Sedona - Canyon de Chelly - Monument

Is this intin. workable.....

Fly in BA and drive direct 2hours to Sedona stay at the Best Western in town.

Drive 4 hours (I think!?) to Canyon De Chelly and camp or stay at lodge.

Following day drive 3 hours (I think!?) to Monument and camp.

Then drive to Grand Canyon.

Is this itin ok - would like to know is this the best route to take - from Grand Canyon we go to Las Vegas and Yosemite.

Would like to hire a local at Canyon De Chelly and walk. Then horse ride in Monument.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Sedona - Canyon de Chelly - Monument

Count a little longer for Sedona-Chinle, and a little shorter for Chinle-MV. The guided tours into CdC take at least 3 hours. There%26#39;s also horsebackriding in CdC (never done myself though).

In your itinerary this will be the best way to go imo. If you just want to hike in CdC, drive south rim and see White House ruins on your own. Steep descent and ascent though but no fees. Don%26#39;t forget to see Spider rock at the end of CdC south rimdrive.

Tet

Sedona - Canyon de Chelly - Monument

Monument Valley is immense. To see it on horseback would take a whole day I think. It%26#39;s best to drive around, or hire a local guide for a closer tour.

You don%26#39;t say how much time you are spending at Grand Canyon. It%26#39;s not a ';drive by and look at it'; place. You should stay at the GC at least one night so you can enjoy it.

There%26#39;s only one way from GC to LV: Hwy 64 south to I-40, I-40 west to Hwy 93 at Kingman, Hwy 93 north to LV. It%26#39;s possible to take a scenic and parallel detour on Route 66 from Seligman west of Williams to Kingman.

You don%26#39;t say when you are coming, and if you want North Rim, or South rim GC.

I would go ahead and land and go to Sedona.

When heading out, do CdC as a day trip, and camp at MonValley. (Or just up past Mexican Hat at the top of the Moqui Dugway)

Then head Bridges NP, across Lake Powell at Hite, or ferry at Halls Crossing, and thru the Waterpocket fold on the Burr Trail. Then on 12 to Bryce.

After Bryce, you can go down to Zion, or go all the way down and do the North rim of GC.

If Zion, it is a straight run across to Vegas, if you do the North rim, you can also go around, do the South rim, then drive into Vegas on 40, to 93.

Moving to Sierra Vista AZ

My husband and two children are relocating to Sierra Vista in 6/2006. We are currently living in Miami, Fl. I have never live on the west coast or in a small town before... I grew up in NYC. So, I am a little nervous and excited about the move. I would like to know how you have adjusted to your move. Is there shopping, great places to eat, nice neighborhoods, family oriented and do you find yourself going to Tuscon for entertainment. Please share your experiences.

Moving to Sierra Vista AZ

Hi! I have been living here for one year and 3 months. I have not adjusted well to it. Since my Dh is AD military I am just doing my time here. We have 2 kids and are from the east coast. Born in NYC too :)

No there is no shopping here. Target Walmart and Kmart.Sears and Dillards at the one level ';mall'; and a midsize Ross and midsize Marshall%26#39;s. There are mostly national chain places to eat Outback Chilis etc.

There is a construction ';boom'; here now. there are som etypes of families that prefer to live near Buffalo Soldier trail. we don%26#39;t I am not a suburbai type mom. We chose to buy a home in the ';city'; proper.It jsut made ssense for daily living and or more bang for the buck. We chose a new construction home (4th lot to close in this neghborhood) in Oct of 2004 by the time we added upgrades and moved in it was 204K.Now the same homes in this community go for $280K base price.

Keep in mind that very few companies build spec homes here. They wait for people to purchase then they build.And there are delays in construction be careful when told ';it%26#39;ll be ready in 3-4 months';

The largest apartments are in the 600-700 sq foot range in average.

I do not go to Tucson for entertainment since I am a homebody. But I have found that we travel out of state a whole lot more. :) I know of moms that go 2-3 times a week to Tucson to hang out and shop. And some that go faithfully every weekend.

