Planning a Trip

Most people spend just a short amount of time at the Grand Canyon, catching a glimpse of its splendor from the South Rim typically as part of a drive through the region. Some spend a few days here, hiking into the canyon and occasionally from rim to rim. Others spend a lifetime exploring the park, logging hundreds of miles hiking along its trails or weeks at a time floating down its river. And while the views from the rims are indeed spectacular, the canyon's full magnificence is only revealed to those who descend its timeless walls. How much time you choose to spend here depends on how well you'd like to know the canyon.

I recommend spending at least a full day and night inside the park. This will give you a chance to view the canyon from a few angles, attend a Ranger program, and catch a sunset or even a sunrise. It will also give you enough time to find a quiet place on the rim for listening to the wonderful and often surprising sounds of the canyon. If you spend 2 full days, you can hike 1 day and take a scenic drive the next, or camp inside the canyon and continue along more trails. A number of interesting historic towns lie within close driving distance of the canyon and are worth a visit, too.

Unless you're coming through Utah, it's generally easier to get to the South Rim than the North Rim, and there are many more tourist services available on the south side. It's also open year-round. The North Rim, open only in the warmer months, makes up in serenity what it lacks in conveniences. There are far fewer people here during the peak summer months, and the views of the canyon are equally spectacular. The best way to get to the Grand Canyon and then to move around the rims is by car (or by shuttle bus on the South Rim), although keep in mind that the drive from one rim to the other is about 200 miles. Of course, you can always hike from one rim to the other if you have the time and are fit enough for the adventure.

Money

Frommer's lists exact prices in the local currency. However, rates fluctuate, so before departing consult a currency exchange website such as www.oanda.com/convert/classic to check up-to-the-minute rates.

ATMS -- Most places of business accept credit cards, and ATMs are common throughout the gateway towns. There are only a couple ATMs within Grand Canyon National Park, however.

The two ATMs on the South Rim are at Chase Bank, in Market Plaza next to Canyon Village Marketplace, and at Maswik Lodge. Both charge a $2 fee for non-Chase bank users. On the North Rim, an ATM machine is available at the General Store and in the Roughrider Saloon at Grand Canyon Lodge. Due to the limited availability of ATMs, it is best to make sure you have sufficient cash on you before arriving at the park.

What Things Cost in the Grand Canyon -- Prices in and around the Grand Canyon tend to be very reasonable compared with many destinations in the United States. The National Park Service mandates its concessionaires to keep prices down so that ordinary citizens from across the United Sates and abroad can come enjoy this magnificent place without depleting their savings accounts. Prices are moderate at most lodging and dining facilities within the park and at many of the gateway towns listed in this book; an exception is Tusayan, which has expensive gas and food.

Staying Connected

Telephones are now available in most, but not all, Grand Canyon lodges. Dial 9 to get an outside line, and check with your lodge's reception desk for long-distance rates. A pay phone is generally available in lodges that have rooms without phones. Since cellphone coverage is sparse outside the South Rim, using a pay phone or land line from your hotel room may be the only way to make a call.

Cellphones -- There is reliable cellphone coverage on Grand Canyon's South Rim. Cellphone coverage in the Grand Canyon area is weak or nonexistent outside the South Rim, although some will be able to pick up a weak signal on the North Rim if they are located near the rim itself. Coverage does not generally exist within the canyon, so don't expect to use your phone on any hikes below the rim. A park ranger audio cellphone tour is available for free on the South Rim by dialing tel. 928/225-2907.

Internet & E-Mail -- As of press time, Internet access is still not widely available within Grand Canyon National Park. On the South Rim, free wireless Internet is available in the lobbies of the Bright Angel, El Tovar, Maswik, and Yavapai lodges. On the North Rim, the only place to get Internet (via free wireless connection) is at the General Store adjacent to the North Rim Campground.