the park grounds, but they are much more expensive and usually booked solid for months in advance. Hotel El Tovar is where I would stay next time. They do have camp sites as well. Check out the Grand Canyon Park website for information. There is one hotel at the bottom of the canyon, Phantom Ranch. It can only be reached by mule, on foot or by rafting the Colorado river.
The South Rim is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year including holidays. The entrance station is open 24 hours but the Park’s Visitor Center and other facilities are open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the peak months of May-September and off-peak of October-April from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2018 fee is $35 per car. The summer is peak season and the car line to get in is very long.
Tip: Go as early as possible in the morning to avoid the lines. Or drive in through the east gate near Cameron. The Cameron Trading Post is worth going to for great silver and turquoise jewelry, t-shirts and cool souvenirs. Plus they have a restaurant with pretty good food.
The historic district is a must see. The district comprises the historic center of Grand Canyon Village and includes numerous landmark park structures, many of which are National Historic Landmarks. It began to take shape as stage coaches loaded with passengers began arriving to view the Grand Canyon over one hundred years ago.
The Grand Canyon is easily a full day trip, or longer. There is so much to see and so much to photograph. It is the trip of a lifetime. You will never see such beauty and awesomeness as this. It is a World Wonder.
For more Arizona stories go to the Arizona blog. And check out these: Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, and the amazing colorful Antelope Canyon. Also visit the blog describing the home of the big gunfight at OK Corral in Tombstone.
And for more photos go to Wonderland Photography.