As for edcuation you might get a ';better'; school near one of the newer communities. However, it is all relevant. When you see where AZ falls in state by state ranking I wouldn%26#39;t exactly be bragging. We send our kids to a Christian school that has a reputation for being strict. It is challenging, and closest in curriculum to what we left behind.

As for what to do. Children activities are VERY limited. There is a city owned/run state of the art indoor aqaatic center.Tae-kwon-do or gymnastic/tumbling lessons.And there is a dance studio as well. No chuck-e-cheeze but a local venue called ';Peter Piper Pizza'; Although there is a preschool reading time at the one library branch that too gives hte impression that it is geared primarily for our retired and senior members. A small fair and small circus roll into town once each year.

Also getting used to dealing with imigrant issues and illegal issues on a daily basis is tiresome after a while. MANY border patrol agents live here and you go past a checkpoint to get from SV to Tucson.

The weather is a wicked dry heat in the summer. Having lived in south Florida for several years (Homestead and Naranja) I can attest that it is a very different type of heat. We find the winters mild. My Dh hasn%26#39;t broken out his LL Bean coat since we%26#39;ve been here, and ditto for my coat. Dry Dusty come to mind.

I am not bashing SV. It has charm. And the way it is nestled in the mountains provides spectacular views. My favorite time of the year is the brief monsoon season in late summer. It is just a beautiful sight to behold. It is alid back life here, which is good for destresing :)

Moving to Sierra Vista AZ

Movin 606: I would agree with the above post. I have been here since 99 and have adjusted well. My wife however has not but she has gotten better. She prefers city life. I think that what most people have trouble with is that Sierra Vista will not entertain you, you have to go out to get entertained. What I mean by that is that many people, especially big city folk, I am from Washington DC, area are used to quick entertainment by ways of Malls, movies, arcades, and such. Indoor type entertainment. Here you have to go out and look for it. There are many trails here for hiking and I have seen deer, javelina, and even a bear and her cub on my hikes with my 5 year old through the mountains. So that is something I enjoy. There are many people here who hike as well as mountain bike. At Sun n%26#39; spokes you can get information on the Dawn to dusk mountain bike club. They will show you the ropes and you can go on little trail rides to serious down hill. There are alot of people who jog here as well and road bike. On the fort you have TMAC which is a swimming club for kids. At $45 a month it is a great deal. Both my daughters have learned to swim there and have learned competition swimming as well. There is also an adult coed recreational soccer team and a womens recreational team. If you are so inclined there are many other opportunities within a short drive. So unfortunately home bodies do have a tough time. But I can also say that since I have been here I started to run again, learned to mountain bike and have also hiked more than any other time in my life. Oh, and I started playing soccer to which I haven%26#39;t done since I was 12, which was a LONG time ago. Great people here. Lastly, you may want to get involved with a community organization to meet other great people such as Kiwanis, Lions, or Rotary. I myself joined rotary out here and have met many great people.

Just my 2 cents,

good luck,

Tim

Hmm.. Miami and NYC huh? I%26#39;d say you%26#39;re in for a pretty big culture shock to put it mildly. I don%26#39;t live in SV, but have traveled there at least once or twice a year for the past 5-6 years to visit my brother. I enjoy the trip and the time I spend while down in SV, however, I can%26#39;t imagine living there at this stage in my life. Tucson is about 90 minutes from SV, so you%26#39;re looking at about a 3 hour round trip.

Fort Huachuca is located in SV, so the town has a bit of a military flavor to it. Seems to be growing as another poster pointed out with new housing developments popping up.

Dunno, guess it depends upon your expectations and where you%26#39;re at in life. The southwest has grown on me, but not enough to move there just yet.

-r

I guess you can%26#39;t say I actually ';moved'; there. My father was transferred there when I was 10 and I lived there until I went to college. I%26#39;ve lived a lot of places since, big ones and small ones. SV is a lot better than the other small ones I%26#39;ve lived in.

I%26#39;d say if you have kids, your life it probably built around them, so don%26#39;t worry. If I were you and you have any inclination towards the outdoors life, definitely take advantage. You have great trails and mountains, an amazing selection of birding activities, a history of the area that goes back to before the U.S. was populated by western europeans. You have to work with what you are given.

