A Weekend at Grand Canyon

Hello Everyone!!!

Clouds looming precariously over the south rim of Grand Canyon

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Yes, I am back and first, a very heartfelt apology to all for not being around for almost 1 year. Unfortunately, being a student again was not easy as my course progressed and last year with traveling, blogging, studying, working and job hunting, things were kind of spinning out of control and it started taking some serious toll on my health. Hence, I had to give up blogging temporarily. But I promise, I have a ton of stories and experiences for you because I never stopped exploring and now I am going to make a conscious effort to make sure you get the best of my experiences on a periodic basis.

First ray of sunshine on the canyon

Anyways, as of today I am starting a National Park series on my blog! I will cover some of the famous National Parks of USA, that I have visited in the two years I have been here. How about a grand start to that list now? Welcome to the majestic canyon that faced the wrath of the mighty Colorado River for almost two billion years with grace till the river calmed down and the canyon stood victorious for all to celebrate its gallantry. Welcome to Grand Canyon!

Cut by water, made by nature

I have been lucky to visit Grand Canyon twice in two years, but unfortunately, I have only been South Rim and West Rim in a very touristy fashion. But I managed to explore enough to help you draft your own weekend to Grand Canyon itinerary! Grand Canyon South Rim is about 4 hours from Las Vegas and Phoenix and about 7.5 hours from Los Angeles and San Diego. Hence, you have to make an overnight stay around the area to explore the canyon. 

The south rim trail continues.....

I have stayed in Vegas and GrandCanyon Village during my visits and would definitely suggest staying at Grand Canyon Village during your visit since it is just 10 mins away from South Rim and gives you the option to witness sunrise or sunset over the canyon without having to drive sleepless for hours.

Mather's Point overlook at South Rim, Grand Canyon

If you are thinking why one should visit Grand Canyon during sunrise or sunset, let me paint you the picture. At the break of dawn, vibrant orange rays of the sun slowly lit up the layers of red, yellow, brown, and all the colours in between, trying to reach the deep blue waters of Colorado that are snaking somewhere deep below. Does it sound like something you would want to experience while perched on a rock at the edge of the rim? This was the moment when I realized how grand and mesmerizing Grand Canyon actually was!

Red Feather lodge and Plaza Bonita, apart from the area's proximity to the park, are just few off my reasons to choose Grand Canyon Village over any other place close by.

Grand Canyon South Rim is the most accessible rim trail of Grand Canyon and is the closest to Grand Canyon Village. There are several points along the Rim from where you can admire the 277 miles (446 km) long, 8 miles (29 km) wide, 1 mile deep naturally formed canyon. To start out, you can either choose Hopi Point or Mather’s Point for sunrise. While Hopi Point will give a logical directional itinerary to follow, Mather’s point gives you the best unobstructed view of the Canyon and actually let you imbibe that sunrise image I painted for you earlier.

Hopi Point on an early winter morning.

From Hopi Point you can walk down to Mohave Point and Powell Point and then drive to Yavapai Point and walk down to Mather’s Point till the Amphitheatre. Mather’s point also has a small café and visitor centre to help you find buses and access routes, if needed. And you can end your South Rim explorations at Pipe Creek Vista or drive down another hour to Desert View Watch tower (might be closed during snowfall).

Can you guess where the river is?

If heading to West Rim for a glimpse of the fabled Eagle Point – rocks formation that gives you the illusion of a huge eagle flying upwards with its wings open, I would suggest getting there atleast by 3:30 p.m. as the skywalk is very busy during summers especially. And after spending some time there, head over to Guano Point for sunset and, if you are like me, for star gazing! Although if you ask me, I would suggest against going to the West Rim. West Rim is private land and thus the entry fee is very high (around 45$ per person). 

Visitor center at South Rim, near Mather's Point

Also, West Rim really just has two points worth visiting unless you are hiking in the area and out of the two, you will have to pay again for the skywalk to see Eagle point from the best possible vista point. But guess what, you won’t even get the satisfaction of reliving the moment as and when you want because you cannot carry your phone or camera there! Still want to visit?

Amphitheater between Mather's Point and Yavapai Point was the best stop to sit and star gaze in the park.

Having said that, South Rim will totally make you fall in love with the place so don’t give it a miss. Also, I have heard other than South Rim, North Rim of the Canyon is worth visiting, so if any of you have explored the north rim, do let me know your experience because I am planning to do that during my next visit.

Let's see, what else can help you guys.

Some extra stuff that might be helpful –

1.   Unlike other national parks, entry to South Rim Grand Canyon is a bit more – 30$ per vehicle for 7 days, and you will need a separate entry fee West Rim – 45 per person and you cannot take your car around west rim.

2.  Whether you visit during winters or summers, carry ample amount of water with you. It is extremely hot during summers and windy during winters, both conditions tend to dehydrate you.

3.  If staying in Grand Canyon Village, there are plenty of food places around with some decent Mexican restaurants that serve vegetarian and vegan options. Also, although there are plenty of hotels in the area, if you are looking for a decent budget option Red Feather Lodge is something I would recommend.

4.  If you are covering only South Rim, Mohave Point is a very good star gazing spot as you can park your car very close to the rim there and don’t have to traverse a lot in the dark. If you are willing to walk a bit, the amphitheater near Mather's Point is also an amazing spot for stargazing. 

5.  If you are considering helicopter ride, South Rim is your best option but the cost for one person is around 250$ and total ride time is around 50 mins. So time over the canyon roughly is around 25-30 mins.

And that was it! Hope you guys found this post helpful and are excited about the other National Parks I will be discussing about in near future. Once again, those of you who stuck around and have given this blog so much love in the past – thank you for all your support. I promise I won’t let you down. And those of you who are new here, hope you liked the space and see you again next week!