Suggestions? Grand Canyon from Arizona in Feb

in #grandcanyon6 years ago

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We've been in the United States for about 2 years... and have seen very little of it because we keep going back to Australia or work is nuts and we can't get time off.

So, we're very excited to be organizing:

Grand Canyon from Phoenix AR (Feb 2018)

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We're super excited... but a little bit clueless on how to tackle it.
We'll have about 4 or 5 days to Canyon up.
I'll be doing a competition right before this trip, so I won't be able to spend any time getting all conditioned for mega hikes... and it's a little colder than we were expecting due to the elevation. Average temperatures on the rim range from a low of 20 ºF (-7c) to a high of 43 ºF (6c). Average temperatures at Phantom Ranch, range from a low of 38 ºF (3c) to a high of 58 ºF (14.5c)... which is better than me dying of heat and/or selfies.

We want to see the Canyon and Sedona... and have a couple of ideas in a Google Internetty searching kind of way:

Wildland Trekking Grand Canyon Classic

3/4 day Hiking/backbacking
27km hike
~$1000pp
• The spectacular South Kaibab Trail
• Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River
• A traverse of 1.5 miles of the Colorado River
• Campsite at the desert oasis of Indian Garden
• Sunset dinner at Plateau Point
• The famous Bright Angel Trail
Hiking gear provided
The Grand Canyon Classic boasts some of the best views in the Grand Canyon and follows the most moderate routes down and back up.
Spectacular vistas will await your arrival on the South Rim, where you'll hike down the famous South Kaibab Trail. Spending one night at Bright Angel Campground, we then hike to Indian Gardens (a spring that watered ancient garden plots for centuries). The third day we hike out the classic Bright Angel Trail back to the South Rim. Natural and cultural history abound on this trip, and it features purely quintessential Canyon views.
(http://www.wildlandtrekking.com/grand-canyon/backpacking-trips/grand-canyon-classic.html)

We'd need to do a separate Sedona trip for this one, but that's cool. We can take that on the end on the way back to Phoenix. We just have no idea how hard that hike will be.

Redstone Tours 2 day sightseeing tour

2 day sightseeing tour via Sedona, Grand Canyon hotel stay overnight
~$410pp
• 2-Day Grand Canyon tour from Phoenix
• See the dramatic red rock country of Sedona en route to the Grand Canyon
• Take a driving tour along the East Rim to spectacular viewpoints
• Visit to an authentic trading post on the Navajo reservation
• Customize your tour with optional activities during your free time
• Stay overnight at a hotel near the rim of the Grand Canyon
Free time + optional helicopter tour
Have more time to bask in the incredible beauty of the Grand Canyon by staying overnight at a hotel in the national park. Take a driving tour along the rim to fantastic viewpoints, and learn about the natural and human history of the region from your knowledgeable guide. En route to the Grand Canyon, stop in Sedona, visit a Navajo trading post, see the Painted Desert and red rock country of Arizona, and pass through the Ponderosa Pine Forest and San Francisco Peaks.
(https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g31310-d11451321-2_Day_Grand_Canyon_Tour_from_Phoenix-Phoenix_Arizona.html)

All-Star Grand Canyon Tours - day tours

Single day sightseeing tours
$130pp 1 day doesn’t include lunch, accommodation or transport to/from Phoenix.
• Grand Canyon Village - This section of the park contains a number of historic buildings, the Grand Canyon Railway Station, shops and restaurants.
• Yavapai Point - This vista is the most expansive view of Grand Canyon and is home to Mary Colter's historic Yavapai Observation Station.
• Mather Point - This viewing area is quite extensive - the point has two narrow, railed overlooks built on projecting rocks and is near the Visitor Center.
• Grandview Point - This viewpoint, developed in 1892 by Pete Berry as a copper mining operation, was an original destination for Grand Canyon tours. This view point is reached by a one mile side road, that juts out on a peninsula providing expansive views of the Grand Canyon.
• Tusayan Ruins - The Tusayan Ruins and Museum are excellent places to take a glimpse into the lives of the native peoples of the region. * This is typically where we enjoy our picnic lunch.
• Lipan Point - This vista has the best view of the Colorado River on our Daily Grand Canyon Tour, and is a favorite stop for our guides as well as guests.
• Desert View - This is the easternmost viewpoint at Grand Canyon National Park and home to Mary Colter's historic Desert View Watchtower. The tower was built in 1932, right on the cliff edge and visible for many miles across this part of the Canyon.
• Cameron Trading Post - This is our last stop of the day on the Navajo reservation. It gives our guests a chance to shop and support the native people of the area. This is a brief stop, and not the main focus of the tour.
Throughout the fully-narrated day, guides share their knowledge of local geology, flora and fauna, biology, natural and cultural history. Guides also share views through a high-powered spotting scope, catching sight of mules, rapids, ancient ruins, mining areas, wildlife, and hikers while visiting the different vistas within the Park.
Our daily sightseeing tour allows guests plenty of time at each stop to enjoy the views, take photos, and learn fun and interesting information from their guide.
(http://www.allstargrandcanyontours.com/grand-canyon-day-tours-from-grand-canyon-national-park.shtml)

We're also thinking of staying at this guy if we have any spare accommodational days:
http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging/el-tovar/

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So that looks pretty great...

