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| Tuesday May 13, 2008 |
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By Cheri Sicard Photos By Mitch Mandell Covered in this story
The first glance at the Grand Canyon is awe inspiring. A child of about eight stood next to us and just kept repeating "Wow, wow, wow, wow". Even as his parents led him away towards the next vista, we could still hear his "wows" trailing behind him. If you only have one day/Grand Canyon Railway
Once at the Canyon, you will have three and one half hours to explore on your own or take a bus tour (tour tickets are sold on the train) before the return trip to Williams. (Bus tours are covered in more detail later in this article). There are train/hotel packages available as well as options to extend your time in the park. For more information or reservations call the Grand Canyon Railway at 1-800-THE TRAIN (US) or 520-773-1976. You can also visit their web site at www.thetrain.com. Bus Tours/Options for those not physically active There are a wide variety of tours available at the Grand Canyon offered by authorized National Park Service Concessionaires. Filled with many stops, the tours are a perfect way to see the most in the least amount of time. For more information or tour reservations call 303-29-PARKS. The available tours are as follows:
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters pioneered the "flightseeing" industry over thirty years ago. Their state of the art equipment carries over 120,000 visitors over the Grand Canyon each year. The majestic vistas viewed from the seat of a helicopter are enough to put one into sensory overload. I can't recommend this experience highly enough. For information or reservation on Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours call Papillon at 800-528-2418 (US and Canada) or 520-638-2419. Visit their web site at www.papillon.com. Papillon has several tour options to choose from: The North Canyon Tour - This 25-30 minute tour gives you a front seat view of the canyon. You could spend an entire day on foot and not see a fraction of the sights you'll enjoy on this excursion. The Imperial Tour - 40-45 minute tour combines the renowned beauty of the North Canyon tour with spectacular views of the Painted Desert, the Colorado River and the eastern canyon. Grand Canyon Mule Trips There are two mule trip options: Day Trip to Plateau Point - Riders will spend about six hours in the saddle. Brief stops will be made every 30-35 minutes to rest the mules (although riders are not allowed to dismount). About 2 1/2 hours down the trail is Indian Gardens, a water and rest room stop. The trip then proceeds across the Tonto Plateau to Plateau Point, which offers a panoramic view of the Canyon and the Colorado River 1300 feet below. Lunch is provided on the return trip at Indian Gardens and the entire excursion takes about seven hours. Overnight Trip to Phantom Ranch - (3 day 2 night trips are available in winter only) From the head of Bright Angel Trail, riders descend to Indian Gardens where they are served a box lunch, the go on to the Colorado Rivers and along the cliffs of the inner gorge. After crossing the suspension bridge, the ride proceeds up Bright Angel Canyon to Phantom Ranch. There the weary riders will find cabins furnished with bunk beds, sink, toilet, bedding, soap and towels. Showers are available. After a hearty breakfast the next morning, the return trip follows the south Kaibab Trail, which provides spectacular panoramic views. Riders will be returned by bus to Bright Angel Lodge early enough for lunch. The ride down takes about 5 1/2 hours and the ride back about 4 1/2 hours. Hiking and Backpacking Into The Grand Canyon No permits are required for day hikes and you do not need to inform rangers of your plans. There are no loop trail for day hikes, you will be hiking the same terrain in both directions. Overnight camping below the rim requires special permit and fees. The main purpose of this is to control the number of people in one place at one time and to limit the environmental impact of such activities. For more information call the Back country Office at 520-638-7875.
For the ultimate river trip, truly a trip of a lifetime, call OARS (Outdoor River Adventure Specialists) and ask about their Colorado River through the Grand Canyon trips. OARS has five, six, nine and thirteen day trip options through the Grand Canyon, which include side hikes, traveling through intricately carved grottos, some of the biggest waterfalls in the world, including the famous Lava Falls and lots of wildlife viewing opportunities. There's also Indian ruins, wonderful swimming holes and excellent beach camping. For more information or reservationc call OARS at 209-736-4677 or visit their web site.
