travelwithjamesdean.ca

Grand Canyon National Park

Most park visitors visit the South Rim because of the easier access to lodging and campgrounds in the park, as well as hotels just outside, in the town of Flagstaff (or the airport in Phoenix).
Unbelievably, the Grand Canyon National Park sees 5.5 million visitors each year - it touches four states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado Experiences include hiking and backpack, (or walking the trails down to the river and back for those adventurous ones like my friend Tom.!) - whitewater rafting, even a mule ride to world-famous Phantom Ranch.
Many are happy just to walk around the trails at the top and take the famous South Rim Shuttle Bus around to take in the sights, and take a few hundred photos.!

Our Great Grand Canyon Return Visit.!!

Las Vegas is often used as a jumping off point to take in the canyon. Instead of the long drive, (which turned out to be a total disappointment previously), on this return trip, we took the flight and helicopter tour option with Maverick Helicopters. We eagerly boarding our small flight from Vegas airport to the Grand Canyon... but once we arrived there was a strange tension in the air - and we soon found that the helicopter sightseeing flights were grounded due to high winds.!! NOT AGAIN, after being fogged in on our first trip...
Luckily, after a very long delay, we had our flight just squeezed in by late in the day and we had the most amazing opportunity to see this incredible sight from the sky - fantastic.!!

Thrill Seekers Will Want to Walk Out Over The Canyon.!

For a very different experience at the Grand Canyon - on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, just about 2 hours east of Las Vegas, is the incredible Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Thrill seekers stand on a horseshoe shaped glass platform - 70 feet out from the rim and looking down thousands of feet to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.!! The area is also home to the Native American Village at Eagle Point, including the Sky View restaurant. Take a self-guided tour through an authentic native village to understand regional tribal heritage and tradition.
(Note : As this area is not part of the National Park it requires the purchase of a tour package for entry - AND cameras and cell phones are NOT allowed and must be stored in a locker)

Our Huge Disappointment with our Grand Canyon Visit

The first time in Vegas, we headed out with another couple thinking it would be a great day trip out (even with a long drive at 4 hrs one-way). It was a little drizzly in Vegas, but was expected to clear up and the report was sunnier in the Grand Canyon... but, little did we know that it was to get progressively worse as we drove.
By the time we arrived at the Grand Canyon, it was so fogged in, and visibility was about 3m (10ft).!! (really.! You could not see ANYTHING.!!) We waited for the weather to break.. and nothing... so, we took the South Rim Shuttle Bus to pass the time and hopefully things would clear. It was the most surreal ride as our driver-guide went through his entire routine (and done in the most serious manner, not a hint of humour).. “take lots of water with you as you hike around”, and “ “up ahead is the best view of the snake river”.!!! Are you kidding, it is POURING rain and you cannot see your hand in front of your face.!!!
The weather did not clear, and we took some fun photos with posters of the spectacular Grand Canyon photos in the gift shop, and reluctantly returned to Las Vegas.
I think it is fair to say that most people NEVER have that experience, but we were all good sports and made the best of it.!! - Knowing that we would have to return one day.