Life with ArielThe trip to Grand Canyon National Park and Arizona was long overdue. I finally made it happen during 2021 Thanksgiving. It’s our first time there, so my friend and I hit all the touristy spots in Arizona around Grand Canyon. Personally, I think November is the perfect time to visit Arizona. It’s not too hot when on hiking trails and not too cold to stay outside. Moreover, unlike summer time, November is technically off-peak season for visiting national parks, so it’s less crowded everywhere. Thanksgiving is a national holiday, so we still booked accommodations and tours well ahead of time.
Day 1: Fly into Phoenix, Arizona
The flight from the Bay Area to Phoenix, Arizona is about 2 hours. It took us unexpectedly long to pick up our car rental – thumbs down to Avis at Phoenix airport. By the time we finished our quick dinner, it’s already 6pm. We casually drove around Phoenix downtown but didn’t find anything interesting. The streets were pretty empty. Other than some bars and restaurants, there’s not much to do. We turned in early for the day.
Day 2: Arizona Desert Botanical Garden and Sedona
Our first stop was the Desert Botanical Garden. I highly recommend it if you have 2 hours or more to kill in Phoenix. This garden exhibits all types of cactus and plants that live in Arizona, from cute little balls growing at ground level to gigantic Saguaro cactus of around 40 feet tall. In addition, the butterfly pavilion is an interactive exhibit where various types of butterflies fly around you while you learn about their life cycles and relationships with the desert plants. On some of the trails in the garden, you will also be able to enjoy the overlook of surrounding mountains.
After lunch, we started the drive to Grand Canyon and stopped at Sedona for some hikes. We first checked out the Red Rock Canyon State Park and casually hiked there. It’s the first time we saw red rocks in large amounts and we were very impressed. We looked up another famous trail, Devil’s Bridge, and headed there. It was stunning. The trail was covered in bright red dirt which is unique in Arizona and Utah. The surroundings are steep canyon walls and mountains that have different layers of red rocks. At the top, there’s a flat area overlooking the canyon below, namely the Devil’s Bridge. From there, you can enjoy the view of Sedona, its red mountains, and the Coconino National Forest.
Day 3: Grand Canyon National Park
We arrived at Grand Canyon at night on Day 2. For the days we were at the Grand Canyon National Park, we stayed at Yavapai Lodge inside the park. The lodge was not fancy and just had the bare minimum to make you feel comfortable. But because of its convenient location, staying here saved us a lot of commute time. There’s a small café in it that served coffee and hot breakfast. I couldn’t ask for more.
Certain parts of the park did not allow private cars but the park provided shuttles to most of the sightseeing spots. I highly recommend taking the shuttles. It’s frequent and will save you the headache of finding parking during busy seasons. More importantly, there’s a shuttle stop right in front of Yavapai Lodge.
South Rim
We spent our Day 3 along the South Rim. In the morning, we took the shuttle to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and hiked on the Rim Trail from the visitor center to Yavapai Geology Museum. The trail is mostly flat and paved. Mather Point is a famous lookout point on the trail. But really, anywhere on this trail offers breathtaking views of the canyon. The Yavapai Geology Museum showcases the various rock layers of the canyon and the geologic history recorded in the rocks.
Bright Angel Trail
In the afternoon, we hiked the famous Bright Angel Trail. It’s a strenuous trail of 15.3 miles and over 4,400 feet elevation. This’s the trail that extends to the canyon floor and along the Bright Angel fault. Taking this trail, you will get the full experience of Grand Canyon, from bottom to top, from rocks to animal life. Not everyone can finish it, but everyone wants to check it out, at least for the first 3 miles. And that’s what we did.
Going down is not that bad. However, it’s crowded. You will have to slow down and let people pass from both directions. Going up is a lot more challenging and will require about twice the time of going down. It’s a great workout with majestic views, even for just the first 3 miles. So up close to the steep cliffs, I felt humbled by mother nature. Human history is just a blink of second compared to how long it took the rock layers and canyons to form. The desert plants and animals can survive on so little, but we humans always greedily demand more.