West Rim Scenic Drive (or hike) - eight miles one way. This route is closed to private vehicles in summer, but the park service operates a free shuttle that stops at key vista points. A good way to experience the west rim is to hike the trail one way, and the shuttle bus back. East Rim Scenic Drive - twenty five miles one way. This trail is accessible by private vehicle or tour bus. Along the way are many more spectacular vistas, including Lipan Point . If you were only going to stop at one scenic overlook, Lipan Point is a good choice. The views are beyond awe inspiring and include the Colorado River as it snakes through the canyon. Grand Canyon Village Historic District - A great starting point for any Grand Canyon visit, the Village dates back to 1905. The Fred Harvey Company built most of the historic buildings in the village including the famed El Tovar Hotel, one of the first hotels to be built in a National Park. Many of the building were designed by famed southwestern architect Mary Jane Colter, including the Hopi House (now a gift shop and art gallery), Bright Angel Lodge, and Lookout Studio. Verkamps Curios, built in 1906, is the canyon's oldest continually operating store and Kolb Studio, built in 1904 by photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb has now re-opened with exhibits about the Kolbs and a book shop. The village is also the stop for the historic Grand Canyon Railway, which leaves daily from Williams, Arizona. The National Park Services offers a wide variety of free ranger programs to enhance your stay at the Grand Canyon. Some of these programs include guided hikes into the canyon and rim walks, a fossil walk, geology talks and daily special lectures and evening programs about the canyon's culture and natural history. Check in at the Visitors Center to see what's available during your stay. Children aged 4-14 can also become "junior rangers" by completing activities outlined in the Junior Rangers tabloid (available at the visitors center or the Tusayan Museum). Kids will receive a special certificate with their name on it. One of the nicest places to stay is just outside the Grand Canyon National Park in Tusayan, Arizona. Minutes from the South Rim, the Grand Canyon Squire Inn is part of the Best Western chain and is the only resort hotel in the area. Each room offers enhanced amenities and southwestern decor. The hotel has convention facilities and meeting space for up to 250 people. In addition to a heated pool, you can also relax and get the hiking kinks out of your body in the inn's hot tub or sauna. Additional spa type services available are a beauty salon with hair stylist, manicurist and massage therapist on duty and a tanning booth. The exercise room will fill in any fitness gaps that hiking the canyon doesn't take care of. The kids will be glad you picked the Grand Canyon Squire Inn as well. The basement contain an extensive game room which includes a video arcade, billiards, air hockey and even a bowling alley! There's lots of great food at the Squire Inn as well. Casual snacks and sandwiches are available in the downstairs sports bar and the Canyon Coffee Shop. A lavish luncheon buffet is available from May through September. The Coronado Dining Room is known for their prime rib and southwestern favorites. Be sure to try their guacamole appetizer, it's some of the best I've ever had! The Coronado Room also has a wonderful breakfast buffet to get your day going. For more information or reservations call The Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn at 520-638-2681 or visit their website at www.grandcanyonsquire.com. Grand Canyon National Park Lodges - The south rim is also home to eight hotels, lodges and campgrounds within the park (one, Phantom Ranch, is even located deep inside the canyon). Of the hotels in the park the El Tovar Hotel is certainly the most elegant, albeit rustic. The historic El Tovar is also home to the only truly fine dining restaurant on the South Rim. Make reservations early, this restaurant is very popular! Other dining options include the Arizona Steakhouse and the Bright Angel Coffee Shop as well as various snack stops and cafeterias. For reservations or information contact your travel agent or call 303-29-PARKS. For more Grand Canyon information visit these web sites:
Be Sure To Also Read
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The
Grand Canyon. It's beauty and majesty have inspired countless artists,
photographers and even musicians. No matter how inspired the works of
art, however, it just doesn't compare to actually experiencing the real
thing. 
