Grand Canyon Question

[bstratt]

My wife is trying to decide between two Grand Canyon bus tours from Las Vegas. One goes to the "natural west side" and the other goes to the "south side national park". We can't figure out which is better. Do any of you who know the area have a preference?

 

[Ed Guthrie]

My wife is trying to decide between two Grand Canyon bus tours from Las Vegas. One goes to the "natural west side" and the other goes to the "south side national park". We can't figure out which is better. Do any of you who know the area have a preference?

If you want to see the canyon and see the park amenities, take the South Rim tour. If you want to marvel at the Grand Canyon as the first settler found it, without most of the crowds and with much less development behind the rim (and therefor fewer creature comforts), take the North Rim tour. You'll miss out on the cutesy souvenirs, but you will not have to shoulder 12 camera wielding Japanese tourists out of the way so that you can actually peer down at the river.

I have flown over both sides (before the flight restrictions), but my one and only surface trip past the Grand Canyon I did the South Rim.

FWIW, YMMV.

 

[gkainz]

If you've never been there, I would suggest the south side as a first time visitor. All the National Park facilities and information is there. As a repeat visitor, I would vote for the north rim ... not sure what the "west side" tour is ...

 

[bbchien]

My wife is trying to decide between two Grand Canyon bus tours from Las Vegas. One goes to the "natural west side" and the other goes to the "south side national park". We can't figure out which is better. Do any of you who know the area have a preference?

I have done all THREE. The West Canyon (Grand Canyon West), which is run by the Havasupai, is isolated, primitive, and nice n quiet. You tour the rim in a 1956 GMC school bus. "the Edge!".

The South rim is where the SUVs are, the trail head to Angel Creek Trail (carry water, one New Yorker dies in the Canyon every summer!). Burro trips, etc.

The North Canyon, best seen from Canyon Bar 10 is the BEST way to see the canyon. But you can get to Tuweep in a car, thence to Toroweep on foot and look over the canyon from Vulcan's Throne. Unbelieveable. Rent a car and go, or a Skyhawk, take short fuel and go. Beware the High DAlt.

 

[bstratt]

Thanks guys. The tour bus company she's talking to doesn't do the North Side, just west and south. The west one is the Indian reservation one as apparently the Indians do a BBQ lunch.

I've passed on your comments.

 

[4CornerFlyer]

From Vegas I would pick the western Canyon tour. It is a much longer bus trip to go to the South Rim National Park area. Although that option offers the possiblility of unsupervised hiking at your own pace, the trip is 4+ hours each way, so not much time at the park. Save the main park for when you have more time to spend.

Did you look into the air tours from Vegas? Much more expensive, but at least you don't spend all that time on a bus.

Jon