GCNP 20-21ST Sept 2011
Thanks to all who offered advice prior to our short trip to the GCNP.
Hopefully someone will get some help from this.
Left Las Vegas at 7.30am, having packed some warm clothes and torches as advised as we planned to see both sunset and sunrise. We needed both!
Lots of roadwork’s but no major diversions. I intended to stop at the new bridge at Hoover Dam but unintentionally drove straight past. Never mind we thought we would get it on the way back, but no drove past it again, oh well next trip!
Stopped in Williams for some food at an overpriced tourist cafe, and bought provisions at the Safeway store there. Spent about an hour here and then headed on to the canyon. We stopped here to pick up some stuff because we assumed the supermarket at the canyon would be taking advantage of a captive audience.
This was not the case the prices were very comparable so kudos to the park for not taking advantage.
Some slow moving RV’s made it a longer drive from Williams than it should have been and about an hour and 15 mins later we were getting our passes, no queue so straight in at about 1,45pm.
Parked up at the Yavapai main car park but after check in drove the car to the front door. I have to say how easy it was to navigate the park, very well signed and good roads also.
Yavapai Lodge was perfect, super clean rooms with fridge and coffee/tea maker. No aircon but not an issue, no noisy neighbours and vending and ice machines outside.
Got the shuttle to Bright Angel and walked the rim trail back to Yavapai taking the time to enjoy the view and a break from the heat on the swing chair at El Tovar. How beautiful is that walk along the trail of time? Saw a bunch of school kids with a ranger having a great time with a history of the canyon lesson, super fun with all the actions thrown in for good measure,
Decided Yavapai point would be a good place to watch the sunset and sunrise, but wanted to go to the visitors centre first. It had already closed at 5.00pm which I found strange. Seen a bunch of deer grazing close to the centre, plenty of squirrels about and even a rabbit.
Back to the lodge and got the torches and hoodies on and drove to Yavapai point. Had bought a nice bottle of red to enjoy with the sunset. A small crowd finally settled to enjoy the sun going down and the amazing play of the light on the canyon walls. I actually just got Goosebumps remembering it. It really was amazing, so glad we were able to stay at the park and enjoy this.
Back to the Canyon café at Yavapai lodge and had some school dinners, that’s what it reminded me of. That said it was really inexpensive and it did fill our belly’s. We went for a little walk…. with the torches of course and then back to the lodge for a nightcap and an early night, sunrise was 6.29am.
Drove back up in the morning to Yavapai point and again a small crowd enjoyed another amazing spectacle, more Goosebumps! I do have a concern about how close some folk sit to the edge. There is a lot of loose stone and one slip could be very serious. It actually made me a bit nervous to see some people sit right on the edge.
Decided to check out and head for the desert view drive. Stopped at the old ruins and various lookouts before arriving at Desert view. Wow how can you beat this?
What a view and the old tower was fantastic. Bought a few souvenirs and reluctantly dragged ourselves away. Stopped off at Lipan point and more amazing views. It’s actually very difficult to decide where the best view was so we have just agreed that they all offered something very unique and there really wasn’t a “best view” as such.
We only have one regret about this visit and that is that we didn’t stay for two nights. I never realised that there was so much to do and see at the canyon but we will be back. Stopped off at Williams again to grab some stuff at Safeway and headed back to Las Vegas.
If I can help answering any questions please ask.
Thanks again experts.
mpo
