Needed: grand canyon suggestions from Vegas

[dullard]

I'll be in Vegas this weekend. I've never seen the grand canyon. I'd be most interested in a trip that actually does something there, rather than just drive for hours, look at it, then turn back around and drive for hours. I'm up for hiking, flying, helocopter, etc. Mule rides are booked months in advance, otherwise I'd be interested.

The west rim is close, but it looks like there isn't much at all to do there. The north rim looks closed until later in the year. The south rim is a bit far and there aren't hotels available in the immediate vicinity on a holiday weekend.

So are there any good options left? I could spend the night in Flagstaff, or is there a closer/better town? Any tour companies that you'd suggest? Do any offer a tour with a hike longer than 3 hours? Or should I just do it alone?

I'd also be interested in alternative suggestions: Zion, Page, etc. if there is a decent way of doing them and the canyon.

 

[grohl]

Just go to the South Rim. Just go. It's one of the most spectacular sites I've seen. I have been there 4-5 times and it never fails to disappoint.

Just "hiking" around is serious business. It's a reverse hike in that the trip in (down) is easy, then coming out is going up, typically in the heat. The only way to hike is to go down into the canyon. A day hike to Plateau Point is reasonable, depending on your level of fitness. Downside is there is a shitload of people everywhere. I have done trips to the bottom and back, to the north rim, and some west canyon hiking and it is really very cool.

 

[DesiPower]

what grohl said above, you have no idea what it is until you experience it.

Dont forget the skywalk on the way... its awesome too

 

[BigFatCow]

Last time I was in Vegas we took a helicopter tour, the landing tour. It was nice because they picked you up from your hotel and the whole event only took less than half a day. The tour was pretty amazing, you get to land a couple times in the Grand Canyon.

 

[BigFatCow]

What did you end up doing?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Williams, AZ

 

[dullard]

What did you end up doing?

Ended up doing the west rim. It was quite nice, especially since they let me stay about 1 hour past their official closing time to see the sunset.

Booked a 40 minute helicopter trip, 20 min flying and 20 min near the bottom. I enjoyed it a lot. I was assigned to Maverick, the same one you took, although that was a fluke as there are multiple operators and you don't choose where I bought it.

Then I went to Zion National Park. It was a lot of driving to do both the grand canyon and Zion in one weekend. But I was glad I did both. Zion was my favorite though. Same idea, but better hiking and more green and more animals.

 

[EagleKeeper]

In order to get to Zion; you probably went up I15 through the Virgin River Canyon.

That gives you the impression of the power of the rivers; just a miniature Colorado River and Grand Canyon; but up close and personal.