It just happens that i%26#39;m going back to sv this week, after quite some number of years, to enjoy the nature conservancy area. I wish you the best.

Well I hate to disagree with everybody but being as I am from that area I feel the need..........

We haven%26#39;t lived there in a long while as we too are AD military but my parents still do.

Sierra Vista isn%26#39;t THAT bad........it%26#39;s all what you make of it. No it%26#39;s not NYC or Miami but if you don%26#39;t expect it to be you won%26#39;t be so dissapointed.

There ARE however still cultural opportunities available you may just have to look a little harder. There is LOTS to do around the area if you are interested in history at all (eg, Tombstone, Bisbee, Chirichaua National Monument, the Museum on Ft. Huachuca, Events at the college, Kartchner Caverns, Coronado Ntl. Monument, Mexico,etc.) you just have to be willing to travel a bit. Tucson is just over an hour away and has all kinds of things to do as well.

The area is really growing. It is not a rural area anymore but it isn%26#39;t a metropolis either.

I think if you are willing to be open minded and give it a chance you%26#39;ll be pleasently surprised.

Nobody should just ';do thier time'; anywhere. We%26#39;ve moved all over (AZ, KS, Germany, WA, CA) and enjoyed every place after a few intial months of adjustment.

Hope that helps.

and for you AD ladies just remember it could always be worse! ;)

Oh hey,

like the others said. There are things you can do here you can%26#39;t elsewhere such as the world renowned birding (not kiding ... people come from all over to Ramsey Canyon), etc. Fort Huachuca is a history lesson all on it%26#39;s own (once one of the most desolate posts it is now one of the most requested), etc.

Sorry can%26#39;t help much as far as the housing market, and you may decide you want to live in Bisbee, Tombstone, Huachuca City, or out towards Hereford or Palominas rather than in town. I%26#39;ve heard that many people who are there with the Military are having to do so.

Schooling is schooling...........you get the bad the good and the ugly all in one. Or you can home school, AZ has very good hs laws and large groups who do in Cochise County (it%26#39;s a large county compared to places back east), just remember that%26#39;s always an option.

If I think of anything else I%26#39;ll chime back in.

have a good one

My favorite place to shop is actually in Bisbee, 1/2 hour from Sierra Vista. It is called Cache and is on Main Street. They sell vintage estate jewelry, fine label new and recycled clothing and shoes, southwestern clothing boots and hats, DVDs, CDs, and antiques.

I actually bought a $900 Ralph Lauren jacket there for $85. And $200 Chicos jacket for $45. Fun place!

What kind of shopping are you looking for? If youare lookign for the Higher end stuff that yes, Tucson is the place to go. That is the closest big city. But if you are on a military budget, where Mom works part time, than there are ample stores around.

As the other posters put it mildly, life is gonna be what you make it. There is a lot of culture and historical things to do around the area and you have to make an effort to get involved.

Sierra Vista is ';Good Morning., How are you, where the bigger cities are give me your wallet and watch';. if you are looking for a slower pace so that your kids will grow with culture and be able to experience history than there%26#39;s plenty to do.

We came from Los Angeles ...and to come here where people are cordialand kind was a breath of fresh air.

I moved to Sierra Vista in late October 2004 from Santa Barbara, CA. All I can say is that some of the posts on here are true - it is all what you make of it. I came out here to work for Northrop Grumman, and considering I%26#39;m an Employment Recruiter, yes, I do feel somewhat obliged to ';sell'; the area. Regardless, I did a lot of research before I came here, as I was a little worried that I%26#39;d hate it. Honestly, there is so much beauty out here, and it is laid back and relaxed, that you find yourself accepting S/V for what it is, and hopefully falling in love with it. I, too, was a ';big city'; girl, having been raiseed in Annapolis, MD and constantly going to DC for ';culture';.

The pros are that S/V is affordable, and you don%26#39;t need to worry about being stuck in ';big city'; traffic. It%26#39;s also very beautiful here, and as one person said, the monsoon season is wonderful. Plus, there are numerous wineries in the Sonoita are (which is about 30 minutes away), and it%26#39;s like a different world up there.

