| Every American (okay, every human for that matter) | | | | 40 who attempted to hike down and back in one ay. |
| owes it to him/herself to head to Arizona and visit the | | | | Don't be one of them. A good day hike would be a |
| Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetimes. It's truly | | | | couple hours down and then back up. The hike up will |
| amazing to see how a little trickle of water eventually | | | | take longer than the hike down. Also, be sure to wear |
| turned into the Colorado River, which eventually | | | | good hiking shoes as some trails can be very rocky. |
| carved out the Grand Canyon. | | | | Some people choose to hike down one day and either |
| You can approach your trip to the Grand Canyon in a | | | | camp at the bottom or stay in the Phantom Ranch. Be |
| couple different ways. One way is to stay within the | | | | aware, however, that you have to make |
| park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take | | | | arrangements well in advance of your trip if you |
| time to experience all the different things the park has | | | | choose to stay at the bottom. Campers require a |
| to offer. The other way is to stay in one of the | | | | backcountry permit, and Phantom Ranch is usually |
| surrounding Arizona towns and take a day trip to the | | | | booked months ahead. Permits are sometimes |
| Grand Canyon for a "hit and run" view of the Canyon. | | | | available on that day, but why risk it? For reservations |
| Both have their plusses. | | | | at the Phantom Ranch, you can call 888-297-2757. |
| The part of the Grand Canyon The South Rim is the | | | | Some people prefer to stay outside the park and visit |
| part of the Grand Canyon most people are familiar | | | | the Canyon for a few hours and move on. There are |
| with. It sits on the Arizona side and can be accessed | | | | numerous areas in Northern Arizona where one can |
| all year round. The North Rim is closed from | | | | stay and take a side trip to the Grand Canyon, such |
| mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the | | | | as Sedona and Flagstaff. While such locations are still |
| South Rim. | | | | lengthy drives (an hour from Flagstaff, two from |
| The benefit of staying within the park is the ability to | | | | Sedona), it's still close enough for a day trip. Both |
| take your time to view the magnificent Canyon from | | | | Sedona and Flagstaff are lovely places to stay, with |
| different viewing points, which you can access by | | | | Sedona being the most 'touristy" of the two towns. |
| walking the rim trail or taking a shuttle from point to | | | | Flagstaff, to me, is the quirkier of the two, perhaps |
| point. For those of you staying for several days, a trip | | | | because it is a "university town," home to Northern |
| to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon would be a | | | | Arizona University. |
| lovely addition, though the drive is about 4 - 5 hours | | | | Sedona and Flagstaff are also visually different. |
| long. For those not wanting to drive, there is a shuttle | | | | Flagstaff is surrounded by a pine forest, while Sedona |
| which provides rim to rim service from mid-May to | | | | is in "red rock" country. Sedona abounds with |
| Mid-October. | | | | numerous high-end resorts, galleries and expensive |
| For those staying on the South Rim, there are | | | | eateries. Flagstaff is cheaper all-around, with |
| numerous trails down the canyon, as well as a trail | | | | inexpensive lodging and restaurants. Both are close |
| along the top of the Canyon called the "Rim Trail." If | | | | enough for a day trip to the Grand Canyon. |
| you're staying in one of the lodges and are planning a | | | | Of course, you can always opt for an even quicker |
| day hike into the inner Canyon, just be aware that you | | | | bus tour, hopping from one tourist stop to the next. But, |
| probably cannot make it down and back in one day. | | | | why not take a cue from that little trickle of water |
| As a matter of fact, each year around 250 people are | | | | which started it all? Take your time and enjoy the |
| rescued from the inner Canyon, the majority of whom | | | | view. |
| are able-bodied young men between the ages of 18 to | | | | |