1 full day at GC - should i take a quick 'copter ride?

We are doing a 14 day south west tour in April

Las Vegas-GCNP-Monument Valley-Page-Las Vegas-Death Valley-Bakersfield-Morro Bay-San Francisco

We will be arriving at GCNP staying at Bright Angel Lodge for 2 nights, 5th/6th April. We probably wont arrive until early evening on the 5th, as we leave Las Vegas at Noon, and will be stopping off at the Hoover Dam...so we will probably just be resting at the lodge that evening after the drive.

Which leaves us with all day on the 6th to explore the Canyon.

I am torn between spending a full day exploring all the lookouts on the rim and maybe hiking down the Bright Angel trail for a short distance...

...or doing just SOME of the lookouts, and then going for a quick %26#39;copter trip over the Canyon in the afternoon, bearing in mind I will be travelling out of the GCNP down Desert View drive towards Monument Valley the following morning, so will see that stretch then.

Is a quick copter trip worth the extra cost, or is the Rim Trail and the rim lookouts just as good an experience over a full day?

1 full day at GC - should i take a quick 'copter ride?

A %26#39;quick %26#39;copter trip%26#39; still takes about half of your day. You have to leave the park to get to the airport (1/2 hour), flight prep and waiting (1 hour minimum) Flight (1/2 hour), Back to park and get about what%26#39;s left of the day (1 hour).

Not worth it IMHO. You can see and do much more from the ground in the short amount of time you have at the GC.

1 full day at GC - should i take a quick 'copter ride?

';You have to leave the park to get to the airport (1/2 hour), flight prep and waiting (1 hour minimum) Flight (1/2 hour), Back to park and get about what%26#39;s left of the day (1 hour).';

...Wow. didnt factor in the 1 hour ';flight prep %26amp; waiting'; for a flight bit! That long, huh?!

...looking at it like that, I agree, and will stay on the rim for the full day then!

Thank you for the advice!

On your way to GCNP you%26#39;ll stop at Hoover Dam. Just fyi, there%26#39;s a similar Dam in Page (Glen Canyon Dam), free parking and the tours also are free (leave your bags in the car and just bring your camera%26#39;s)and I agree with RR about your GC stay.

Tet

Thanks guys, yes Tet I know about the Glen Canyon Dam tours, and will probably explore that as well as Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe bend for the half day or so that I spend in Page, if time allows...

Hoover Dam is a must though for me, simply as it%26#39;s the more famous of the two dams

once again, many thanks for the responses!