I don%26#39;t have any children, so I can%26#39;t comment on the schools and such, but in regards to any cons about S/V, it does have limited shopping...but that%26#39;s when you can take a day trip to Tucson and still enjoy yourself! :)

While it does get hot in the summer, one has to keep in mind that we are, on average 10-13 degrees cooler than Tucson on a daily basis, and about 14-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix.

Hope this info helps.

Thanks for the objective info. I will be relocating there in January and find it hard to sort out what information posted here is true and what is just adjustment difficulties for people who are accustomed to a different lifestyle and haven%26#39;t lived in a large variety of places.

I%26#39;m from small cities on the west coast, but have spent the last four years in major cities on the east coast and the Caribbean. I%26#39;ll be glad to get back to a smaller environment with less traffic, lines, crowds, pollution, etc. I can see how it%26#39;s difficult for people who love city life, but I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ll have any problem leaving that behind.

For military spouses (as am I), I would just encourage you to enjoy what you can about the place, because the next one can always be worse! Ha, ha.

Looking forward to finally settling down for a while. Thanks again!

Which of these hikes would you reccommend?

Hello all, I am wondering which hike would be more suitable for us for a one day hike. We are a couple, 30-ish, healthy, fairly fit from daily dog walking but would not be used to hiking (however I hope to work on that between now and then). We are staying in the Bright Angel Lodge in August. I鈥檝e narrowed it down to:

Bright Angel as far as Indian Garden (round trip 9 miles)

or

South Kaibab as far as Skeleton Point (round trip 6 miles)

We would like to the one that would offer the most stunning vistas as we only have one full day in the GC, we plan to do a small bit of the rim walk the following morning before leaving for Las Vegas.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Which of these hikes would you reccommend?

The Bright Angel trail follows the bottom of a valley into the canyon. The South Kaibab, once you reach the ooh-ahh point (where you can see up and down the canyon) follows the top of a ridge so your views are longer. There are places to get more water on Bright Angel, but none on South Kaibab. If you wanted a slightly shorter hike, Cedar Ridge on the South Kaibab has wonderful views, toilets, and a place to sit down. The upper part of the South Kaibab is steeper. My wife and I walked down to the ooh-ahh point eaarly one morning and back. We are in our mid-50%26#39;s and not in terribly good shape but we walk pretty often (on flat ground mostly).

Which of these hikes would you reccommend?

The difficulty with these hikes is not so much the distance but the elevation, the heat, and the climb back up.

On the Bright Angel Trail, you start at near 6800 feet and descend to 3800 feet at Indian Gardens. That means you have to climb back up 3,000 feet and deal with the high altitude (much higher than anything in Ireland, I beleive). Also, the farther you go into the canyon, the hotter it gets.

On the South Kaibab Trail, you start at 7200 feet, and drop to 5200 feet if you to to Skeleton Point. So this would be a lesser climb back up of 2,000 feet, but still substantial.

Of the two trail, I prefer the South Kaibab, both for views, and because it drops you into the canyon more quickly. Even going as far as Cedar Ridge is highly rewarding. One disadvantage of this trail is that you must take the shuttle bus to the trailhead, whereas for the Bright Angel you start right at Bright Angel Lodge.

It sounds like you have 2 nights and a full day at the canyon? You could walk a wee bit (15-20 minutes or so) down the Bright Angel trail after you arrive your first day, just to get a feel for it. Then do the South Kaibab walk the next day for your full day.

If you do that, I suggest you get an early start to avoid the heat as much as possible. There are direct shuttles to the trailhead from Bright Angel Lodge, but you must depart very early---5:00 or 6:00 am in the summer. After that, you take the regular shuttle, which involves a transfer and takes a bit longer.

Whatever you choose, be sure and carry lots of water--I mean 3 litres per person for summer hiking. (We carry 2 litres each when we hike in April but it is not as hot). If you still have extra on the way back up, you can use some to wet down your face and neck to help cool off.

Wearing a hat of some type to shade your face and keep your head cool is a good practice.

Also carry snacks, like a piece of fresh fruit and something salty (your body needs to replenish the salt when you are drinking lots of water). Potato chips or salted nuts are good. You can buy food (and sandwiches if you like) at the grocery store in the ';village';, which is on the shuttle route (or you can walk there and shuttle back).

