The Grand Canyon is a great destination during the winter with the least amount of visitors. All of the South Rim lodges are open and if you are lucky, you might have snow shower. Make 2016 the year to Find Your Park and discover the wonders of the Grand Canyon.
The carful of kids visit the Grand
Canyon every time we're driving along Interstate 40 in Arizona. This trip we spend
the night in a historic Bright Angel Cabin along the rim and wake up to a
snow-kissed canyon that delights the carful of kids. I didn’t think you could improve
upon its beauty until I saw how the snow transformed the Grand Canyon into a winter
wonderland.
The Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon; presently it measures 18-miles wide, one-mile deep and 277 river miles long. Human artifacts that date back 12,000 years have been discovered in the Grand Canyon.
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| The Kolb Studio on the South Rim started as a photography studio and now houses a book store. |
Mary Colter, the lead architect at the Fred Harvey Co., designed buildings that blended seamlessly into the environment by using local materials. In the Bright Angel Lodge, she designed a Geologic Fireplace that displays the layers of the Grand Canyon rock as they are found on the canyon wall. Her buildings are registered National Historic Landmarks and the majority are located in the Historic Village.
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| The Buckeye Cabin: built by one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders is right next to the rim. |
The Civilian Conservation Corps worked in the Grand Canyon during the 1930s. They worked on improving the Rim Trail and the trails to the bottom of the canyon.
Your First Visit to Grand Canyon
If you are exploring for a few hours, start your visit at the Grand Canyon Visitors Center (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), grab a Junior Ranger booklet and watch the Grand Canyon introductory movie. Outside you will find the Rim Trail and Mather Point, both must-dos on your first visit. If you have time attend a ranger program or tour the Historic Grand Canyon Village.
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| The Rim Trail is a must for every visitor. It's a 12-mile long paved trail great for everyone in the family. |
If you are spending the night, park your car near your lodge and use the shuttle bus to get around. Since the majority of the lodging is located around the Historic Village, check in at Verkamp’s Visitor Center (open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Walk the Rim Trail and tour the El Tovar Hotel, the Hopi House, Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio—all along the Rim Trail.
If you are in the Grand Canyon near sunrise or sunset, the best spot is Yaki or Mather Point, I have seen visitors moved to tears at the beauty of this experience. If you have time, visit Hermits Rest or Desert View.
For the Kids
The Junior Ranger Program is a great way for kids to learn more about this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's free and takes about two hours to complete.
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| The carful of kids learn about the Plague in the park. |
The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Program is divided by age. The Raven Award is for kids aged 4 to 7, the Coyote Award is for kids 8 to 10 and the Scorpion Award is for kids 11 and older. For the Junior Ranger badge, you will be required to attend a Ranger Program. A list can be found at the Visitors Center.
There is a special Junior Ranger Program for kids 4 to 14 that hike or ride the mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger badge is completed and awarded at Phantom Ranch, a 10-mile journey, one-way.
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| The carful of kids discover sights they have never seen. |
The trip down to the bottom is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, taking about five hours each way. Lodging and meals are provided at the Phantom Ranch. Reservations are required.
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon features more than 900 rooms or cabins. There are several options ranging from the historic suites to family-pleasing cabins and modern hotel rooms.
El Tovar Hotel, built in 1905, is the premier property on the South Rim and built of local limestone and Oregon timber. Each room is individually decorated and there's a restaurant downstairs.
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| The carful of kids romp around the El Tovar before the snow gets shoveled. |
Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins, built in 1935, is a family-friendly option. It features locally sourced materials and colorful Southwestern motifs. There's a restaurant in the lodge and it sits along the Rim Trail as well.
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| Inside of the Bright Angel Cabin you will find a modern bathroom, a mini-refrigerator, in-room coffee, an iron, a TV and one queen bed. Roll-aways and pack in plays are permitted but it's a close fit. There's a fan but no air-conditioning. |
The Phantom Ranch, built in 1922, is at the bottom on the Grand Canyon floor and you must hike in or take the famous mule train.
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| Inside the Bright Angel Lodge are painted doors with Southwestern motifs that Mary Colter saw in the area. |
Getting to
the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is located 59
miles north of Williams, on Highway 64. The South Entrance is the most popular
gateway taking visitors through Tusayan, a tourist town full of food and
lodging.
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| The carful of kids could not wait for the snow plow to clear the path. |
Williams (WMA) is
an Amtrak destination and a stop for a regional bus service. The closest
airport with commercial flights is Flagstaff, Arizona (FLG), 80 miles away.
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| Arrive in vintage style with The Grand Canyon Railroad. |
For a unique experience,
visitors can take a historic train into the park with the Grand
Canyon Railroad (GCRR). The
GCRR has daily departures from Williams, with several excursions and lodging
options. You arrive at the historic Grand Canyon Train Depot, located across
from the El Tovar Hotel. The Grand Canyon Train Depot is a log building train
station, the only one in the U.S. still in operation.
Getting
Around Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is open 365-days a year and
24-hours a day. Admission is $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass or you can use an
America the
Beautiful annual pass ($80.)
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| Bright Angel Cabin is in the background as the carful of kids walk to breakfast on a snowy morning. |
The Grand Canyon Visitors Center has
the most parking with four large lots. There is another lot in the Market
Plaza. The lot near the Backcountry Information Center allows unoccupied
vehicles to park overnight.
There
are several free shuttle buses that run along the south rim. The Village Route
(Blue Route) runs from the Grand Canyon Visitors Center through the Historic
District to the Backcountry Information Center and back. The Kaibab/Rim Route
(Orange Route) runs from the Yavapai Geology Museum to Yaki Point. Both routes
are year-round.
Other
routes operate during the spring and summer including the Tusayan Route (Purple
Route) and Hermits Rest Route (Red Route). Please check with GCNP for all current routes and times.
Know before you go:
- Make reservations for lodging and tours as soon as possible. Lodging reservations can be made 13 months in advance.
- For the Phantom Ranch Mule ride, riders must be 4’7” and weigh less than 200 lb.
- The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed from October 15 to May 15 due to seasonal road closures.
- Be prepared for winter weather including several inches of snow.
- The roads in GCNP are not plowed as frequently as the highway leading into the park.
- The Market Plaza features a general store, ATM, post office, amphitheater, laundry and pay showers.
- There are year-round campgrounds for those prepared for winter camping and a full-service RV park.
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