Day 4: Grand Canyon National Park and Drive to Page
The next days started with sunrise at Yaki Point. Without any sunlight and any noises from living creatures, the canyon looked purple, ghastly and solemn. Unfortunately, the day we went was gloomy and cloudy. We didn’t get to see the full sun coming out. But it’s still a unique experience.
We then explored the west of Bright Angel Trail to Hermits Rest. Taking the red bus will get you to all the good spots. It’s also part of the Rim Trail. So hiking is another great way to explore. I liked this part of the South Rim more compared to the section near the visitor center because it’s less crowded and there’s also less obstacle in front of the lookout views. I particularly liked Hopi Point. It’s a broad platform with clear views of the canyon. Many people were waiting there for sunset.
Lastly, we drove along the scenic Desert View Drive from South Rim to the Desert View Watchtower in the east. Along the route, there are Grandview Point, Moran Point, Lipan Point, and Navajo Point. We spent most time around the Desert View Watchtower area because it provides a unique view of the canyon with a distant glimpse of the Colorado River’s transition into the expanse of Grand Canyon.
Day 5: Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, and The Chains
Our next stop is Page. The popular sightseeing places are close to each other there, which saved us lots of time. The Horseshoe Bend is a must-see and thus very crowded. It’s located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The walk from the parking lot to the view point is about 0.8 miles one way, unshaded. Even in November, it’s still pretty sunny and gets hot quickly. I have to say the Horseshoe Bend, albeit stunning, was not as colorful as I saw in some photos online. So you have to set the right expectation.
Since the Horseshoe Bend is essentially just a lookout, the visit didn’t take long. We drove to Glen Canyon Dam next and admired the second highest concrete-arch dam in the US. We also took a short hike around The Chains where we were up close to the Colorado River. I have never seen water like this elsewhere, crystal clear with a perfect combination of yellow, green and blue, undisturbed, shining quietly like a gem in the middle of rust-colored rocks.
Day 6: Arizona Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is a great example of mother nature’s power and magic. Out of no where in the desert, there’s this special cave where the stones and rocks are smoothly curved by years of erosion from the wind and rain. Their colors change according to the amount and angel of the sunlight, leaving us humans in awe. You have to book guided tours in order to visit Antelope Canyon because it sits on the private land of the Navajo Nation. Antelope Canyon consists of two canyons: the upper and the lower. You have to book separate tours for each.
Upper Antelope Canyon
The upper canyon is more popular than the lower canyon because it is said to be more beautiful. However, to have the best view, you have to go at specific times of the day, which is a very narrow window of 10-11am in winter and the sun light has to be good. Unfortunately, the tours around that time were booked out, so we had to do it a little later. The upper canyon was still very pretty but was a bit dark.
Lower Antelope Canyon
The lower canyon, on the contrary, was a pleasant surprise when we visited it in the afternoon. It was brighter and bigger. We got to spend more time there and saw different color variations. The tour guides were super helpful. They knew where and how to take the best photo using phone and camera.
Tips for the Tours
- Backpacks are not allowed on the tours. So be sure to put your stuff in the car.
- At the upper canyon, the shuttle from the tour check-in to the entrance of the canyon is a 15 minute drive. You will sit at the back of a truck, which means the wind can be cold and strong and there’s lots of dirt and sun exposure.
- Both canyons have very narrow parts and you need to climb steep stairs. So be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
- During COVID, masks are required and you can’t take them off at any time on the tour.
- It’s a nice gesture to tip your tour guides with cash.
Day 7: Drive to Las Vegas and Fly Back
We flew back to the Bay Area from Las Vegas which is about 4.5 hours’ drive away from Page. What’s a great ending to a long road trip? A luxury feast at Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace! So consider Las Vegas when you are choosing your flight back from Arizona destinations.
