Frodo 0 #1 May 17, 2003 I'm planning to visit the Grand Canyon (which is in the north-western Arizona) in the near future (2-5 weeks). If any of you had ever been there, please share your experience, and give any advice you can. I live in Austin, Texas, and it'll take around 17-20 hours to get there. The particular points I'm not very clear on are: - speeding "policy"? Is the principle of "going with the flow" enough to avoid tickets? - where to sleep (halfway between start&end points we have to stop for a sleep. If it's going to be a tent - fine, it just has to be a populated area. So are there any designated areas for this, or do we still have to stay in a motel?) - how much money do I need, apart from cost of gas? - my car's specs say "30 mpg on highway", how close are these numbers to truth, usually? - I'll probably take 1-2 friends with me. How appropriate is it to ask them to share the gas expenses? - any other driving tips regarding the Canyon itself: I'm one of those people (they say it's 2% of total visitors) who want to hike down (to the river?), maybe spend a night there, etc etc. - what is the entrance fee? (it appears that it's free of charge, but I'm not sure) - do they charge additional fees for specific activities? (like taking a ranger-led hike, or attending an evening show) - how much time is it reasonable to spend in the park? Of course I'll be contacting the park service, but it's always useful to have non-official opinions and info. Anyone who has ever been on such a long trip (about 1100 miles to get there), please share any knowledge you;ve got on the subject. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #2 May 18, 2003 That's a bunch of questions. I'd say go to www.AAA.com I'll bet you can get most if not all answered there. All I know about the Grand Canyon is...It's a REALLY big ditch....and don't tell them your wife fell into it while you were taking pictures of her. One guy already got busted trying to use that one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldnewbie 0 #3 May 18, 2003 I went there two years ago, but at new years time. We drove from vegas, lots of people were getting speeding tickets but only the ones that were passing the rest of us that were speeding. Most things are kind of expensive there, so i would take a few credit cards. a few hundred i suppose. I usually get one to two miles per gallon more than the highway ratings on my car, for what thats worth. I would think that your friend would offer to split the gas with you. The only driving tip i have is to make sure you have a good spare tire. There are not many tire stores around. (actually none) I think there is an entrance fee for the park, but i can't remember. You need a national park sticker also. Don't speed in the park, they do give tickets!!! As far as other fees, there are lots of other fees. Riding the donkeys, etc. I think that in the summer you have to take the bus around the canyon due to the huge number of visitors there. Helicopter trips are expensive!!!The way we did it was we made a quick trip into the park in the afternoon, just before dark to look around a little bit. Then we went back into the town outside of the park and got a motel (very expensive, but not bad if shared) There is a great steak house next door also. Then the next day we got up early and saw everything. We could drive our car all around the rim, since it was the winter time, and nobody was there! We spent about 10 hours inside of the park. (I was in a hurry to go skiing, so we left early) I would think that you could and probably should spend two days there. (if not more). If you are going to walk down and spend the night (its a two day trip i think) i believe that you have to pay to do this. I started walking down when i was there, but didn't go all the way down since it was the winter, and it can snow so i'm told. Take lots and lots of water with you, whether you walk down the canyon or not. I plan on walking down next year. That looks like a great trip, but i hear that its pretty difficult. Take a camera etc. You might also see lots of cool animals while you are there, like wolves, deer etc. Just remember, everything is kinda expensive (although some of the meals were not that bad pricewise). Have fun!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #4 May 18, 2003 Tour the canyon in a 'chopper' cool stuff, excellent view.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 May 18, 2003 Quote Helicopter trips are expensive!!! And they get VERY angry if you leave the aircraft in flight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #6 May 18, 2003 Quote I'm planning to visit the Grand Canyon (which is in the north-western Arizona) in the near future (2-5 weeks). If any of you had ever been there, please share your experience, and give any advice you can. I live in Austin, Texas, and it'll take around 17-20 hours to get there. The particular points I'm not very clear on are: - speeding "policy"? Is the principle of "going with the flow" enough to avoid tickets? - where to sleep (halfway between start&end points we have to stop for a sleep. If it's going to be a tent - fine, it just has to be a populated area. So are there any designated areas for this, or do we still have to stay in a motel?) - how much money do I need, apart from cost of gas? - my car's specs say "30 mpg on highway", how close are these numbers to truth, usually? - I'll probably take 1-2 friends with me. How appropriate is it to ask them to share the gas expenses? - any other driving tips well... I drove from Cincinnati, Ohio! to the big c (crack, get it? ) last summer. it was awesome! Take as much water and film for your camera as you can find, and take as much time there as you can. I was only there for one day & night. I hit the South Rim. I took my mountain bike, and while you're not allowed to bike off pavement (hurts the land), i did enjoy biking everywhere cars were prohibitted, only tour shuttles went. I camped at t he campground. no worries, whatever you forget you can get there, just expect to pay a lot more. there is a little grocery store, camping supplies and resaurant and all that. Next time i go, i want to go for 2 weeks, one to hike accross and the other to raft through. It's so unbelievably beautiful... i was in awe. total awe. as for driving there, if i remember, i stopped once between Dallas and the big C, in western New Mexico. i was going to camp out, but by myself, with a jeep of skydiving stuff, everything looked too sketchy to just pitch a tent. i got a hotel room. drive fast, not too fast. i can't attest to your gas mileage, if anything, 30 mpg is at best. that is, when your car is most efficient, which might be 60mph, and your mpg goes down when you go too fast. All the GC info is here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/ If you are serious about hiking down to the river, that takes serious preparation, and lots and lots of water. read all about it before you go. they also say it takes a day to hike down, and 2 days to hike back out. so, plan a lot of time, get a guidebook & map. water, water, water. and it's not recommended to go in the summer, the bottom of the canyon is way way hot, dangerously. but goddamn is it beautiful. hey, if you want to hike it, i'll hike it with you! it's definately something i plan to do. peacehttp://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #7 May 18, 2003 Quotebut goddamn is it beautiful. Sweety.....you need to come to my house in Montana. Just as beautiful and it's all FREE!!!! I even have a raft in the garage!