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here for a gallery of images from the Grand Canyon
by Holden Frith
The Grand Canyon is an incredible sight, but the grandeur of it can be lost
amid the crowds if you have to jostle scores of fellow tourists to get a
clear view.
Most of the five million people who see the Grand Canyon each year visit the
easily accessible South Rim during late spring, summer and early autumn.
It’s warm, the roads are clear of snow and ice and tour groups arrive at the
viewpoints by the busload.
Those seeking a more tranquil encounter with the canyon can head to the much
less accessible North Rim, which attracts fewer tourists, or brave the chill
of the winter. Hotels and roads remain open all year at the South Rim, and
while the nights plunge well below freezing in January, the days are not
unbearably cold. Midday sun lifts temperatures above freezing on most days,
although they dip again sharply during the afternoon.
Many are put off by the snow and ice, but about half of the 13-mile Rim Trail
is kept clear of snow, and the paved surface underneath is no harder to
negotiate than the average urban pavement. Shuttle buses link look-out
points along the route, providing an easy way out for over-stretched
walkers.
The unpaved, unmaintained stretch of the Rim Trail, and the other trails that
lead down to the canyon floor, are much more treacherous. They are passable
by experienced walkers, but the park authorities recommend the use of
specialist ice-walking equipment. These paths are steep, slippery and close
to the edge of a mile-high drop.
For those who stay on the easy paths at the top, the snow is less of an
obstacle than an embellishment. The national park becomes a gloriously empty
winter wonderland, and since the air is clearest during the cold, dry
winter, the deep blue skies and rusty red rock of the canyon look better
too.
Need to know
Getting there: Flights by helicopter or small plane from Las Vegas to
the Grand Canyon cost about £100-£150. Driving from Las Vegas takes about
five hours.
Where to stay: Xanterra Parks and
Resorts runs seven hotels and campsites on the South Rim of the Grand
Canyon. The rustic but comfortable Bright
Angel Lodge offers double rooms (with shared shower/bath) from $66 per
night in January, while at the grander El
Tovar Hotel prices start at $166. Rooms fill up very quickly in the
summer but most hotels are quiet in the winter. Accommodation is also
available outside the national park, in the town of Williams.
What to eat: Some of the restaurants shut down for the winter, but
hotels offer tasty and reasonably priced meals. If you’re planning longer
walks, stock up on supplies in Williams.
