http://www.jimmys-adventures.net/hiking-the-grand-canyon-tips/
I’m taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon… Anyone ever been there?
So, I’m wanting to go next summer… and based on what I’ve seen… June looks like the best time to go, but what do y’all think? Any tips or things I need to know? How far is it from the Four Corners… I’m having trouble finding that info.
I want to take the 21 mile hike from rim to rim… 2 to 3 days and going over the Colorado Gorge. Anybody???
I love this answer, it’s very informative… and I would prefer the North rim because I want it less crowded. But when WOULD you recommend going? And also… I’m hoping my friends will agree to camping instead of lodging somewhere for booking purposes and financial. Do I have to book ahead for that???
The Grand Canyon is a great place to visit any time of the year.
However, June is NOT a good time to hike rim to rim. Although the canyon rims are at 7,000 (South) and 8,000 (North) feet elevation and quite cool, things get warmer the further you go down into the canyon. Along the river at the bottom is often well over 100 degrees during the summer. The middle 7 miles of the rim to rim hike is in lower Bright Angel Canyon where it will be hot most of the day. The best time to do rim to rim is May or Sept through mid-October. Doing rim to rim in winter or early spring is complicated by the North Rim lodge and facilities being closed mid-October to mid-May. If you have to do it in June, do it early in the month.
As far as the time that it takes… you will definitely want to spend at least one night at the bottom (Phantom Ranch) and (if you are backpacking) it is nice to spend a night at Indian Gardens half way up the South Rim. Some fanatics regularly do rim-to-rim in a single day, but this is not recommended (especially for a new canyon hiker) and a number of people die each year trying.
Regardless of when you go, you will want to get reservations well in advance. If you want to stay in the cabins or dorms at Phantom Ranch than you can make reservations up to 13 months in advance and (as space is very limited), it is quite likely that June 2008 is mostly booked. Staying at the backpacking camp only requires 4 months advanced reservations, but you want to have your request in by the deadline.
Aside from hiking in the canyon, if you are planning on visiting during June than I would recommend that you go to the North Rim instead of the South. The more developed South Rim can be a crowded zoo during summer while the North is more quiet and peaceful. At a 1000 feet higher elevation, the North Rim is also cooler. Here too, if you want to stay at one of the park lodges you should make reservations well in advance. All the lodges are ran by Xanterra and you can make reservations online (see links below).
As far as Four Corners and the area surrounding the canyon… From Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim to the Four Corners marker is about 230 miles and would take around 3.5 hours. From the North Rim lodge, it would be over 300 miles and 4.5 hours driving. From either location, much of the way would be along US89A and US160 through Tuba City and Kayenta on the Navajo Indian Reservation which is scenic, but facilities are few and far between.
The Four Corners monument itself is really not that exciting. There is a little bronze marker on a larger cement platform and a surrounding cluster of booths selling jewelry and food. The nearby Monument Valley (setting for many famous western movies) is quite impressive as are the canyons and cliff dwellings of Canyon de Chelly National Monument to the south.
Other interesting places and things in the Four Corners area include Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks (along I-40 E of Flagstaff), Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments (volcanic field and prehistoric ruins) along 89A NE of Flagstaff, Mesa Verde National Monement (famous large cliff dwellings) near Cortez in SW Colorado and the town of Flagstaff (nearest major city south of the Canyon) which has several museums and a nice historic downtown district with galleries and cafes.
ADDED 10/11:
I don’t know that there is a single best time to visit the canyon – it depends on what activity you are doing and which rim you are at.
Anytime during the summer is great on the North Rim – you just don’t want to be hiking to the bottom then (relax on the rim or do day trips instead). Going earlier (June) means less chance of rain and lower humidity, but July and August are nice too (and with the current drought long rainy days are not common any time of the year). I have enjoyed a couple 4th of Julys there when they have a big water fight between visitors and park employees.
Hiking rim-to-rim is best in late May or Sept-early Oct for the logistical reasons mentioned in my original post. Doing other hikes off the South Rim (to the bottom or otherwise) is generally best in the fall from late Sept to early November or spring from early April to mid-May. However, I even like visiting the South Rim in winter when the crowds are low and the cold weather is invigorating for hiking (I am doing an overnight trip to the bottom in early Dec).
An easier question might be when is NOT a good time to be at the canyon. My answer… avoid summer at the South Rim (more due to crowds than heat) and don’t go to the North Rim mid-Oct to mid-May since the lodge and everything else is closed.
As far as camping goes, there are nice developed ‘car camping’ campgrounds at both the North and South Rims (picnic tables, real bathrooms, etc). You can reserve spots online at the links below. Reservations are not required, but are highly recommended. To camp inside the canyon itself (ie: backpacking), you need to reserve a permit through the backcountry office (see GC Backpacking permit link below) which can be done up to 4 months in advance. You can also show up at the backcountry office when it opens in the morning and try for last minute ‘walk in’ permits, but you can’t bank on those being available.
Grand Canyon Weather Tips