Under Canvas
WHERE TO STAY
A few new lodging options have opened at the Grand Canyon that cater to the traveler who wants to experience the great outdoors without having to sleep on the ground. One of those options is Under Canvas. Under Canvas is a glamping chain with locations scattered throughout the country. Glamping, essentially, is camping without roughing it. The Grand Canyon location is in Valle, about 25 minutes from the South Rim and features plenty of amenities. Guests have five different tent options to choose from.
Under Canvas
Our personal favorite option is The Stargazer tent. If you book this tent, look forward to a deck outfitted with lounge chairs, a private bathroom with a shower sink and flush toilet, a wood-burning stove, and a king bed that features a night sky viewing window above the bed so you can gaze up at the stars from the comfort of your bed. Property-wide features include an upscale menu, night fires and complimentary s’mores, a Zen garden and activities like yoga and live music. Under Canvas is open seasonally from April 14 to Oct. 24 in 2022. Visit undercanvas.com/camps/grand-canyon for more information.
Clear Sky Resorts
The other option is Clear Sky Resorts in Williams, about a 20-minute drive from the South Rim entrance. Sleep out under the stars without having to sleep outdoors at Clear Sky Resorts. The domes at this resort feature expansive clear windows so you can take in the outdoors around you. Curtains provide privacy when you’re not there or want some privacy. At night, see the stars in the sky from the comfort of your dome. Domes are climate controlled and even include an HVAC system.
Clear Sky Resorts
The Grand Canyon location features seven different domes. One highlight includes the Stairway to the Stars dome. This dome includes a spiral staircase that leads to a suspended round queen size bed, a private bathroom with a rain shower and ceilings that are 14-feet high. Guests must book a minimum of two nights in 2022. Property-wide amenities include yard games, programming like live music and astronomy nights on certain days, a golf course, a daily happy hour and nightly s’mores. Visit grandcanyon.clearskyresorts.com for more information.
Grand Canyon: North Rim
THE ARTS
Most of us think of engaging with the Grand Canyon in a physical way – like say biking or hiking in the Canyon – but there are also plenty of ways to engage with the Canyon in an artistic way. Here are two. Professional photographer Glenn Tamblingson is the owner of Canyon Country Tours, and he or one of his experienced photographers will give you a photography tour of the Canyon and show you how to capture high-quality photos of the Canyon. Guides will travel to special locations that are not on most tours. Sunset photography is included so you can take Canyon photos during the golden hour. Tours last for 10 to 12 hours and include a boxed lunch and transportation. Visit canyoncountrytours.net for more information.
Sedona Arts Center Plein Air
From April 26 to 26, the Sedona Arts Center is hosting a plein air – a French phrase meaning open air that refers to painting outdoors that was common in the 19th century–painting class at the Grand Canyon. Painter Bill Cramer will give lessons on how to create a gorgeous landscape painting of the Canyon quickly. Bill also will provide individual critiques. Painters will capture landscapes all along the South Rim. Visit grandcanyon.org for more information.
Grand Canyon: Colorado River
WHAT TO SEE
One of our favorite hidden gems is Grand Canyon Caverns. The natural limestone caverns are located a few miles east of Peach Springs, Arizona, a one-hour and 15-minute drive from the Grand Canyon. This is one of the largest dry caverns in the United States and is about 210 feet below the Earth. Visitors can book four different tours including a ghost, explorers or wild tours. The basic cavern tour is three-quarters of a mile and lasts for 45 minutes. Expect paved walkways along with handrails in the caverns that make it easy to navigate. If you want to get down and dirty in the caverns, try the explorers or wild tours. Search for spirits on the ghost tour. Tour highlights include the Crystal Room that features formations of selenite crystals and even a mummified bobcat. The caverns are always cool, temperature wise. Be sure to bring a jacket. For a truly unique lodging option, consider booking The Cavern Suite. As the name suggests, the Cavern is 200 feet underground. The suite features two queen beds, a bathroom with a shower, a refrigerator, a library of books and DVDs and a big screen TV. A cavern tour is included with your stay. Guests have the option of turning off all the lights and sleeping in complete and utter darkness. On Saturday and Sunday, enjoy lunch at the underground Cavern Grotto restaurant. Visit gccaverns.com for more information.
