South & North Rim - Alerts - Fly - Buses - Brigth Angel Trail - Hiking - Skywalk Grand Canyon
The one of the greatest shows in the world. Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park is having before us more than 80 million years of geological history. More than six million recreational visitors travel to Arizona every year to marvel at this open crack in the ground. The Colorado River is still actively eroding its channel today, discovering ever older rocks. It is the second most visited American national park after the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Grand Canyon was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park celebrated its centennial on February 26, 2019. The Grand Canyon National Park is 20 miles from the City of Las Vegas.
How to Plan the Visit to the Grand Canyon National Park?
Grand Canyon South Rim 2021
The Grand Canyon South Rim is the one that receives almost all the tourists that go to the Grand Canyon National Park. The South Rim is open 24 hours a day, all year round, while the North Rim is open from May 15 to October 15.
On the south bank there are many viewpoints, with wider and more spectacular panoramic views.
How to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim?
The Grand Canyon South Rim is divided into 3 zones and there are viewpoints in all of them. In the center is the center of the area.
The best thing to do as soon as you get to the grand canyon is to head to Grand Canyon Village. In this place there are accommodation, shops, a supermarket, a post office, a bank, parking lots, toilets, telephones, a clinic, a mechanical workshop, bookstores and a train station.
How to visit the Grand Canyon?
West of the Grand Canyon Village is a road called the Hermit Road, which can only be traveled in the summer with the park's free buses. In winter the public transport in the park stops and you can do this route in your own car.
East of the Grand Canyon Village is the highway called Desert View Road. This is the route of entry for everyone going to or coming to Monument Valley or Antelope Canyon. In Desert View Road there is no bus line, so you can visit the viewpoints along this road at your own expense throughout the year.
How to get around the South Rim
The blue bus line called the runs the central area of the park, the Village.
In this way, when you arrive at the Grand Canyon, you can park your car and move with the park buses. The blue line connects to the other two lines: the red line Hermit Road Shuttle Bus Route and the orange
The Buses of Grand Canyon
To the west of the village, the red line runs to the viewpoints in this area. The entire tour on the bus takes 80 minutes without getting off at any stop. Its frequency is 15 minutes and it works from 5 am to 1 hour after sunset.
On the other hand, to the east of the Village, the orange line works, which does not run the entire Desert View Drive road, but does a short route from the Village to the Yaki Point viewpoint.
Spend 50 minutes to complete a full lap. The first bus of the day to watch sunrise at Yaki Point departs from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 5 am, then continues at 5:40 am, 6 am and 6:20 am. Then they already have a frequency every 15 minutes. In This viewpoint the entrance to private vehicles is prohibited.
The Hiker's Express Shuttle Bus, connecting the Bright Angel Lodge with the South Kaibab trail, departs early in the morning. It only operates in the summer months from 5 in the morning. This is only for hikers going down to the Grand Canyon.
What to see and do at South Rim?
Hiking, trekking, rafting, flights by plane, by helicopter or simply or simply visit the viewpoints that are scattered along the southern edge.
Sunrise in Grand Canyon National Park
Hiking Into Grand Canyon National Park plan ahead
more info click on Pics ( NPS pdf Download)
What is the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
The Skywalk is a viewing platform mounted on a circular platform with a glass floor, which protrudes from the precipice of a canyon 4600 feet above the base. The Grand Canyon Skywalk Lookout is outside Grand Canyon National Park.
Where is the West Rim Skywalk Lookout?
It is located in one of the lateral canyons that come out of the main canyon that runs along the aforementioned river, in the southern part, already outside the limits of the national park, in the area known as West Rim. It is located in the area known as the West Rim.
How to descend the South Kaibab trail to Skeleton Point?
Going down to the Colorado River and going up on the same day is not convenient. It is only possible to do it if you are in good physical shape and not in the summer months.
Partial sections can be done. walk a couple of miles down South Kaibab Trailhead to Cedar Ridge (1.5 miles) or Skeleton Point (3 miles). Descent to Skeleton Point can take 1.5 hours to 2 hours
How to travel the Bright Angel Trail?
It is the most popular trail in the entire park. Descend down a narrow arm of the The Grand Canyon and you don't have good views at the beginning of the hike. South Kaibab Trail has a less steep descent and more extensive panoramic views. It is convenient to do this trail very early in the morning to avoid the high temperatures of the afternoon.
For the more adventurous who are in physical condition, and want to descend and ascend on the same day, my recommendation is to go down the South Kaibab Trail and up the Bright Angel Trail.
You can do the descent or the ascent by mule, but you have to book well in advance
Fly Over the Grand Canyon National Park
Flying over the Grand Canyon is an amazing experience for those who decide to do it. The sensation of flying the grand canyon and seeing its panoramic views is incredible. There are two ways to do it: By helicopter or by plane.
Flights are obviously not performed on this plane. In 1977 Grand Canyon Airlines (GCA) purchased a Ford Tri-Motor. 5-AT-74, which now spends most of its time on the ground, as an exhibition. Grand Canyon Airlines fly over the grand canyon by plane and helicopter.
Grand Canyon Airlines Ford 5-AT-C Trimotor N414H was built in 1929. Its serial number is 74 and it is the 155th of 199 Trimotors. It is powered by three Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior nine-cylinder radial engines.
How much does the entrance to the Grand Canyon cost?
The entry is valid for one week. Remember that if you are going to visit the two banks of the Grand Canyon you will only have to pay the entrance once. The South Rim and North Rim belong to the Grand Canyon National Park.
If we are on the West Coast of the United States, we can use the Annual Pass. It is a pass valid for 12 months with which we can enter all the National Parks of the United States. The Annual Pass costs $ 80 and will be profitable when we plan to visit more than 2 national parks.
The West Rim where the Skywalk glass walkway is located is not within the Grand Canyon National Park. The West Rim belongs to the Hualapai Indian tribe. And therefore, the "Annual Pass" is not valid at the West Rim.
The Grand Canyon was discovered by the Spanish García López de Cárdenas in 1540, the first European who passed through it. He was sent by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado to find one of the "Seven Cities of Gold", called a mythological city covered in gold. After 20 days of travel they found the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.
Grand Canyon 2021 ALERTS ( Info NPS)
Wednesday July 14, 2021 - Grand Canyon National Park is Under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions
No wood/charcoal fires -No outdoor smoking except within an enclosed vehicle. Visit the link for details. A Heat Warning is in effect for the lower portions of Grand Canyon below 4000 ft (1219 m) through the week, with temperatures reaching 109°F (43°C) more
Park Closure
Wednesday July 14, 2021: South Rim Open - East Entrance Open - North Rim Open
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, public health measures are in place including capacity limits, temporary closures, and modified operations. Visit the link for the updated list of what is open and what remains closed. We are open 24 hours/7 days a week. more
Information
South Kaibab, Bright Angel and North Kaibab Trail Water Stations are on.
However, pipeline issues and breaks are common, and Grand Canyon National Park recommends that hikers and runners be prepared to filter or disinfect creek water along these corridor trails. more
