gschill

We are planning a trip starting in Vegas in end of Sept for a week. Not sure how much time to spend in places plus keep reading and finding out more to visit. The big dilema is stopping 1 night before we go to the grand canyon. Antelope canyon or Zion is it possible to do both in a day. Is two days to long to stay in the Grand Canyon? Then we are going to Sedona for two days. Not sure how to squeeze it all in. Thanks

Myer

I just returned from a similar trip (June 4-12) that was 7 days long not counting travelling both ways.

Your interests must determine what you do or see.

For me, I wasn't taken by the Grand Canyon. I didn't hike down (not in my plan) and from above (to me it just looked like a plate. From up there you can't tell its vastness or depth. The only reason I stopped on the GC South Rim was to break up the drive from Zion to Sedona.

The Page area (not the town), on the other hand had the best bang for the time on the trip.

In about 3 hours you can see some fantastic sights. "The Best Dam View" (free) is just north of Page (en route) and gives a view of the Glen Canyon Dam. Horseshoe Bend (free) is a view of the Colorado River making a 180 degree turn (en route just south of Page. You've got to walk 3/4 mile from the car and there's no fence or barrier. Just a cliff straight down with an amazing view.

Then Antelope Canyon just SW of Page. Unbelievable 1 1/2 hours but it must be around noon time.

My itinerary was as follows:

2 days in Bryce. Depending on the hiking you want to do one day is enough. This was what caused the trip so I gave it two days.

1 day in Zion (1.5 hours from Bryce but very different)

1 day travel to GC, stop in Page and see late afternoon GC.

1 day see GC in morning drive towards Sedona. Hike Westfork and see sunset at Cathedral Rock.

2 days hiking around Sedona. Only easy hikes. One day was really enough is you pick the hikes you want. The 2nd day had the most scenic hikes IMO.

All were different and amazing. But for me, the GC was at the bottom though I'm glad I saw it.

My trip report is in the works and photos will still take a bit of time as there are too many.

Postal

Myer is right, it all depends on your interests. The first two times I went to the GC, I too thought it was just OK. The third time I walked about 1/2 a mile down the Bright Angel trail and now I'm finally hooked. I can't wait to go back there. I stayed about 36 hours and want to spend several days.

I was ready to leave Page after two days because it depressed me to see how low Lake Powell was. The boat ride and walk to Rainbow Bridge was nice but super hot.

I always enjoy the Sedona views but only if I get out of the traffic and hike.

If you get a chance, factor in a couple of hours in Flagstaff, even if just for lunch. It's cooler and pretty.

luv2globetrot

Please don't let anyone talk you out of going to see the Grand Canyon!!
It is one of the most amazingly breathtaking spectacles on earth!!!

If you like to hike, 2 days is not too much time in GC.
I just read this great trip report on GC and Sedona:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1

She gives a great trip report and it may give you some ideas on how to allot your time.
Check it out if you haven't already.

Good luck and happy travels

Vttraveler

Another vote for spending at least two days at the Grand Canyon. so far on this thread I don't think you have a fair sample of how most tourists react to the GC. We stayed 4 nights (3 1/2 days) including a half day driving along the south rim to the eastern entrance, which seemed too short for this area.

There are plenty of easy hikes around and slightly below the rim.

Try to get up to see the sunrise at least once.

gschill

Thanks for all of your imput. Does a day in Zion a day by Lake Powell, antelope canyon then Sedona sount unresonable?

wanderluster

We've also been once, and it was enough for now.
When our kids are older we may visit again.
For our family though, while we appreciated the vastness of the GC, we fell more in love with Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon.
To each his own.

I remember reading here (and I think it was per a ranger?) that the average time spent at the GC is 45 minutes.
Certainly everyone will be different, as in life

MikePinTucson

If you have to miss something, miss Lake Powell/Page. Antelope Canyon is very well worth while if you have the time. But nothing compares with the Grand Canyon.

It is really not feasible to drive from Vegas to Zion, see Zion, then drive to Page to see Antelope Canyon all in one day.

Do Zion/Bryce one day, staying overnight near Bryce. Drive to Page, along the Vermillion Cliffs. If you leave early, you should be able to get into Antelope Canyon around noon.

From there, drive to the Grand Canyon, entering through the east entrance. Your first view, one that I think is the most awesome, will be at Desert View. Take your time driving the 23 miles to the GC Village, stopping at several of the view points.

