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Introduction:
Where?
: Located in northern Arizona 1 and a half hr drive north of Flagstaff.
What? :
Probably the most famous nature wonder in the US, the mighty Colorado river cut
it way south west in a 1.6 mile deep canyon.



When? :
Year round, winter is cooled and snowy and summer can be very hot.
Last time
we visit here (Christmas evening of 2016) we had a strong winter storm roweling
in the day after, we cut our visit after few hr and drove south to Sedona (it heavily
snowed over there, but we were able to travel and hike). People that stayed in
the high Grand Canyon got stuck for a day or two. My advice check in advance
the weather conditions and plan accordingly.
Due
note 1: In this blog I’m referring only to the main south rim section of the Grand
Canyon.

Due
note 2: At winter the entrance on hwy 64 from Cameron Az can be close.
So if
you are planning to come/go after the Grand Canyon to Page AZ you will need to
go through Flagstaff.
Due
note 3: Check in the website for travel arrangement, shuttle options and schedules
especially at the busy tourist season.
Due
note 4: the main park section near the Village can be packed with tourists,
full parking lot, try to come early as you can, you will not regret the early
morning view and enjoy less people.
Due
note 5: many years ago, I took the helicopter trip and really enjoy it, check
in advance. I think there is also 3D movie and other tourist attractions if you
want…

My thoughts:
I was living in Phoenix Az 20 years ago, so we visited the Grand Canyon many
times. Indeed, this is impressive to see for the first time this might canyon,
just look at the vast landscape, all rock layers and the deep canyon, so deep you
can’t even see the river below.
But …. This
park is “too big” for my taste, I miss intimacy feeling with the landscape, it
is like looking from afar.
So…. although his is a must-see place at list once.
Assume you are not doing overnight hike down to the Colorado River or Rim-to-Rim
day hike, I’m not sure I will recommend spending here more than one day.

The
visit:
At all
the times I visited the Grand Canyon I never did any significant hike usually
hiking sections of the Rim Trail and viewpoints. At my last visit we planned to
go halfway down the canyon and then climb up but due to snowstorm we changed
our plans.
I do recommend
going Grand Canyon Visitor Center and park there (not near the Village). Here you
can hike the Rim trail, usually with less people. You can go out to the east in
the direction of South Kaibab Trailhead or you can take west in the direction
of the small but nice Yavapai Geology Museum. You can keep going west for less
than a mile and you will reach the main park village, train station and many lodging
options.


There are
few Shuttle Bus Routes that connecting the different park section and, in some
cases, they are the only option to get to points like: South Kabiba Trailhead
and Yaki Point at the east Rim Trail, or Hermits Rest road in the west.

Sleeping Arrangements:
In any
case try to reserve your hotel rooms or camp site in advance, especially at the
springtime and holydays weeks.
A very
good option is to find hotel accommodations at Tusayan on hwy 64 just before
the park south entrance, there are few large hotels and it is 30 min drive from
the park visitor center.
Another
valid option is to spend the night at Flagstaff, weak up early drive to the
Grand Canyon for a full day trip.
I do
not recommend camping during winter, you can get a snowstorm and very called temperatures.

www:
Map:
Pictures:
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