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #8 May 18, 2003 QuoteQuotebut goddamn is it beautiful. Sweety.....you need to come to my house in Montana. Just as beautiful and it's all FREE!!!! I even have a raft in the garage!!! OK! how's July for ya?? send me directions. be careful what you ask for, i will show up.http://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #9 May 18, 2003 Quote OK! how's July for ya?? BAAAD...I'm still trying to get vacation for the WFFC in August. This saving the world job is tough on my vacation schedule. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #10 May 18, 2003 Quote Quote OK! how's July for ya?? BAAAD...I'm still trying to get vacation for the WFFC in August. This saving the world job is tough on my vacation schedule. that's ok, that means you'll be home right? i'll just hang out, you can go to work, i'll go hiking... cool?http://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fasterfaller 0 #11 May 18, 2003 If you are going to shoot photos take film with you . If you don't you will be very limited to what you can buy . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallRate 0 #12 May 18, 2003 Just one bit of advice. If you happen to be on the North Rim and find yourself hungry, don't wait until you arrive at the South Rim to eat. Quite a long drive. FallRate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloudseeker2001 0 #13 May 18, 2003 grand canyon is nice, but...........it will be so hot you can fry eggs on the rocks if you go anytime past the 2nd week of june. it is much like the heat of austin in the middle of summer except much hotter!!!!!! i really mean, much hotter! at this time of the year, the GC will be very busy and more people go than what the canyon can really handle. unless you get real lucky, they will not have any motel rooms or camp sites and you will not get a permit to hike to the bottom(unless you are an outstanding hiker and plan to do it in one day) i applied for my permit to spend 4 days in the canyon and i was shot down. 40, 000 people a year apply for permits and only 10, 000 get them! as for where to stay on your trip, there are many good places to camp in cental and nothern new mexico. they are not all listed on the maps but anywhere you see forrest they will have camp grounds......and it is not like texas, 75% of new mexico and arizona is public land and you can find dirt roads into the mountains and canyons and find a spot. as for speeding, new mexico has slow speed limits on the state hwys and it is 75 on the interstate. and they enforce the speeding laws b/c it is a good source for income!!!!! really. arizona is more laid back. i really do not care much for the GC, but the two times i have been there i camped near a town call williams(it is about 50 miles south) and rode the GC train into the park. it is a really nice little town and the dennys has a full bar!!!!!!!! the train is nice b/c it takes you to the park, entrace fee is included and ten you get to ride the buss tour for a discounted price. then on the return trip they have a fun little train hijack by some cowboys! they shoot blanks and everything! it was fun! it was only like 75$ a person and they took care of everything. i think their is better things to do out west in norhtern arizona than the GC...........slot canyons in page, moab, canyonlands-the list is endless. pm me if you want more ideas. we are heading out that way thursday for 2 weeks of fun! "Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance, others mean and rueful of the western dream" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloudseeker2001 0 #14 May 18, 2003 one more thing.............if you take alot of pics make sure you keep the camera cool. the heat will ruin the film. i have lost much film/pics form the heat out there! "Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance, others mean and rueful of the western dream" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #15 May 18, 2003 Quotethey are not all listed on the maps but anywhere you see forrest they will have camp grounds......and it is not like texas, 75% of new mexico and arizona is public land and you can find dirt roads into the mountains and canyons and find a spot Hey....wait a minute....I actually have something worth while to say. Go figure.....get yourself one or two of these map books. I have them for Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Worth their weight in gold for finding your way around the "paths less traveled." They have great info on forest service roads and camping, fishing, and recreation areas. Just remember to ALWAYS enquire locally before travelling the back roads. Conditions can be strange and unexpected in the back country. Like around my house in Montana. You can't get very far into the hills until about Late June or early July because it takes that long for the snow to melt. This price seems a bit high so I would check out other sources...but it had a pic so you would know what I was talking about. wildernet.altrec.com/shop/detail/671/10/?xsell_detail Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lurking 0 #16 May 19, 2003 I will just comment on the hiking plans: When you arrive at the trailheads leading down into the Canyon you will find a number of warning signs warning you about the heat and the distance and such. Take them seriously. We were there outside the season (late Oct) so we were able to get a permit for the little wilderness campground at the bottom for the next day. Permits for the summer will probably be taken by now. Also the cabin at the bottom will be sold out for the next two summers. Hiking down and up in one day is doable as long as it is not too hot. This ONLY applies to you if your physical fitness is above average. My friends who did it were running marathons at the time. So better be safe than sorry... Thomas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #17 May 20, 2003 I left from DFW and went to Carlsbad New Mexico and saw the cave. There are a few nice/cheap motels there. Then headed up north thru Roswell and picked up 40 and headed to the Grand Canyon. I did the mule ride to the bottom and spent the night at Phantom Ranch. I think I spent less than 1000$ on the whole trip including food, beer, gas, smokes and Park fees. Ken"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