You can take the shuttle to all of the points west of GC Village. See a sunset (Hopi Point is popular) and sunrise (Mather is usually crowded for this).

If you don't plan on any hiking, you should be able to leave by early the next afternoon throught the south entrance. Down to Flagstaff, either route, then Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona.

There is plenty to keep you busy around Sedona for more than a couple of days. For some ideas, see my trip report and pictures of our Grand Canyon/Sedona trip last September. The first picture in my post is from Desert View.

http://p099.ezboard.com/feuropetogof...icID=252.topic

Vttraveler

That statistic of 45 minutes average time at the Grand Canyon can't be right. I do know that my brother in law and family took the day train trip from Williams to/from the GC, stayed at the GC only a few hours and seemed quite satisfied that they had seen the canyon.
They and other family members really wanted to have our family get together in Las Vegas, a city our immediate family hates.
As you say, everyone is different

(We ended up having the reunion part of the trip in Flagstaff, which worked out pretty well)

TheWeasel

You'll get more helpful advice if you tell us more: what are you interested in doing (sightseeing, hiking (easy, moderate, difficult?), photography, etc.) and how important those different activities are. It would also be good to know what your expectations are for lodging/dining.

Wanderluster - depending on the source, I've read the average trip to GC is either 2 or 3 hours. I suspect that number is skewed somewhat by the commercial bus tours, as I find it a bit difficult to believe that the average driver is in and out that quickly. Nevertheless, I don't recommend anyone stay there for more than an overnight visit unless they enjoy hiking, because few people can entertain themselves for longer than that just by looking at the various viewpoints.

Aside from that, the standard recommendation is that Bryce (if you choose to go there) takes only a day, and Zion 2 days. That will depend again on your interests. I think Bryce has more of a wow factor than Zion. To appreciate Zion you have to take more time to discover its beauty because it's not as "in your face" as Bryce.

I personally don't understand the allure of Lake Powell (it's a lake, they're everywhere) or Antelope Canyon (it's crowded, you pay money to see a slot canyon when slot canyons are everywhere). I'd rather spend an extra day exploring somewhere less crowded and more natural. Same goes for Sedona - I dislike the town but like the scenery surrounding it.

gschill

My husband loves taking picures. Climbing mountains are definitely not on our agenda. Easy hiking maybe. We're happy taking the bus ride through Zion. I've seen pictures of Bryce wow is right. So maybe a day in Zion and a day in Bryce

Myer

I don't want to give the impression from my previous post that you shouldn't visit the Grand Canyon. I really don't think you'll appreciate it unless you go at least part way down.

I was looking down from one of the viewpoints and I saw what appeared to be a stream. That probably was just a stream.

I got to the Grand Canyon after spending time in Bryce Canyon, Zion and seeing Horsechoe bend and Antelope Canyon. I just don't thin the Grand canyon compared considering I didn't hike down at all.

MikePinTucson

What appeared to be a "stream" was, in all likelihood, the Colorado River. Which is hardly a stream.

I don't know if you were there on a very hazy day, because the GC looks anything BUT flat like a plate.

I, too, just dcan't figure out the allure of Lake Powell or the dam. Unless you are going to spend some time on the lake, there just isn't much to see or do. Same with Page, not much of a town.

Myer

Typose, typos.

I meant to write *wasn't* a stream. Yes, it probably was the Colorado River

USNR

Myer: your reaction upon seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time is not at all uncommon.

In your mind, you formed a picture. Reality did not fit your anticipation. But I can assure you that it is indeed quite "grand" in all respects. To confirm this statement, next time see the canyon from a rubber boat drifting for days over its still waters and shooting through its madhouse rapids, camping on a spotless sandbar, eating trout caught from the river, and counting the stars until you fall asleep.

I had the same reaction, for example, when we first saw The Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the words of a once-popular song, "Is that all there is?" Since childhood we had formed mental pictures of this building. I think we were in our 50s when we first saw it. And, for us, it was a letdown. Did that diminish the tower? No. Did it make us question our preconceptions? Yes, it surely did.

Myer

USNR,

I agree. In fact, I think I mentioned either in this thread or somewhere in my soon to be completed trip report that the probable reason I was not overly impressed with GC was that I viewed it from above and didn't go at least part way down if not all the way down.

My original plan was to totally bypass GC but was convinced (rightfully so) that driving from Zion to Sedona in one day is a long drive. By breaking up the trip into two days, I spent about 3 mid-day hours around Sedona and saw some truly spectacular sights (photos will be display).