Visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas: tickets, prices, schedules

Are you passing through Arizona, the Far-West emblem? Here is how to make the most of your stay by discovering the majestic Grand Canyon from Las Vegas!

Famous around the world, Grand Canyon is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful -and colossal - achievements of Mother Nature. We can even admire it from space! This fantastic site that has become a national park is located in the southwest of the United States, in the north of the state of Arizona, and attracts almost five million visitors every year. Why not you?

To help you prepare your visit to this exceptional place, we have prepared you a concise and practical travel guide to find all the practical information you need: a quick historic site, the major attractions of this high place of North American tourism, as well as access to preferred, time schedules and rates to offer an unforgettable time. What are we waiting for?

So it’s gone, discover the best tips to visit the Grand Canyon!

History of the Grand Canyon

Visiting the Grand Canyon is discovering a marvel forged by nature, with the age of the first rock stratifications estimated at over a billion and a half years!

Its throat, traced by the Colorado River, is one of the largest canyons in the world with its 440 kilometers. Occupied by the Anasazis -Amerindian attribute of south-west North America - it was discovered by the first Spanish conquistadors during the 16th century, but the region remained rather unknown since inhospitable until the 19th century and the famous conquest of the West!

It was in 1869 that the first descent of the Colorado River took place by boat, which was a feat despite the death of three of the explorers on board. Afterwards, the violent rapids flowing into this canyon of 1700 km, at the average altitude of 2000 meters and knowing a 1500 meters denial, continued to make many victims!

It was only at the very beginning of the twentieth century that the region began, under demographic pressure, to develop and interest hunters and adventurers: a railway was built in 1901 on the south bank and the first hotel took place shortly afterwards. To protect this remarkable site, both historically and geologically, the government took the initiative to classify this site 450 km long, placed between the Lake Powell and Lake Mead , national park in 1919. Since then, two dams have been built to channel the power of the waters of the Colorado River, and many modern hiking trails, infrastructure or points of interest found room in this sumptuous setting offering breathtaking views: the myth was born and the frequentation of the place only increased, year after year!

What to see and do at the Grand Canyon?

There is a strong bet that your arrival on the site will be at the Visitor Center of the park; here, all the useful and even indispensable information you will be provided thanks to the presence of brochures, guides and storages with which it can be very interesting to exchange.

In fact, the visit of almost all of the Grand Canyon is carried out using an ingenious system of circuits to be visited by bus-navettes, totally free , set up by the park in the vicinity of Grand Canyon Village , on the south shore: it is on the said shore that most of the infrastructure, shops or restaurants are located, the north shore remaining much wilder and preserved. These shuttles go through several separate loops, so all of them should be taken to observe the park in its entirety!

Each circuit includes stops to which it is possible to climb or descend freely; In addition, a few six hours to perform a bus loop, and these are equipped with door while allowing access to persons with reduced mobility .

Here are the most interesting routes:

• Village Route, whose route serves the surroundings of the Grand Canyon Village and therefore its hotels, shops and restaurants
• Kaibab Trail Route, whose route allows to reach Cameron and Powell Lake, east of the park
• Hermists Rest route, unquestionably the most interesting, which works only from March 1st to November 30th but whose route is reserved for bus-sizes - that depart every 20 minutes, and that gives access to sublime views such as Trailview Overlook, The Abyss or Monument Creek Vista
• Desert View Drive, 40 kilometers long, is the ideal itinerary if you wish to admire the majestic Colorado River, notably from the top of the Desert View Watchtower, and which also offers the narcotic panoramas of Yaki point, Grand View point or Navajo Point

As far as hiking enthusiasts are concerned, to reach the Colorado River from the south shore, a walk close to 8 a.m. ; the same hike is longer from the north shore, and for walk-walkers wishing to reconcile the two routes down the south shore to the north shore, it will be necessary to plan two days : 21 miles, about 34 kilometers.

The wildest, preserved infrastructure on the south shore, the said north shore is, it, the ideal place to indulge in the joys of the hike and to reach sumptuous points of view by taking the countless marked paths through the plateau; It is also possible to sleep in the beautiful star - see the "Good to Know" section at the end of this guide.

Many other unusual activities can be considered to visit the Grand Canyon: mulet-back excursions, to spend one day or two days and one night in the park, that you will have to book a long time in advance and pay for $120 to $600 per person according to the time envisaged, the route or the place of bivouac!

It is also possible to visit the Grand Canyon by helicopter ! Flights are provided by companies from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, near the south shore, and even the city of Las Vegas: the games are done! The flights last between twenty minutes and six hours , and you must count, for a half-hour flight during the summer season, about $200 For an adult.

Our heartburn: the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass gateway allowing visitors to find themselves at... 1300 meters above the void, on a transparent loop of more than twenty meters in the Colorado River! Count $33 to give you a unique sensation, to advise people subject to vertigo.

How do I go to the Grand Canyon?

The south shore is a hundred kilometres north of the city. Williams , and is accessible by Highway 64 from Interstate 40; or, Flagstaff , by Highways 64 and 180 . The north shore, much less lotie, is only accessible by car by the Highways 67 or 89A , or Trans-Canyon Shuttle , the only public transport providing service to the north shore.

To visit the Grand Canyon easily, it is necessary to know that a small airport is located south of the park, Tusayan for flights from Las Vegas or Scottsdale and only Greyhound bus lines or Amtrak trains reach Williams and Flagstaff. Do not hesitate to consult this Compare flights for your trip!

Once on site, shuttle buses directly drive the tourists who came to visit the Grand Canyon to the south shore! Finally, a train leaving Williams, the Grand Canyon Railway, offers a daily round-trip between Williams and Grand Canyon Station.

Grand Canyon Prices

HORARI

Access to the park is guaranteed throughout the year, 24 hours a day.

RATES

Tickets can be purchased in certain shops and, of course, at the park entrances. The entrance price is at $20 by pedestrian or cyclist; $30 for bikers, and $35 for other vehicles, and give access to both the south shore and the north shore. Once purchased, the ticket is valid for 7 days .