Grand Canyon
JetSet VIP invites you to explore Grand Canyon National Park, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a designated World Heritage Site, and one of the Crown Jewels of the USA National Park System. There are variety of Grand Canyon tours, ranging from helicopter tours, plane tours, limousine or party bus tours, coach bus tours to rafting tours and combination tours created for the most ultimate Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam experience. Call JetSet VIP for more information and today’s specials.
This canyon is a gift that transcends what we experience. “Its beauty and size humbles us. Its timelessness provokes a comparison to our short existence. In its vast spaces we may find solace from our hectic lives”.
The Grand Canyon can be experienced from three main areas: the South Rim, North Rim, or the West Rim, which includes Havasu Canyon and Grand Canyon West. Which side you decide to visit depends on several factors, such as the time of year you’re traveling, who you’re traveling with, how much time you have to spend, and what kinds of activities you would like to take part in on your Grand Canyon vacation.
Declared a national park in 1919, the mile-deep, 277-mile long gorge attracts millions of visitors annually. The remote nature of the park, and the fickle Grand Canyon weather and harsh terrain can make Grand Canyon a challenging place to visit, though the greatest site you will ever see.
The 1.2 million acre park is home to numerous animals (from the endangered California condor above, to cougars, rattlesnakes and Gila monsters below), over 1,500 species of plants, archaeological sites dating back thousands of years, and one of the most complete geologic cross sections visible anywhere on the planet.
Of almost five million of Grand Canyon visitors about 3 million will visit the South Rim, nearly 750,000 will enjoy the North Rim and 500,000 will visit the newly discovered West Rim. Also, 500,000 will fly over magnificent Grand Canyon on an Air Tour from Las Vegas. Most visitors come to the Canyon during the mild spring, summer and fall; while fewer visitors come to see the winter snows that frequently blanket the lofty South and North Rims (7,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level respectively), most locals agree that winter is a great time to visit the Grand Canyon because parking is readily available, crowds are minimal and the views are spectacular. The South Rim is open all year, whereas the more remote North Rim visitor area is open from mid-May to mid-October.
The Colorado River flows along the bottom of the canyon, 5000 feet/1524 m below the rim. Because of the enormous depth of Grand Canyon, the river is visible only from certain viewpoints. It is a two-day hike to the river and back from the South Rim. It's a longer trip from the North Rim. It is possible to drive to the Colorado River at Lees Ferry (near Marble Canyon, Arizona), a 2.5 hour drive (one way) from the South Rim (Lees Ferry marks the official beginning of Grand Canyon).
A visit to Grand Canyon may scant two hours, or last a week, as lodging is available. Of course, it wouldn’t take more than several hours to visit all the scenic observation points of some areas, but it is certainly not enough if to plan more activities: like backpacking, day hiking, Grand Canyon whitewater rafting, Grand Canyon helicopter tours and fixed-wing air tours, and the historic mule rides to Phantom Ranch on the Canyon floor. Day hiking and backpacking can be done on your own, though you need a National Park Service permit to engage in the latter.
For viewing and photographing the canyon, the best light is early or late in the day. Mid-day sun tends to flatten the view and soften the colors. Remember that days are short in the winter and long in the summer. If you plan to see the canyon at sunrise or sunset, it is recommended that you be on the rim at least an hour before.
South Rim
Considered by many to be the “true Grand Canyon,” Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim features the vast, expansive views most often seen in magazines and on TV. From the South Rim, you can experience the Grand Canyon from close to two dozen viewpoints, each with their own unique attributes, and many that allow you to peer all the way down into the heart of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River. Grand Canyon South Rim is also recommended for those traveling with young children, as there is more for them to do – and more that they can do - at the South Rim than at the North Rim or West Rim.
Grand Canyon South Rim has many overlooks that offer spectacular views of the canyon. Desert View Drive (Highway 64) follows the canyon rim for 26 miles/42 km east of Grand Canyon Village to Desert View - the east entrance to the park. Desert View Drive is open to private vehicles throughout the year. Hermit Road follows the rim for 8 miles/13 km west from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest. Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles much of the year, but the park runs a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to overlooks.
A hiking trail, known as the Rim Trail, follows the rim from Pipe Creek Vista to Hermits Rest. The section of the Rim Trail between Pipe Creek Vista and Maricopa Point is paved, and mostly wheelchair accessible. Unpaved portions of the trail, between Maricopa Point and Hermits Rest, are narrow and close to the edge. Bicycles are not permitted on the Rim Trail.
Yavapai Observation Station at Yavapai Point offers panoramic views of the canyon, including the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. The Yavapai Observation Station is located in close proximity to the Grand Canyon lodging on the rim.
North Rim
Though part of the same National Park, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is strikingly different from her Southern sister. A full 1,000’ higher in altitude, the North Rim runs about 10 degrees cooler than the South rim, and supports plant and animal life that the drier South Rim cannot, such as aspen, birch, maple and oak trees, and the Kaibab Squirrel with its metallic gray coat and distinctive tufted ears.
