Make Your
Reservation

VIEW/CANCEL
I have an Interagency Access Pass/Senior Pass   [ ? ]

*Do not check this box if you have an Annual Pass.

Grand Canyon: Far From the Madding Crowd

Grand Canyon: Far From the Madding Crowd

Written by: , July 12th, 2018

Hiking beneath the rim is a near-certain way to escape the crowded world above.

If you notice just one thing about Grand Canyon, it’s that there’s plenty of it at roughly 277 miles long, 18 miles across, and one mile deep. But even then, it can sometimes seem too crowded.

The sense that there’s not enough elbowroom is actually an optical illusion caused by the annual arrival of summer visitors. Since they tend to concentrate on the same few miles along the South Rim, it can look like everyone in the world is visiting the park on the same day. To adjust this visual anomaly, simply expand your range and you’ll find there’s plenty of room to roam.

From arriving at Grand Canyon National Park via one of America’s most picturesque routes to adjusting your schedule, here are a few ways to avoid the masses in one of the largest places on earth.

Tain

Roll Along

To avoid the often-dense automobile traffic flowing north on Highway 64 and through the park’s south entrance, take the Grand Canyon Railway instead. You won’t need to worry about finding a convenient parking space since the train rolls into the depot just below the El Tovar hotel at Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

The added bonus of bypassing the traffic clog is the unforgettable train journey itself, which begins in the historic town of Williams, Ariz., 60 miles south of the park entrance and centered on legendary Route 66.

What makes this ride special is that when you step aboard the train you enjoy the option of different levels of seating — from Pullman cars to observation dome cars to luxury parlor cars at the end of the line. There’s also entertainment by troubadours singing classic Western tunes, and a dash of drama and comic relief by “train robbers” who join you on the return trip. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the journey is seeing the high desert, endless plateaus, and Mount Humphrey dominating the horizon. And you’ll only see this while riding the train.

Maswick Lodge

Stay All Night

Should you arrive via Grand Canyon Railway, try to make a night of it. As part of an overnight package you can have your bags delivered from the train to your private room at Maswik Lodge. Surrounded by a forest of ponderosa pines and just a short walk from the Historic Village, a room at Maswik gives you additional time to enjoy the park long after most visitors have left for the day. Even better, it puts you in position to get up early to watch the sun rise over the rim — often when only a handful of visitors have gathered at vista points, overlooks, and along the Rim Trail.

Do this and you’ll enjoy a premium Grand Canyon experience: solitude and silence.

Snow on canyon

Timing is Everything

Aside from the peak summer season and several weeks during Spring Break, visitation at Grand Canyon is generally fairly steady. The least busy period comes when the chill of winter changes the landscape to a frosty white and attendance drops with every degree.

So if you want to visit Grand Canyon undisturbed by others, consider the period between January and early March. While temperatures may be on the frigid side, the park is emptier then. If your schedule doesn’t allow travel during this season, visitors are lighter Sundays through Thursdays throughout the year.

Bright Angel Trail

Take a Hike

Although it took a herculean effort to build the foot (and mule) paths that lead from the rim to the floor of Grand Canyon, relatively few travelers (estimated at only about one percent) take advantage of those trails. The result? Hiking beneath the rim is a near-certain way to escape the crowded world above. Even better, with every step you take you see the views around you change. Trails wrap around the curves of the canyon and then around corners and then lead to overlooks accessible only to those who make the effort to reach them.

A hike into the canyon is the great escape.

Bus

Hop on the Bus, Gus

Just because everyone else congregates at the Historic Village doesn’t mean you have to. Step aboard a shuttle bus and eight miles later you’ll arrive at the westernmost reach of the Rim Trail, an overlook at Hermit’s Rest. The view of the canyon here is as delightful as architect Mary J. Colter’s 1914 creation: a home designed for a fictional hermit, complete with a domed room, a large fireplace, and a few chairs and tables added as accents.

At the far eastern end of the park at Desert View, Colter designed the Watchtower, one of the canyon’s iconic landmarks. Decorative accents and artwork within the tower provide photo opps on par with those you’ll find of the canyon just a few yards away. One of the most remote locations in the park (it’s about 25 miles from the Historic Village), it’s less trafficked than other areas, but reveals some of the most extraordinary perspectives in the park. A small restaurant only adds to the appeal of this destination.

Dine in Peace

Savvy travelers are familiar with the strategy of avoiding peak dining times: usually before 11 a.m. and after 1:30 p.m. for lunch, and before 6 p.m. or after 8 p.m. for dinner. Being flexible with meal times is one way to avoid throngs.

There are several other ways to have a quieter dining experience. Make reservations as soon as possible to secure a prime time (and a prime seat). If you’d like to dine al fresco, you can always order a “grab and go” meal at a restaurant and find a secluded scenic spot to have a picnic. Finally, you can order a meal at one of Grand Canyon’s food trucks — a recent arrival on the food scene.

How to Explore

Grand Canyon National Park Lodges provides the premier in-park lodging, managing six distinctly different lodges. From the El Tovar hotel, long considered the crown jewel of national park hotels, to Phantom Ranch, the only lodging on the floor of the canyon, you’ll find accommodations to help you get the most out of your visit to the Grand Canyon. You can also book rafting, railway, and motorcoach tours. For more information and reservations, visit grandcanyonlodges.com or call 888-297-2757.

Or consider the 10-day “Bryce, Zion & the Grand Canyon” tour from Holiday Vacations, one of America’s most reputable tour companies with more than 45 years of experience. As a nationwide provider of air, rail, motorcoach and cruise guided vacations to more than 65 destinations worldwide, their packages are inclusive of all airfare, fine hotels, meals and must-see attractions. Expert tour directors handle all travel details, assuring you a carefree and memorable vacation. Visit HolidayVacations.com for more information.

For more travel experiences to Beautiful Places on Earth™ available from the Xanterra Travel Collection® and its affiliated properties, visit xanterra.com/explore.