Arizona Weekend Adventures continued (#6) -Visiting the Grand Canyon

As we continue our Arizona Weekend Adventures, 52 weekend getaways for those new to the Phoenix Metro Area, we are going next to take a trip up to the Grand Canyon!

The Grand Canyon is a wonderful place to go to get away from our hectic life.  It give a sense of peace.  It's beauty and size humbles us.  It's timelessness give us a sense of a higher purpose and provokes a comparison to our short existence.  But there is more to the Grand Canyon than many people who haven't been there know.  You can drive up for a short visit during the day or stay for a longer vacation.  There are several lodges that are right there in the park.  But if you are planning to stay on of the lodges that have the view, you will want to plan ahead as during the busy season they are sometimes booked a year in advance.  But there are other places to stay that are not quite as close.

The Grand Canyon has much more to offer than just a fantastic and humbling view! You can go hiking and camping, take a mule trip, or a helicopter tour, ride down the Colorado River in a raft or take one of the many tours!  There is a fossil walk, you can learn about the Colorado Condor, or joint the Ranger and explore the remains of an ancestral Puebloan Village. 

The charm of the Grand Canyon brings 4.5 million visitors annually!  There are many overlooks that are available by car that offer spectacular views, or rim trails that are wheelchair accessible, and there are some unpaved trails near the edge that even bicycles are not allowed on for safety reasons. 

The Rim trail is the most flat trail available, but if you feel adventurous you can take a hike on the Bright Angel Trail which is steep, but popular.  There is the South Kaibib Trail which is steep and has expansive views, and the Hermit Trail which is steep and rocky.  The Hermit Trail is recommended for experienced desert hikers!  You can visit the official Grand Canyon website for maps of the trails as well as activities you may want to join.  This website will be a very helpful resource for you!

The Colorado River is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and is 5000' below the rim!  It is a two day hike from the South rim to the river and back.  It takes even longer from the North rim.  It is 277 river miles long.  During the month of April they will be showing a film about "A Journey of Wonder" in the Visitor Center.  

And for those who don't know where the Grand Canyon is; It is at the northern part of Arizona, north of Flagstaff, don't worry, it is huge and you won't miss it!  I hope you take a trip up to see the Grand Canyon if you haven't already been there.  Is is an experience you won't want to miss!

If you haven't found your home in the Phoenix Metro Area yet, give us a call, we would love to help you find your home in the desert!