At 8,000’ above sea level, summertime temperatures are surprisingly pleasant, with daytime highs in the 70’s and ‘80’s. Nighttime lows remain quite cold until late spring, and can dip back down into the 20’s as early as August. For those visiting in the fall, particularly the second or third week of September, Grand Canyon North Rim is THE place to be for a radiant display of fall colors put on by the area’s deciduous trees – you won’t see that at the South Rim.
The main visitation area of Grand Canyon North Rim is much smaller than that of the South Rim. While the South Rim has close to two dozen major viewpoints, the North Rim has only three. The views themselves are also much different than what one sees from the other side – while the views from Grand Canyon South Rim tend to reveal the depth of the Grand Canyon; the views from the North Rim are more about the width. The Colorado River is visible from several viewpoints at the South Rim, while from the North Rim, one has to peek through Angel’s Window in order to see a small sliver of the river. But those who have seen the canyon from both sides tend to agree that the North Rim is the nicer side of the Grand Canyon, in several senses of the word – calmer, quieter, and reminiscent of what the National Parks may have been like in years past.
Hiking, sightseeing and ranger-led programs are the primary activities offered at the North Rim. Very few commercial tours are offered in the immediate area of the park; most take place in outlying communities such as Kanab, Utah, St. George, Utah, or Page-Lake Powell, Arizona. Because of its high altitude (8,000’), Grand Canyon North Rim is not recommended for those with cardiac or respiratory ailments. It is also not recommended for families traveling with younger children, especially those who need a lot of sensory stimulation (many of the rooms in the area don’t have TVs!).
Point Imperial, the highest point on the North Rim at 8,803 feet, overlooks the Painted Desert and the eastern end of Grand Canyon Park. Here the canyon transforms as the narrow walls of Marble Canyon, visible only as a winding gash, open dramatically to become “grand.” Layers of red and black Precambrian rocks, not visible at Bright Angel Point, add contrast and color. Part of the viewpoint is accessible.
Cape Royal provides a panorama up, down, and across the canyon. With seemingly unlimited vistas to the east and west, it is popular for both sunrise and sunset. The sweeping turn of the Colorado River at Unkar Delta is framed through the natural arch of Angels Window. Look for the Desert View Watchtower across the canyon on the South Rim. This popular viewpoint is accessible via a paved, level trail.
It takes a bit of effort, and four-wheel drive, to reach Point Sublime, the western-most of the North Rim viewpoints. The rough, two-hour (one-way) trip to this remote point is rewarded by a view that lives up to its name. Inquire about road conditions and possible closures before heading out.
West Rim
Grand Canyon West is a Native American Tribal Park owned and operated by the Hualapai Indian Nation. Open year-round, it garnered sudden international fame with the opening of its star attraction in 2007: the Grand Canyon Skywalk. In addition to the Skywalk, Grand Canyon West also has an airport, café, Western town, Indian Village, and an amphitheatre where visitors can watch Native American dances or cultural performances.
Several Grand Canyon helicopter tour companies operate bases at Grand Canyon West offering flights to the bottom of the canyon for smooth water pontoon boat rides on the Colorado River. Helicopters can also fly directly from Las Vegas over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead to land at the bottom of the canyon at Grand Canyon West.
Grand Canyon West has two primary viewpoints, from which the depth of the Grand Canyon is very pronounced and the Colorado River more easily visible. At 4,000’ above sea level, Grand Canyon West is a true desert landscape. Grand Canyon West is very pleasant in early spring and late fall, and bearable in wintertime. Late spring and summer days at Grand Canyon West are very hot.
There is no lodging in the immediate area of Grand Canyon West save for a handful of rustic cabins. The nearest hotel lodging is in Kingman, Arizona, 90 minutes’ drive away; Laughlin, Nevada, 2 hours away; or Las Vegas, 3 hours away.
Grand Canyon West is a good choice for Las Vegas visitors with limited time for a Grand Canyon experience. It is also an excellent option for those who want to get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon without hiking or taking a mule ride.
East Rim
The far eastern portion of the Grand Canyon along both the Colorado River and Little Colorado River falls within the borders of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation. Though “Grand Canyon East” is not yet formally known as a Grand Canyon park, many Grand Canyon visitors do end up passing and stopping for a view of the Little Colorado River Gorge.
Upon exiting Grand Canyon South Rim from the East, you’ll soon come upon one such place: the Little Colorado River Gorge Overlook. A tributary of the Colorado River, the Little Colorado River (also referred to as The LCR) has carved a canyon of its own that, like the many canyons within the Grand Canyon, is a world of beauty and contrast unto itself. During the summer months, its mineral content transforms its waters into a brilliant ribbon of robin’s egg blue; during other times of the year, it displays an almost blood-red color. Here, visitors can also browse kiosks, small shops or bead stands operated by the Native Americans, and shop for mementos of their visit.
