Grand Canyon visit (Flagstaff, Williams, Cameron: house, bars, best) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

stephmi · 08-20-2010, 10:31 AM

Hi everyone! I'm driving cross country from Chicago to LA and I plan on stopping at the Grand Canyon (South Rim) to check out all its glory. I can't stay for more than a couple hours, but I'd love to go on a hike to get some great views of the canyon. Any advice??

Zonie5 · 08-20-2010, 11:02 AM

since you are pressed for time my suggestion is that when you enter GC gate drive to the right and look for signs to "Desert View". IMO it is the least crowded and the view will knock you for a loop . the drive alone will take a while as it is a about a 19 mile drive . there are several other points along the way you could view if you can spare the time . just my opinion is that if you cannot spend more time you are doing injustice to yourself , BUT that is your right and i know how we can be pressed for time . i have been guilty of that myself more times than i can recall .so go ahead and enjoy what you can . as you drive West 5 miles past mile marker 146 look to your right and wave to the house on top of the hill . i'll be looking for that

rambrush · 08-20-2010, 07:39 PM

I would suggest turning in Flagstaff head up to Cameron and catch that end of the canyon. Continue west toward the main area all along this road are view points to stop and look. Then you can head on down towards Tusayan and on down to Williams to continue your journey. this prevents a nice loop and not a out and back.

OurNextAdventure · 08-22-2010, 07:46 PM

Bring water, and some granola bars. The heat this time of year is gonna drain you if you hike.

HighLotus · 08-22-2010, 09:47 PM

I'm also driving to Oklahoma from California in October, and will pass through AZ and would like to see the Grand Canyon! I hope it the weather is cooler by then.

OurNextAdventure · 08-22-2010, 11:29 PM

October is the perfect time to see the Grand Canyon. In my opinion, October and April are the 2 best months for Arizona. The weather is for me, almost perfect.

jkbatca · 09-01-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambrush

I would suggest turning in Flagstaff head up to Cameron and catch that end of the canyon. Continue west toward the main area all along this road are view points to stop and look. Then you can head on down towards Tusayan and on down to Williams to continue your journey. this prevents a nice loop and not a out and back.

I would second this suggestion. My family and I did exactly this and it worked out quite well.

rambrush · 09-02-2010, 06:05 PM

I just realized this did not quite make sense.

I would suggest turning in Flagstaff head up to Cameron and catch that end of the canyon. Continue west toward the main area all along this road are view points to stop and look. Then you can head on down towards Tusayan and on down to Williams to continue your journey. this prevents a nice loop and not a out and back.

this might be better

this makes a nice loop and is not a out and back trip.

nightbird47 · 09-02-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighLotus

I'm also driving to Oklahoma from California in October, and will pass through AZ and would like to see the Grand Canyon! I hope it the weather is cooler by then.

Go to the south face. It's extraorninary. You can see the sky and the ground and waves of rock jutting out behind it. It give you a sense of what it is and how huge.

Also, on your way, stop by Metior Crater. Its unbelievaly awsome too. It took about 6 seconds for this enormous hole to be carved out of the ground. And what you see is literally miles above the bottom of the crater, where the debris fell. They have yet to find the bottom it is so deep.

And it took about 6 million years for the river to create the Grand Canyon. Quite a comparison. It makes a wonderful set of bookends.

And when you get to OK hoping its nice and warm but not beastly like its been or early cold. Its spectacular here that time of year.