Ride Around Grand Canyon from Lost Wages

[lumpdawg]

I am arm wrestling with my petite, red-headed, passion flower to spend a day or two riding around Grand Canyon when we visit Las Vegas in March.

 

Any seasoned veterans willing to share knowledge, wisdom or anecdotes?

 

thank you,

 

Billy

[Twisties]

I don't know if the North Rim is open that early in the season. The South Rim is open year round. The North Rim is much less developed and much less visited, but spectacular and you are more likely to see wildlife. We've seen turkey and deer there.

 

The South Rim has a lot to do. There are good restaraunts, great architecture, spectacular views. The rim can be cold that time of year. The riding in the areas is great. I would loop around through the painted desert and Zion NP.

 

Here are some pictures from a March trip a couple of years ago (in no particular order).

 

Zion was incredible, and you'll love the twisties there:

 

 

This the watchtower at South Rim. My favorite:

 

 

 

Wupatki is near GC (from a different trip):

 

 

You might want to consider Sedona. Oak Creek Canyon is a great ride. and Sedona will be warm, and artsy with great restaurants. Sedona:

 

 

 

 

Sorry, these are the only images I have loaded up and ready to serve.

 

Best,

 

Jan

[gottabmw]

I am arm wrestling with my petite, red-headed, passion flower to spend a day or two riding around Grand Canyon when we visit Las Vegas in March.

 

Any seasoned veterans willing to share knowledge, wisdom or anecdotes?

 

thank you,

 

Billy

It'll definitely take a couple long days if you want to see both the north and south rims. And that would pretty much be ride to the rim, get off the bike, peer into the abyss, then get back on the bike and continue on. If memory serves, it's around 200 miles just from one rim to the other. Without calculating exactly, I'd say the entire trip would be over 700 miles.

 

A fantastic experience if you've never been there. The north rim is nicer, and less crowded, and I think, better views. Elevation is about 1,000 feet higher on the north side than the south, making it cooler in the middle of the summer and downright chilly during the shoulder months of Spring and Fall. The south rim has more view points. Either one is unforgettable.

 

The north leg of the trip would have to include some time in Zion, if you've never been there. Three days would be a better experience. I almost hate to say this, and I don't want to discourage you from riding if you really "have" to, but that trip, with a less than enthusiastic partner, would probably be better to do in the car. That's a ton of riding to be able to peer into the Big Ditch a couple of times. I guess it boils down to are you going for the ride or are you going to see Grand Canyon? There's just so much to see and do, you'll be saying, "I'll just have to come back some other time."

[notacop]

When I made reservations for the North Side GC, they open the weekend of Memorial Day, provided the snow pack isn't too high.

Actually no snow pack but no road either. That was some years ago and they were rebuilding the highway south from Jacob Lake and it were many miles of dirt! Very fun on a R65LS.

Check the temp averages for March for Page, Az and Kanab, UT. They may be chilly in March.

[Bill Neander]

My wife and I went the week after Easter (in April that year,I think) in the car. Stayed at Williams,set the alarm for 4:00 AM,got to the South Rim in time to watch the sun rise. Every minute the colors shifted with the changing angle of the sun;amazing. We wanted more(without hiking) so called the airport and inquired about helicopter rides. They had four or five operating so the wait was short-we went as far out into the canyon in a half hour as you could have hiked in a week. Highly recommended.

[Twisties]

When I made reservations for the North Side GC, they open the weekend of Memorial Day, provided the snow pack isn't too high.

Actually no snow pack but no road either. That was some years ago and they were rebuilding the highway south from Jacob Lake and it were many miles of dirt! Very fun on a R65LS.

Check the temp averages for March for Page, Az and Kanab, UT. They may be chilly in March.

 

Page and Kanab are good to check if you will be riding around the big loop as you will go through them. But both rims and most of your ride are significantly higher than either Page or Kanab. There should weather reports for the rims. If not, Flagstaff might best represent South Rim. North Rim will be cold and I think you are just plain too early for there. Zion will be nice (Lost Wages like).

 

Jan

[RussL]

I don't believe the north rim is open in March, so you may have to settle for visiting the south rim. As was mentioned, the north rim is much prettier and less crowded than it's southern counterpart, but more importantly the ride from Jacob Lake to the North Rim is some of the best motorcycling around.

[AdventurePoser]

Just a thought, since visiting Grand Canyon is a boatload of miles for a weekend....

 

Why don't you check out Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, etc...?

 

Just a thought.

 

Steve in SoCal

[Micky]

My wife and I rode to the North Rim in the middle of last November.

All the facilities were closed, but the road was open and dry. We had the Gerbings

on, elevation is near 9000 feet. By the end of November the road was snowed in

from Jacobs lake junction. The North Rim will reopen on May 15th.

Zion is beautiful in March, but it is a long way from the South Rim.

 

Miklos

K 1200 LT in the winter, St George, UT

R 1100 RT in the summer, Shoreline, WA

[lumpdawg]

Thanks to all who responded. The pics were cool!

 

We really like warm weather riding and try to avoid cold weather when ever we can. Sounds like March might be a little early in the year to ride around Grand Canyon.

 

Much obliged.

 

Billy