The tentative Itinerary has us leaving early Saturday morning, Sept. 26th on an 11:30AM American flight from Chicago to Phoenix. We land at 11:40AM and after lunch in Tempe's University Town we will drive two hours to Sedona and hike the gorgeous Bell Rock/Courthouse Butte Trail. We will then take the 45 minute drive through Oak Creek Canyon to the La Quinta hotel in the high country town of Flagstaff.
On Sunday we will move to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is an 80 minute drive from Flagstaff before we settle into our lodging at the El Tovar and Yavapai Lodge. That afternoon we will take an acclimation hike to Trailview Point before our pasta banquet at the Yavapai Lodge.
Monday will be a big hike day with options including the Rim to River to Rim, the South Rim ½ Marathon, the Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, the Bright Angel to Plateau Point and several shorter Rim Hikes..
Late Tuesday morning we will check out and take the 5 hour ride to the magical solitude of the North Rim. Our veteran hikers looking for a greater challenge and who want to see more of her majesty will hike the South Kaibab Trail through Bright Angel Canyon and out the North Kaibab Trail. While they are hiking across the Canyon we will have a moderate hike from Bright Angel Point along the Transcept Trail on the North Rim. You must make dinner reservations early to assure a table in the main lodge. The view is spectacular, the dining room is grand and the cuisine is worth the extra cost.