Take it slow on the way back up. I know you are young, but my 24-year-old son, very fit and an experienced hiker, had trouble coming up that trail in August---he tried to go too fast and didn%26#39;t drink enough water. He made it, but felt very sick.

Hopefully you will be fine and have a great time. It is indeed one of the most beautiful places on earth. Enjoy an ice cream at the Bright Angel Lodge outdoor food kiosk when you return. And consider making dinner reservations at El Tovar to celebrate your Grand Canyon trip.

CanyonMari is giving you good advice. I would also recommend South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge. The trip down Bright Angel is exhausting and would take all day if you are not used to hiking, not good in the August heat. So start early and go to Cedar Ridge.

If you wanted to go down Bright Angel, you don%26#39;t have to go all the way down to Indian Gardens. There are rest areas at 1 1/2 and 3 miles down one way that might be a good turn around spot for you. It is very hot that time of year as was mentioned so be smart and carry plenty of water.

IMO you will get the better view from the South Kaibab, but there are no water sources on this trail other then the trailhead itself, so really be smart here.

Enjoy

SJG

It was my understanding that the S Kabib trail was quite abit steeper then Bright Angel. Is that correct?

Thanks for the great information, I had been leaning toward the Bright Angel Trail for convenience, but think I will try the South Kaibab instead; want to try and minimise the risk of heatstroke so an easier climb up is a big plus!

I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s any easier coming up the South Kaibab then the Bright Angel. South Kaibab is much steeper climb plus the sun is on your face most of the time.

Make sure you have a hat and sun screen and I can%26#39;t stess enough about the importance of carrying plenty of water, no less then two liters each possibly three!! Yes, it%26#39;s that hot!!!

SJG

Correct. The South Kaibab trail is quite a bit steeper right at the top. So it is only easier if you are comparing the hikes all the way to Skeleton Point versus Indian Gardens. Both of those are serious hikes in the heat.

But from your other posts it looks like you are also going to Yosemite. If you go there first, and do some hiking, it will help you prepare for the altitude and climbs at the Grand Canyon.

Unfortunately we have already everything booked so Yosemite is after GC, no chance to climatise. Have been looking up some other websites including hitthetrail.com and after researching the shuttles etc, think we will do Bright Angel for convenience, but maybe not go down as far as Indian Gardens. May have possibly under-estimated the heat and the steepness of the accent. Thanks for all the replies! Any other tips also appreciated!

You could do a short hike on each. My favorite parts of the South kaibab trail are the first part, as far as Cedar Ridge, and the very last, where you drop down to the river. That last part is not possible on a day hike. but you could go as faar as Cedar Ridge and enjoy the views from there. This would be a 3-mile hike (total) with a drop (and climb) of 1140 feet; very manageable.

The park service website actual says in bold print, ';DO NOT go past this point [Cedar Ridge] as a SUMMER day hike';.

Then you could return to the Bright Angel area and, assuming you still feel like more hiking, you could do another 3-mile hike there, down to the first resthouse (called 1.5 Mile Resthouse).

Whatever you choose, take the walk back up slowly so you don%26#39;t overheat.

email hosting

Self tour with a 4x4 Tahoe?

I dont have to get into rugged area but just would like to see the general area with our 4x4 Tahoe. Is this possible?

Self tour with a 4x4 Tahoe?

I think so.Go to sedonaselfdrivetour.com and order a self driving tour CD.It also comes with a DVD.But of cause make sure you back the CD before you go

Self tour with a 4x4 Tahoe?

Since you have a 4x4 vehicle with high clearance, you%26#39;ll want to drive up Schnebly Hill Road and back. Do it. Drive slowly, and plan about 2 hours for the 5 mile drive up to the meadow and then back down. You%26#39;ll love it.

All other roads around Sedona are paved and easy to navigate.

