Grand Canyon and Sedona Trip for a “Winter” Adventure!

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors, it just means it’s time to head southwest!

Did you know we do one-way trips to Phoenix and Las Vegas in the off-season (roughly Nov-March) Well, we do. So, we thought we’d plan a perfect road trip to Phoenix this winter. While it might be heading toward frigid in some of the country, mild temperatures make visiting the southwest a perfect getaway.

Pick up an adventure vehicle and head out on a camping road trip through the buttes, canyons, and red rocks of the southwest. Here, we will map out things you cannot miss in the Grand Canyon and Sedona on your way to Phoenix. And you might want to bring your swimsuit—it gets pretty hot in Arizona over the holidays!

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, and once you see it, you won’t have any doubts as to why. The park is 1,904 square miles (bigger than the state of Rhode Island); the canyon is 278 “river miles” long, anywhere from 600-feet to 18 miles wide, and an average of 1-mile deep. Now, consider the layers of rock, from millions to billions of years old, in shades of red, purple, yellow, green, pink! The history, the fossils, the wildlife, the many ecosystems that exist within this marvel all put a mere human in a euphoric state of awe.

Millions of visitors have stood at the rim of the canyon and been stunned by its eternal beauty, but the best views aren’t from the top, looking down into the canyon. The best views are below the rim. So, get in it!

We’ll focus on the South Rim of the canyon since the North Rim tends to only be open from May to October.

Best Hikes

We’re just going to say this here so we don’t have to repeat it with each hike: The Grand Canyon is an extreme environment, so you must always think about your health and limitations. Winter is a terrific time to descend and the ascend the canyon because the temps won’t be as severely hot, but no matter when you hike, be sure to take plenty of water and sunscreen.

Check to see if the water is on at the rest stops before you leave. And never forget, for every step down, you’ll be taking a step up to get back to the rim. We will put durations on these hikes, but this is just to allow a minimum amount of time. Take as much time as you need to travel safely. Always be sure to check if you need passes or permits, and always bring a trail map and a map to get to the trailhead.

Shoshone Point Trail:

Easy
1–2 hours

Directions

The only easy hike on our list (though you should definitely stroll along the Rim Trail as well), the Shoshone Point Trail is an astounding little jaunt that is terrific for a picnic. It’s just under a mile to the pavilion and toilets. Continue on past to reach the Shoshone Point rock formation and the rim of the canyon. Please be careful on the point as there are no rails. This is a great way to get amazing views without having to fight the crowds.

Bright Angel Trailhead to Indian Garden Campground:

Hard
4–5 Hours

Directions

This trail is 8.9 miles round trip, but we definitely suggest spending a night or two at the Indian Garden Campground! The elevation gain is about 3,000 feet and that is all one way on this well groomed trail. It will be populated in the first couple miles. Keep descending on the trail cut into the rainbow walls until you reach the oasis of Indian Garden with shady trees, green grasses, and Garden Creek.

South Kaibab Trail:

Hard
3–4 Hours

Directions

You could take the South Kaibab Trail all the way to Phantom Ranch if you wanted. However, we recommend taking it to Skeleton Point and back for a 5.8-mile hike with 2,060 elevation change. You can also make this an easier hike by turning back at Ooh Aah Point (1.8 m.) or Cedar Ridge (2.8 m.). Enjoy amazing views of the rock layers from all points along the trail. Take some time, here and there, to bask in the vastness of the canyon.

Hermit Trail to Dripping Springs:

Hard
5–7 hours

Directions

Hermit Trail isn’t going to be as crowded as some of the other trails on the list, but it is incredible. It was built from sandstone slabs in 1911. It is a 7-mile out and back with 2,600 feet in elevation change. There are fossilized animal tracks along the way for the observant to watch out for. Dripping Springs is a small spring, dripping in a little nook underneath gorgeous sandstone peaks. You might need to take a shuttle to this trailhead.

Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa:

Very Hard
4–5 Hours

Directions

The Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa is the most difficult of the hikes we’ll mention here. It’s about 6 miles round trip, with an elevation change of 2,760 feet. If there is snow or ice on this steep, rugged trail, you’ll want to stay away. Bring your own water and trekking poles, and let someone know where you’ll be. If the stars align and this is the trail you choose, you’ll have amazing views as you hike down to the abandoned mine at Horseshoe Mesa.

Fun Drives

Desert View Drive:

23 miles one-way
2WD & 4WD

Desert View Drive is an easy, beautiful drive that starts near Grand Canyon Village and culminates at the Desert View Services area where you can walk over to Desert View Point and Watchtower. Be prepared to stop at several viewpoints to take in the canyon, and bring a picnic to enjoy along the way. (Click the link above for a detailed guide!)

Drive to South Bass Trailhead:

30 miles one-way
4WD to be safe

“Driving to the South Bass Trailhead can offer almost as much adventure as the hike,” asserts the National Park Service (NPS) as they give a very detailed description of this drive into the remote wilderness. Whether you camp or hike once you are there or not, you’ll still have a fun drive. Be prepared to pay $25 cash to cross the Havasupai Reservation and to get a backcountry pass if you plan on camping inside the Grand Canyon National Park. Also, the NPS suggests, “This unpaved byway is not shown accurately on most topo maps, so a road map of the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will be useful.” Find maps here.

Hermit Road:

7 miles one-way
Shuttle, 2WD, or 4WD

The drive along Hermit Road is known for having some of the best views of the canyon. From March 1 to November 30, you’ll need to take a free shuttle bus from the Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest. There are 9 viewpoints along the way. We recommend walking back from Hermits Rest along the Canyon Rim Trail (easy, 8 miles) with a picnic lunch and plenty of water!

Campground

To get the real Grand Canyon experience, you’re going to want to hike down into the canyon and stay the night at Indian Garden Campground (4.8 miles down) and Bright Angel Campground (9.9 miles down). Make sure to make reservations and get your permits in place before you head down. Indian Garden is a lovely oasis of trees with a stream running through the center. Bright Angel is a ½-mile from the Colorado River and sits on the Bright Angel Creek. Both campgrounds have plenty of day hikes and spots to relax along the water.

If you are looking to camp with your roof top tent or campervan, Mather Campground in Grand Canyon Village and Ten-X Campground in nearby Kaibab National Forest are going to suit you well. They’re both well taken care of and just miles from canyon hikes and drives. Also, if you want a little more privacy, check out dispersed camping in Kaibab Naitonal Forest.

Hotel

If you want to spend the extra dough and sleep indoors for a night or two, there are so many gorgeous, relaxing options in Grand Canyon National Park. It was hard to pick our favorites, but Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins and Phantom Ranch really do take the cake. Bright Angel Lodge is rustic and private with a splash of luxury if you want it! And the history and warm, old lodge create an atmosphere you don’t want to miss.

Phantom Ranch, on the other hand, is an absolute one-of-a-kind experience. “Nestled at the bottom of the Grand Canyon…Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the canyon rim, and can only be reached by mule, on foot, or by rafting the Colorado River.” Designed by Mary Elizabeth Jane Coulter in the 1920’s and made of wood and stone, there are cabins and dormitories and a lodge for breakfast, sack lunches to take with you, and steak or stew dinners. Don’t miss this!

Extras

If we can only name a few, we have to start with the Desert View Watchtower. Take the Desert View Drive here and explore the Kiva Room, Point, and the Trading Post. The Watchtower was another design by Mary Coulter.

Kolb Studio is an amazing building, overlooking the canyon. The Kolb brothers were “photographers and adventurers” who lived on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for most of their lives. Today, Kolb Studio is a gallery and bookstore.

Grand Canyon West Skywalk may seem like a ridiculous thing to do…but you kind of have to say you did it! It arches out 70 feet from the rim of the canyon and it’s 4,000 feet above the canyon floor. Not for the faint of heart!

Sedona

On we travel to the land of canyons, caves, arches, peaks, and red-rock buttes. The scenery here is breathtaking and there is an energy that people come from the other side of the world to feel. Plus, the plethora of outdoor recreation lends toward a healthy, happy community. So, get out there and join them!