Does anyone have any suggestions? Please note I completely reserve the right to ignore any and all recommendations... or they might be the best thing ever and you'll make our trip so amazing. Please let me know what you think!

Thanks so much!


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Trip sounds really cool. I've never been to s3 the grand canyon, but I've heard it's amazing. I'd def go with the mid-range price package -- save some bucks and a little extra time to go adventuring on your own. -7 degrees over night is definitely a littlw chilly, but not too crazy. Pretty jealous! I'm hoping to get out to Zion Ntnl Park this year for some climbing. Just gotta buy a van and get it kitted out for adventuring.

Yeah, apparently inside the Canyon is a fair bit warmer than the rim... so that's interesting... and may change our minds a little. Apparently in summer it gets up to 45 degrees... yikes.

Man, I'm so pumped about the concept of van adventuring... This whole continent is just made for some excellent van action! I really need to get out climbing in nature. I haven't done it at all yet... surely Portland is the place.

That's right, you're heading into my neck of the woods! I would say that the Grand Canyon is really super great, but that Sedona is not to be underestimated. The Red Rocks are really quite special. I'm not much of a woo-woo type, but people swear that Sedona sits on the like hot bed of good magnetic vibes and feel better after staying there. Geologists have also confirmed some pretty whack ass stuff there. So there's that. Also you must eat all the Mexican food while you're here. All of it. In your mouth hole. It's da best.

As far as how to explore the grand canyon, you really have to figure out where your energy level is and how much you think you can do. Each hike is obviously going to offer different levels of experience and physicality, which I'm sure you already know. I only ever saw the Grand Canyon with my parents, so we just did a small sight seeing trip. I've never been down into it. But for those who have, I have heard the donkey trails are super awesome, and that every adventure has its pluses and minuses, but a lot just depends on you.

That being said, I would recommend driving through Oak Creek Canyon as well It's just a short distance outside of Sedona and it just breathtaking for the area. It feels like the East Coast, it's so beautiful. Also, given the time of the year, snow is a real possibility up there. Feb can tend to be a pretty weathery month here so keep that in mind too!

It truly is a great wonder of the world up there. That and Sedona really, I have never seen anything else quite like it. Arizona in general is pretty crazy. One of the few places I think where you can drive through a canyon, then the forest, then bright red rocks, then desert, then plains, then desert, then mountains, then, if you cross the border, beach. It can be hot in Phx in the summer, but it sure is beautiful.

Ok, Ill step off my AZ soap box. Have fun planning, I am sure you will enjoy whatever you decide!

We both really loved this whole comment... and I obviously had you in mind when writing this... so thanks heaps for taking the time, you are super amazing awesome!

We are crazy keen on Sedona but didn't know about Oak Creek Canyon so that's on the list now. We also didn't know about the prevalence of Mexican food. Obviously the Mexican food in Portland is not always great... but we've been to a couple of places in San Diego and it's been so good in our mouthholes... so now we're super looking forward to some amazing Arizona food action!

Ugh... I'm going to need 1000 cameras to capture all this natural beauty at all the angles.

have you watched mission impossible 2? tom cruise was rock climbing the grand canyon with just his bare hands. pretty sure the scene took place over there

Hahahah, we used to try and replicate that exact scene at rockclimbing... facing outwards and just hanging by the hands. It is a super tough move.

I can't promise I'll do any rock climbing with bare hands... but I'm also not going to promise I won't do any bare hand climbing. Ropes are for sissies/smart people.

You are going to have the best time!!! :D is this after the ninjaing?

Absolutely... my wife is coming with me and we'll go straight from the comp to AMAZING ADVENTURES!
This is why I can't really put too much time into hiking conditioning... but also, I'm pretty tough so I might just be totally fine. I'm so excited about taking amazing photos... I literally can't wait.

WoW, this sounds like the perfect adventure for you. I have yet to do this, so I can't really give any suggestions. I have heard this place is amazing :) Best wishes.

Thanks Nora! That's okay, got some great feedback already... and then I'll be able to give everyone else suggestions. So excited!

Man I'd freakin' love to do the Grand Canyon one day. I've heard it is quite surreal. Maybe you can fly a 4k drone through there or something for us Aussies and other country-people that may never get there? It really looks like a special part of Mother Earth and so different from the rainforests that I'm used to. Have fun!

That's a great idea... I'm trying to scare up some funds to get a good camera for this trip... but maybe I need to concentrate on some drone action instead. I really want a drone for my forest adventures anyway. I remember a drone crypto rental service... maybe I should look into that further...

I know of a great trail just outside Sedona that will take you to a beautiful creek/swimming hole! As for the Grand Canyon I would say if you had more time, go to Havasupai Falls it is absolutely gorgeous! @aussieninja

Thanks so much @jam-boree! I've never heard of Havasupai Falls... but have looked it up and it looks amazing... it's definitely on the list now!

Very interested in the swimming hole trail outside of Sedona... do you know how we might find it?
We were talking about our trip to friends on NYE, and it looks like we might have some more people coming along with us... getting very excited!

You have to promise to pick up after yourself and leave it better than you did before :) Msg me on telegram @Jamboreeee

I have no problems absolutely promising that. I'm super conscientious when it comes to the great outdoors.

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