I second Redrox%26#39;s idea. It%26#39;s a great drive. Pack a lunch. There%26#39;s plenty of places to pull over, one in particular near the top that I can%26#39;t recall the name of, with a great view.

advice on hiking and lodging this weekend in sedona

hi everyone-

i planned a trip to the grand canyon w/ my fiance for this weekend, but our main hope is to go hiking. We arent really into hiking in the snow and ice and it seems that the GC is getting socked with snow tonight so we are thinking of rearranging our trip to stay in Sedona for 2 nights and the last night in the grand Canyon (we are driving from vegas this saturday morning and need to get back to vegas on tuesday night for redeye).

My only trouble is that all my research was for the GC south rim! Can any of the locals give me some advice as to where we should stay to be with in a 20-30 minute drive of some great trails? Also i really only want to do this to avoid major ice and snow. Are the trails icy/snowy? Problem is iwth GC the snow is at the start of the hike..so its not like we can go part the way and then turn around to avoid it! So any advice on weather conditions on teh hikes is appreciated! Thanks!!

Anyway. We like to do both short (few miles) and long (up to 15 miles) day hikes.

At night we are not party animals. We%26#39;re in our 30%26#39;s but are from NYC and come to the west to get back wtih nature. That being said, convenient dinner would help (we will pack lunches for the hikes).

Thanks for all your help!

advice on hiking and lodging this weekend in sedona

take a closer look at the weather forecast for gcnp. first, it%26#39;s not getting ';socked with snow.'; snow showers means light snow is falling. second, the day time temps are above freezing. third, the temps will be in the 50%26#39;s when you arrive. call the park and ask about trail condition before you change all your plans.

advice on hiking and lodging this weekend in sedona

hmm. ok thanks Bobbear. looks likey you%26#39;re finding my panic messages all over TA.

Even if there is snow at the GC, you should still go. Only avoid it if there are road hazard warnings posted during a storm. Right now, it looks OK. You can hike at the GC along the rim and still have a great time without decending into the canyon if those trails are icey.

And of course, Sedona will be fine, and there are more trails than you can count within 15 minutes of where ever you are staying in Sedona.

how to makeup

Sightseeing By Road

We will be in Phoenix March 1-7 of this year. We would like to take some day trips (via car) from Phoenix to some interesting historical or scenic destinations. Are there any suggestions. We are thinking of Tuscon for one day, Scottsdale another. We have been to Sedona and the G.C.

Thanks

Sightseeing By Road

Depending where in Phoenix you are staying, the daytrip to Scottsdale could be anywhere from a 5 to 45 minute drive. The cities border each other.

The drive to Tucson is about 2 hours, probably less, and there is a poster here who has a page full of stuff to do with links...hopefully he%26#39;ll respond.

If you go to Tucson, I%26#39;d also recommend going further south to Bisbee/Kartchner Caverns. It is another great part of our state.

A great daytrip by car is the Apache Trail. Take US-60 East (through Mesa), to Idaho Drive. Go north, then follow the signs. You can get just past Tortilla Flat on pavement, after that it turns to dirt.

If you want a scenic drive in town, I%26#39;d highly recommend a very relaxing drive on Lincoln Dr from Phoenix through Paradise Valley to Scottsdale. There are several speeding and red light cameras through PV, so be careful, but there are some amazing mountain views and houses that you%26#39;ll see.

Sightseeing By Road

Day trip to Tucson can include a stop at St. Francis Xavier del Bac, a Spanish mission. The Sonora Desert museum is a treat as well as a stop by the University of Arizona. A great planetarium is on campus and the planetary science building has all the Mars rover data and pictures. You could keep going to Tombstone. The courthouse there is a mandatory stop.

Flagstaff is two hours+ north and has maintained its charm. Go further in closer to the mountains and see route 66. There are lots of small little towns to explore (Bumblebee, Jerome, Strawberry).

Fountain Hills has seen a boom lately but still has some amazing views of the whole valley. Cave Creek still has some cool places.

I would suggest a day at a spring training game. You can always get lawn tickets for cheap and that is a great way to see the whole Phx valley (from Surprise to Mesa) or a few spots in Tucson.

I always tell people if they drive one place outside of Phoenix it should be Sedona. Sedona, with its red rocks and funky people, is a MUST. I suggest a drive up Oak Creek Canyon, shopping in Tlaquepaque, and a stop at Chapel of Holy Cross, which is built into the side of a mountain.