On
second glance, you realize that, even though this is the "real thing"
it still looks fake, much like a two dimensional mural. The thing is,
it's difficult to get a true feeling for the canyon's size. You really
need to see something that puts things into perspective. A helicopter
flying over the canyon, that appears no larger than a speck of dust will
do the trick. From the rim, it doesn't seem so far to get a quarter of
the way down, until you spot a mule train in this area that looks like
a trail of tiny ants.
One
of the seven natural wonders of the world, the canyon covers a land area
of 1,904 square miles. There are many ways to experience the Grand Canyon,
depending on the amount of time you have, the weather conditions and your
level of physical ability. This article will cover several of the best
options.
One
of the nicest ways to the see the Grand Canyon (especially if you have
limited time) is to take the Grand Canyon Railway from the historic
town of Williams, Arizona. Featuring turn of the century steam
engines, 1950's diesel locomotives, authentically restored Harriman coach
cars, a club car, dome car and luxury parlor car, the train covers 65
miles in about 2 1/4 hours, leaving passengers at the 1910 Grand Canyon
Depot near the famous El Tovar Hotel on the canyon's South Rim.
Before
the train departs, passengers are treated to live wild west entertainment,
which continues while on board (the train has even been known to be held
up by bandits). Coca-Cola in keepsake bottles are given to each passenger
while on the journey and five grades of service are available, including
hand delivered food and beverage service. 
If
you're time is short, if you're a train buff, or both, The Grand Canyon
Railway is an excellent way to get the most out of your visit. This is
also an environmentally sensitive way to visit the canyon as it helps
to cut down on traffic within the park. In fact, tourist riding the train
save about 52,000 vehicles per year from entering the park. 
Hermit's
Rest Tour - A two-hour motorcoach tour that travels eight miles along
the canyon's west rim to historic Hermit's Rest. There are stops at several
spectacular viewpoints, ending at Hermit's Rest, a unique building of
native stone created by famed architect Mary Jane Colter in 1914. The
two hours tour gives a comprehensive glimpse into the natural and human
history of the Grand Canyon and its geology. 
Truly
one of the most spectacular ways to experience the Grand Canyon is via
helicopter. This bird's eye view will give you the opportunity to take
some first class photos. It also offers a unique perspective of just how
large the Grand Canyon is.
Havasupai
Daytime/Overnight Excursions - These unique tours allow you to enter
into the unique world of the Havasupai Indians. Located at the bottom
of the Grand Canyon, this village boast spectacular waterfalls and legendary
views that are only found here. An optional Indian guided tour on horseback
will take you to the foot of the waterfalls.
A
Crossbreed between a female horse and a male donkey, mules are characterized
by endurance, gentleness and good temperament. For safety reasons riders
must weigh less than 200 pounds (91K) dressed, including equipment, be
at least 4'7 (1.38 meters) in height, fluent in English and you cannot
be pregnant. 
There
are two ways to explore the Grand Canyon by raft: float trip or whitewater
rafting. The Fred Harvey Company offers a twelve hour float trip
which departs seasonally from the South Rim and includes stops along the
East Rim and within the Navajo Indian Reservation en-route to Glen Canyon
Dam. The trip takes you floating leisurely down the Colorado River, with
a picnic style lunch along the river bank, then on to Lee Ferry where
the motorcoach awaits for the drive back to the South Rim. For more
information or reservations call 520-638-2631.
While
hiking into the canyon is extremely strenuous, the rim trails provide
a good alternative for those not up to such a challenge, or for those
with children. The rim trails are well marked and stop at many wonderful
vantage points along the way. These vantage points are also accessible
by car and/or free shuttle buses operated by the park service.
The
East Rim Trail ends at Desert View, home of the Watchtower. Built in 1932
by the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad, this a prime example
of southwestern architect Mary Jane Colter's work. While not a direct
copy of any particular Indian building, the Watchtower is a re-creation
of the prehistoric towers found scattered throughout the Southwest. Inside,
visitors will find examples of Native American art, a Kiva or Sacred Ceremonial
Chamber, and an observatory that provides magnificent views of the surrounding
country. The tower top at 7,522 feet above sea level is the highest point
on the south rim. 