Las Vegas - Grand Canyon

[zanzibar138]

I just wanted to add that if you're planning to go mid-December, there is a possibility of snow. We went at the other end of winter (early March) and it had snowed a few days before hand. All that was really left was icy sludge, but it looked so pretty lol! All hikers going down the canyon were advised to use crampons due to the icy slicks that had formed, and one of the mules on our mule ride actually slipped on the ice and went down too. I agree with PIO, if it's icy, I would stick to the rim!

On our last afternoon after we got back from the mule ride, we took the bus to Hermit's Rest and then hiked back along the rim for a while. The café at Hermit's Rest was closed at that time of year, but it was still worth seeing, and the views from that part of the rim were pretty good, with the Colorado River clearly visible. Also, at that time of year and that far away from the main 'village', we didn't see many other people. It was beautiful and quiet.

Also, don't underestimate the altitude factor. DH and I are a relatively fit, young couple, and we found ourselves getting out of breath a lot easier than usual. Just be aware and, if you haven't really been active at altitude before, ease yourself into it a bit.

 

[aussie shaz]

We went and stayed 2 nights at Yavapai lodge in 2011 and it was a great location. We literally looked over the canyon from our window. And it's one of the cheapest of the accommodations there. We could also watch the elk grazing on the grass, straight in front of our room.
Now, onto the possible negatives....My kids were 8 and 10 at the times, and if you ask my then 8 year old what was the most boring part of our trip, he'd say the Grand Canyon! I must say, 2 nights was too much for me. One night would be much better. We did walk down some way. I turned back early and my husband and youngest son kept going for a bit further. They turned around and passed me on the way back up. Goodness the walk on the way back is Hard work.
My husband and I had been in 2000 in April. There was lots of snow, and there was no way we could have safely walked down into the canyon. Watching my kids walk down in the summer was bad enough, but you're asking for trouble if you walk down with the snow.
We drove some of the way along Route 66 and it was nice to drive through a few towns and stop to see some interesting sights.

 

[Zosha]

Thanks everyone for the input. I hadn't really considered the ice or the altitude factor. Unfortunately I can't change the dates for the holiday so I'm stuck with December but it sounds like it will still be nice to walk along the rim anyway.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks everyone for the input. I hadn't really considered the ice or the altitude factor. Unfortunately I can't change the dates for the holiday so I'm stuck with December but it sounds like it will still be nice to walk along the rim anyway.

You'll be able to drive from one lookout to the other. And if there is snow on the ground, you'll have stunning pictures. If you want to take a family shot, I would recommend Navajo. It doesn't look like much from the road...it is just a pull-out. But the canyon is right there and you can all sit on the barrier/'fence' and have the canyon right in the background. We almost didn't stop and the shot we got from there is the one that the entire family loves the most.

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks everyone for the input. I hadn't really considered the ice or the altitude factor. Unfortunately I can't change the dates for the holiday so I'm stuck with December but it sounds like it will still be nice to walk along the rim anyway.

I think December will be a great time to go! You may not even get snow and ice that early in the season. But PIO's right, if you do, it makes for absolutely stunning scenery! And if not, then you can happily wander down into the canyon.