We just finished a week of boondocking at the South Rim, and let me say there are a lot of available boondocking spots. We have been to the North Rim multiple times but the wife has never been to the South Rim.
1) We had no problems entering the park, no excessively long lines at the gate. One hint if lane number 5 (all the way to the right) is open use it, it was half as long as the other lines.
2) We had no problems finding parking. The one exception might be the first couple of pull outs on Hwy 64 east.
3) That road Hwy 64 east has the most spectacular views, especially Moran and Lipan points. Traffic dropped off drastically after the first few miles east of the main area.
4) Stock up before you get there and not at Williams AZ. Hotdogs $9/pack inside the park vs $3/pack for the same dogs in Kanab.
5) Diesel was almost $4/gal in Williams and $3.60 at Tusayan.
5) The visitor center is closed with a single Ranger handing out maps at a table outside the building
6)Speaking of which other than that lone ranger and the ones at the entry station we saw ZERO rangers in the park in seven days. There must be scores of rangers assigned to that giant park but they are no where to be seen. They are getting paid for doing what??
After years of claiming that the North Rim is just as scenic, I'll have to admit that the South Rim is much better. But the north rim has no mobs.
The weather was 45 mph gale one whole day 4 days yf 20-25 mph winds with overcast, on day calm and sunny, and one day with heavy snow/graupel. Too windy and cool for campfires.
Note this is on a shoulder season, not prime visitation. FS CGs seem to closed as was Desert View on the east side. Museums and such closed. Shuttles running in the park, mostly, but Tusayan shuttle not running.
Lipan point in the snow
1) We had no problems entering the park, no excessively long lines at the gate. One hint if lane number 5 (all the way to the right) is open use it, it was half as long as the other lines.
2) We had no problems finding parking. The one exception might be the first couple of pull outs on Hwy 64 east.
3) That road Hwy 64 east has the most spectacular views, especially Moran and Lipan points. Traffic dropped off drastically after the first few miles east of the main area.
4) Stock up before you get there and not at Williams AZ. Hotdogs $9/pack inside the park vs $3/pack for the same dogs in Kanab.
5) Diesel was almost $4/gal in Williams and $3.60 at Tusayan.
5) The visitor center is closed with a single Ranger handing out maps at a table outside the building
6)Speaking of which other than that lone ranger and the ones at the entry station we saw ZERO rangers in the park in seven days. There must be scores of rangers assigned to that giant park but they are no where to be seen. They are getting paid for doing what??
After years of claiming that the North Rim is just as scenic, I'll have to admit that the South Rim is much better. But the north rim has no mobs.
The weather was 45 mph gale one whole day 4 days yf 20-25 mph winds with overcast, on day calm and sunny, and one day with heavy snow/graupel. Too windy and cool for campfires.
Note this is on a shoulder season, not prime visitation. FS CGs seem to closed as was Desert View on the east side. Museums and such closed. Shuttles running in the park, mostly, but Tusayan shuttle not running.
Lipan point in the snow