If you%26#39;re going to Tucson, my favorite thing down there is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Its less Museum, more a zoo of animals from this part of the country and it is amazing. And in March you might even see the start of the wildflowers there.

Highly suggest the Vulture Mine, just outside Wickenburg, W. of Phoenix.

This is the real, authentic deal. A real old west town.

They used to do B%26amp;B on the weekend nights, not sure about that now, but the Hassyampa Inn in Wickenburg is worth an overnight anyway.

If you do the Apache Trail ride, go on into Globe%26#39;s downtown district. They are trying to get it going there. And there is a great old Indian excavation and museum there.

Sedona to GCNP (and back) itinerary help

We%26#39;ll be driving up from the Scottsdale area early on a Friday morning in mid-June. Plan to get some breakfast and fill up the car and then continue on towards GCNP, probably arriving there around 11:30am or noon-ish. We plan to do our own thing, see the IMAX, visitors center, gift shop, etc. We will have a grandma, a toddler, big kid, 4 adults and 3 large dogs with us, so unfortunately, no major hiking or overnight stay. We plan to stay until sunset though, and drive back and stay overnight in Sedona.

Can anyone give me some help with the following:

1) the fastest route to GCNP for that time of day

2) pros and cons of entering at south rim, exiting at east entrance or vice versa

3) once we are there, the best spots to view with no major walking or hiking involved

4) what time will sunset be (roughly) then - 8pm?

5) fastest route back to Sedona if we leave GCNP around 8:30pm.

6) is there a shady spot somewhere we can unfold a blanket and let my 2 1/2 year old take a nap in the afternoon?

Thanks for your help!

Sedona to GCNP (and back) itinerary help

Hi,

Thank you for traveling, we appreciate your visiting our beautiful part of the U.S.

The fastest route to the Grand Canyon from Scottsdale - leaving around 7 to 8 a.m. is Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff, Interstate 40 west to Williams and Highway #64 from Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This drive is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and how fast you drive.

If you want the most scenic route that will give you a scenic drive along 23 miles of the Grand Canyon, take Interstate 17 north from Phoenix to Flagstaff, take Interstate 40 east to exit #201. Exit and turn left on Bus I 40 to U.S. Hwy #89. Take hwy 89 north out of Flagstaff to Cameron, AZ about 50 miles. Turn left - West on Hwy #64 and drive 31 miles to the East entrance of the Grand Canyon and Desert View Watchtower. This drive will take you about 4 hours from Scottsdale, AZ.

You now have the entire East Rim scenic drive of 23 miles from Desert View to the Grand Canyon Village area. There%26#39;s many viewpoints along this drive, and I recommend you stop at Desert View, Lipan, Moran, Grandview, and Mather. Each of these viewpoints have places to park and the walk to the views are easy.

After lunch in the village, you will want to take the free Park tram from the Bright Angel area to Hermits Rest. The tram takes about 2 hours and travels 8 miles from the Village to Hermits Rest at the end of the road along the Rim to the West. There%26#39;s some great viewpoints here as well, however, my favorite is Hopi Point.

Late afternoon drive south from the Canyon Village area about 6 miles on Hwy #64 to the village of Tusayan, the location of the IMAX theater. The film is shown every hour on the half-hour so you will want to time yourself to be in Tusayan by about 15 past the hour.

Sunset is great at Hopi Point, Yavapai Point and Yaki Point so any of these will be great views.

Enjoy your trip.

Sedona to GCNP (and back) itinerary help

Fastest route would be I-17 to I-40 west to AZ 64 at Williams and north to the park. Allow about 4 hours.

If you intend to see IMAX then it will be outside the main gate in Tusayan before you enter the park.

All view points are easy and involve minimal walking after you park your car at aech stop. Longest walks would be at GC Village for shops, eats and access to west rim shuttle.

If you leave via the east gate you%26#39;ll take AZ 64 down to 89, south to I-40 west to bypass Flagstaff, then I-17 south to 89A through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. About 2 hours from the east gate.

Lots of shade and quiet spots at any of the east rim view points in the afternoon. Try Grand View.