Is the the South Rim of the Grand Canyon Better Than the West Rim?

Jun 3
08:23

2011

Keith Kravitz

Keith Kravitz

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Which section of the Grand Canyon is better? The West Rim or Grand Canyon National Park? This brief article answers your questions and helps guide you to get the best price on canyon trips.

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The hardest part about taking a Grand Canyon tour is deciding to check out the South Rim or the West Rim. Both of them are fantastic places. So,Is the the South Rim of the Grand Canyon Better Than the West Rim? Articles in order to break this tie, I am going to do a quick rim-by-rim evaluation that will make certain you're paired with the spot that's best for you.

Are you interested in activities or scenery?

The West Rim excels in things to do. It is the only place where you can ride a helicopter 4,000 feet to the base. Then, if you are so inclined, you can walk upstream and river raft the Colorado River.

The world-famous Grand Canyon Skywalk is based here. This attraction is a magnificently engineered glass walkway that allows you to walk 70 feet past the edge as it suspends you 4,000 feet over the river. Don't look down if you are prone to vertigo.

More exotic activities here include a heli journey to a working cattle ranch, ATV trail rides, Hummer 4x4 adventures, and horseback riding. One of my favorite things to do at Grand Canyon West is the Hoover Dam smooth-water rafting trip to Willow Beach.

Grand Canyon National Park (a.k.a. South Rim) is tame compared to the West Rim. What it lacks in "thrills" it makes up in natural beauty. This is the section of the National Park that even the rangers refer to as the "real" canyon.

There are no heli rides to the base at the South Rim. If you want to get to the base, you have to walk. Having said that, the air tours here are very good. The heli flight from Grand Canyon Airport goes directly into the heart of the Dragoon Corridor, the broadest, deepest section of the Grand Canyon, while airplane excursions cover the South, East, and North rims.

There's also the fantastic 1-day canyon water-rafting journey that operates from April to November. Options include taking a bus or airplane to Page, AZ, and then transferring to a water raft. This is a smooth-water journey so there are no rapids. Children ages four years and older are welcome.

The trails at South Rim are great. South Kaibab, Rim Top, and Bright Angel trails are the most popular. For lookouts, go to Mather Point, Yaki Point, and Hopi Point. Most excursions include guided tours to these points of interest.

Where's your starting point?

Grand Canyon West is just 120 miles from Vegas. Helis, planes, and buses can do the trip in 45 minutes, 25 minutes, and 2.5 hours, respectively. Grand Canyon National Park is too far for Las Vegas choppers. Your best options are the plane or the tour bus.

I highly advise taking the 45-minute plane flight from Sin City to the South Rim. It's quick, comfortable, and one of the best deals on the market. The coach is incredibly affordable, but one-way drive time is 5.5 hours and total tour time is a whopping 15 hours.

Phoenix and Sedona travelers can drive to the South Rim in 4 hours and 2 hours, respectively. There are bus, plane, and helicopter trips from those locales but it's a lot less money to drive yourself and do an air tour from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan.

How long will you be at the canyon?

Grand Canyon West tours from Las Vegas are ideal day trips. The longest tour is a full day. Air-only trips are about four hours, including hotel pick up and drop off. The Ground Canyon South Rim car takes 15 hours at a minimum, which is why I cheerlead for the plane trip because it will have you back on The Strip in time for your evening plans. Tours that start in Northern Arizona are full-day trips. I often tell travelers to try to book a room inside the park and stay overnight. Easier said than done because Park hotels are usually reserved a year in ahead of time.

What's your budget?

South Rim and West Rim bus tours are the most economical and include lots of add-ons like river rafting, glass walkway tickets and chopper rides. Air tours are more expensive, but you also see more canyon in less time. I estimate that what you see on a 30-minute heli ride is equivalent to a few days on the ground. Plus the airborne views are amazing.

Let's see the canyon!

Grand Canyon tours are packed with adventure and beauty. The two prime areas are the West Rim and the West Rim. The dilemma is which rim to visit. If you are beginning from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon West is your closest option. However, if your heart is set on the South Rim, take the 45-minute airplane ride. I recommend doing the National Park for travelers starting out from Phoenix and Sedona. The key to being sure you get the trip of your dreams is too book ahead of time over the Internet. Adhere to this system and you'll get your Grand Canyon tour for a song.