Grand Canyon: North Rim
WHAT TO DO
ATV TOUR
The Grand Canyon’s more remote North Rim offers a plethora of activities too. If you’re looking to ride an ATV near the Canyon, this tour that departs from Las Vegas will give you that opportunity. This Grand Canyon North Air/Ground Tour features a flight from Las Vegas to the North Canyon. During the flight, look down at the Canyon and see incredible sights like the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Colorado River. You’ll touch down at the Bar 10 Ranch. The most unique feature of this tour is the ATV rides. Ride an ATV throughout scenic Whitmore Canyon and Lake Mead Recreational Area all the way to the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. ATV riders must be at least 16 years old. Visit scenic.com/tours/grand-canyon-northair-ground-tour for more information.
Bird-Watching
GRAND CANYON BIRD-WATCHING
Although not a true birding destination (in the way that say Southern Arizona is), the Grand Canyon is home to a plethora of bird species. If you’re looking to experience the Grand Canyon in a different way, bird-watching can give you that chance. All Canyon Dave Private Tour offers a bird-watching option. Canyon Dave is a board member of the Tucson Audubon Society and author of “Checklist of Wildlife of the Grand Canyon.” In the spring and autumn, you may even spot the rare California condor. California condors can have wingspans of up to 9.5 feet – making them the largest land bird in North America. It was rescued from near extinction and is one of the rarest birds. Specific birds you might see include Lewis’s and acorn woodpeckers, four species of jays, mountain chickadee, juniper titmouse, pygmy nuthatch, zone-tailed, ferruginous, Swainson’s hawks, Gambel’s quail, spotted owl, four common hummingbirds and phainopepla. Private tours pick up from any hotel in Sedona. Visit grand-canyontours-1.com/birding_tour.html for more information.
REI Mountain Biking Tour
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain biking fanatics can book a new tour with REI that provides a guided mountain biking experience on the North Rim, which is more secluded but just as spectacular as the South Rim. Bikers can ride 8,000 feet above sea level on the Rainbow Rim Trail as part of this four-day trail. Tour-goers have a base camp to call home during the four-day tour.
REI Mountain Biking Tour
As you pedal along this trail, pause at five stunning canyon viewpoints as you ride through a forest of maple, aspen, birch, oak and Ponderosa pine. Tour-goers also will ride along parts of the Arizona Trail. For a full day of riding, you can expect to ride for 20 to 25 miles. You should have solid beginner or intermediate mountain biking skills to book this tour. Visit rei.com/adventures for more.
Grand Canyon Star Party
STARGAZING
The Grand Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park – meaning that the location has exceptional starry nights and an environment that’s protected from light pollution – and a fabulous place to see the stars blanket the sky. The park is open 24 hours a day. According to the National Park Service, a few top places to stargaze include Mather Point in the South Rim Village and Desert View, Moran and Lipan Points along Desert View Drive. If you’re going to stargaze on your own, use a red light to preserve the night sky and help you see your surroundings. If you’re using a white light, keep the light source low. It’s ideal to start stargazing 90 minutes or more after sunset. If you’d prefer a more guided experience, the Grand Canyon Star Party in 2022 is from June 18 to 25 on both the South and North Rims. On the South Rim, Park rangers will give constellation tours at 9, 9:30 and 10 p.m. At those same times, you also can enjoy constellation talks. Enjoy a presentation that starts at 8 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Following the presentation, view the sky through a telescope behind the visitor center. Night sky photography workshops meet at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30 p.m. Even though it’s the summer, it will get cold in the winter. Be sure to bring a jacket. Visit nps.gov for more information.
Grand Canyon Night Sky
