A visit to northern Arizona
would not be complete without exploring Grand Canyon National
Park. Over a mile deep and 277 miles long, the canyon is one
of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Most people visit
the canyon from the South Rim at Grand Canyon Village. In
2000, the Park Service opened the brand new Canyon View
Information Plaza, which houses the new Visitor Center. More
changes are planned over the next two years. Facilities below
the rim are limited. Phantom Ranch provides the only lodging
outside of camping, and reservations must be made well in
advance. Located on the north side of the Colorado River, it
has two types of buildings: individual cabins and
dormitory-style cabins. Meals are served boarding-house style,
and showers are available for guests. Bright Angel Campground
offers primitive camping facilities. Today’s visitors view the
canyon in several ways. For an intimate visit, hike the Bright
Angel or Kaibab Trails to the bottom. Permits are not required
for day hikes, but overnight stays require a permit from the
backcountry office or reservations at Phantom Ranch. Be
forewarned; although people hike these trails year-round, the
heat of summer is very dangerous. Consult with Park Rangers before hiking
down. The canyon’s famous, sure-footed mules offer a less
strenuous journey. A guided, narrated 12-mile round trip to
Plateau Point ends at a promontory 1,000’ directly above the
Colorado River. Or try riding one to Phantom Ranch, returning
the next day. Hire a helicopter for a narrated air-borne
journey; keeping well away from the normal hiking routes, they
provide a very different perspective. For white-knuckle fun,
take a rafting trip; the rapids are some of the most
exhilarating in the country. Outfitters use rubber inflatable
rafts or wooden dories, feed passengers massive amounts of
food, and offer hiking trips up beautiful side
canyons.
Shuttle buses drive the Rim all summer long,
dropping and picking up people at scenic overlooks along the
route.
For a leisurely day trip, schedule a train ride
on the Grand Canyon Railway, which starts its journey at
Williams, "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," less than a half-hour
drive from Flagstaff. The train stops for over three hours of
sightseeing and shopping at the South Rim, then returns you
safely to Williams in the afternoon. Williams also has a Gary
Panks-designed, 18-hole championship golf course; a historic
district that includes remnants of famous Route 66, the
"Mother Road" traveled by many during the ‘50s and ‘60s;
fishing and camping among the pines, and even a family skiing
area just outside of town. To the west, between Williams and
Kingman, the communities of Ash Fork and Seligman are also
showcases for Route 66. Restaurants and shops still sport the
style and memorabilia of the time. Twenty-five miles west of
Seligman are the Grand Canyon Caverns, a living limestone cave
210’ down; its two main rooms could each hold a football
field.
A visit to northern Arizona
would not be complete without exploring Grand Canyon National
Park. Over a mile deep and 277 miles long, the canyon is one
of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Most people visit
the canyon from the South Rim at Grand Canyon Village. In
2000, the Park Service opened the brand new Canyon View
Information Plaza, which houses the new Visitor Center. More
changes are planned over the next two years. Facilities below
the rim are limited. Phantom Ranch provides the only lodging
outside of camping, and reservations must be made well in
advance. Located on the north side of the Colorado River, it
has two types of buildings: individual cabins and
dormitory-style cabins. Meals are served boarding-house style,
and showers are available for guests. Bright Angel Campground
offers primitive camping facilities. Today’s visitors view the
canyon in several ways. For an intimate visit, hike the Bright
Angel or Kaibab Trails to the bottom. Permits are not required
for day hikes, but overnight stays require a permit from the
backcountry office or reservations at Phantom Ranch. Be
forewarned; although people hike these trails year-round, the
heat of summer is very dangerous. Consult with 
Park Rangers before hiking
down. The canyon’s famous, sure-footed mules offer a less
strenuous journey. A guided, narrated 12-mile round trip to
Plateau Point ends at a promontory 1,000’ directly above the
Colorado River. Or try riding one to Phantom Ranch, returning
the next day. Hire a helicopter for a narrated air-borne
journey; keeping well away from the normal hiking routes, they
provide a very different perspective. For white-knuckle fun,
take a rafting trip; the rapids are some of the most
exhilarating in the country. Outfitters use rubber inflatable
rafts or wooden dories, feed passengers massive amounts of
food, and offer hiking trips up beautiful side
canyons.