Grand Canyon Day Trip Tour

The Grand Canyon South Rim is only about 115 miles north of Sedona and is Arizona's most popular attraction and is a must see experience. As one of the World's Seven Wonders, it attracts over 5,000,000 visitors annually. The Grand Canyon is one of those special places that you must see personally to really appreciate its beauty. The trip from Sedona to the Canyon is a very scenic drive.

Make A Grand Canyon Loop.

Drive up one way and return another way to experience it all.

The Trip Up. Drive up Highway 89A to Flagstaff, Arizona through spectacular Oak Creek Canyon. Proceed through Flagstaff on Milton to Highway 180 which leads northwest through the pine forest with close up views of the San Francisco Peaks which is the tallest mountain range in Arizona at over 12,000 feet. This is a four-season scenic drive. Spring and summer is alive with greenery. Autumn greets you with the vibrant colors of Fall as the Aspen trees turn to gold. The Peaks are capped with snow during the winter as the snow-skiers flock to the ski slopes on the mountain.

From Highway 180, merge with Highway 64 which continues north to the Grand Canyon. If this is a first time experience, get ready for one of the most awesome sights of your life. See map below.

Grand Canyon IMAX Theatre. Before entering the Grand Canyon South Entrance, see the amazing story of the Canyon at the Grand Canyon IMAX Theatre. A giant six-story screen and 12,000 watts of thunderous digital sound relives the ancient history and mysteries of World Wonder.

Grand Canyon Village. Stroll the historic village on the edges of the cliffs. Walk along the Rim Trail overlooking the Bright Angel Trail. Visit Hopi House, and see the sights from Lookout Studio. Stop by the Grand Canyon Train Station where the Grand Canyon Railway stops at the Canyon. Visit the tourist information center and let the Park Rangers answer your questions about Grand Canyon.

Scenic Desert View Drive. All total, the scenic Desert View Drive is about a 25 mile drive along side the Canyon's edge. Sometimes the road hugs the rim and then dips deeper inland into the pine forests. Stop and absorb the panoramic views from the popular overlook points like Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Lipan Point and others. Each lookout point gives you a different perspective of the beauty. Stop at the Tusayan Ruins where the Sinaqua Indians once lived over 800 years ago.

Arrive At Desert View. Also known as the East Rim of the Grand Canyon. Climb to the top of the Watch Tower and experience the incredible views of the Colorado River down below the cliff walls. On a clear day you can see Marble Canyon near the eastern beginning of the Grand Canyon.

The Trip Back To Sedona. Jump back on Highway 64 and drive east to the historic Cameron Trading Post on the Navajo Indian Reservation. It's a great place to shop for authentic Indian jewelry and handmade crafts. Have a bit to eat and stroll around the Post. Then take Highway 89 south and pass along the backside of the San Francisco Peaks to Flagstaff AZ. From Flagstaff, take US89A south and descend into Oak Creek Canyon back into Sedona.

Silver Spur Tours. If you prefer to leave the driving to someone else while you enjoy experience, Silver Spur Tours features an all day Loop Tour of the Grand Canyon South Rim from Sedona. Trips are also available from Flagstaff. The tour includes VIP pick up at your hotel and a gourmet picnic at the Canyon. Tour in the luxury of a customized Mercedes built Sprinter Touring Van. Call Silver Spur for more information at 928.226.7212 or 1.800.600.4006.

The Visual Feast You May Experience.

All photographs on this web page are compliments of Robert Body. Robert is a naturalist and photographer available for assignment. Visit his website to enjoy hundreds of photo galleries. www.robertbody.com. Also see his collection of images on Dream Sedona.