Frommer's Review
The lodge's architect, Gilbert Stanley Underwood, was best known for designing edifices such as train stations and post offices. Although Union Pacific Railroad built this lodge in 1928, the train never came closer than Cedar City, Utah. A few tourists arrived on "triangle" bus tours that also stopped at Bryce and Zion canyons, but most went to the South Rim. Most still do.
After burning in 1932, the lodge reopened in 1937 and now seems to have grown into the landscape. Its roof of green shingles merges with the needles on the nearby trees, its log posts match their trunks, and its walls of Kaibab limestone blend with the rim rock itself. In its expansive lobby, a 50-foot-high ceiling absorbs sound like the forest floor. Beyond it, the octagonal "Sun Room" has three enormous picture windows opening onto the canyon. It's a stunning visual display. Two long decks with imitation-wood chairs flank the sunroom, overlooking the canyon. Just below lies another romantic lookout, the "Moon Room," a favorite for marriage proposals. The lodge also houses a saloon, a snack bar, a meeting room, and an excellent dining room.
Made of the same materials as the lodge, 140 cabins have sprouted like saplings around it (unlike the South Rim's El Tovar, none of the rooms here connect to the main lodge). There are four types of cabins, all with private bathrooms. With rustic wood furnishings, gas fireplaces, bathtubs, and small vanity rooms, the Western Cabins and Rim Cabins are the most luxurious. The Western Cabins cost $10 less than the four Rim Cabins, which have stunning views of Bright Angel Canyon. The Rim Cabins generally fill up on their first day of availability, which is 13 months in advance.
The two other types -- Pioneer and Frontier -- are far more rustic inside. Tightly clustered along the rim of Transept Canyon, they have walls and ceilings of exposed logs, electric heaters, and showers instead of bathtubs. The Frontier Cabins each have one guest room with a double bed and a twin bed. The Pioneer Cabins, meanwhile, each have two guest rooms -- one with a double bed and a twin bed, the other with two twins. For $94, a family of five can stay in comfort in one of the Pioneer Cabins. And that family will be living just like the early pioneers.
Tip: A few motel rooms are also available. Comfortable and quiet, their atmosphere cannot compare with the historic feel of the cabins.
Facilities:
2 restaurants (1 excellent dining room serving Continental fare, 1 snack bar); lounge; deli; gift shop; post office; porter service
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
