Grand Canyon

Jshutt64

Jshutt64

Well-Known Member
I'm planning on taking a trip up there next week. Any advice in flying over the Grand Canyon during winter? What to see, what to be aware of? I've got one of those Grand Canyon VFR charts and I'm trying to get as familiar with that as possible before the excursion.

In addition to flying, what is there to do on the ground? We're going to stay for a full day or two to really get the money's worth. Surprisingly, I've never been to the Grand Canyon so I really don't know what to expect.
 
When I flew there I called the Las Vegas FSDO for a briefing on the GC Special Flight Area. I believe they have some maps/details on their website. I think there maybe an SFAR too.

Plan the flight well and put the waypoints into the GPS so that you can stay in good airspace and out of trouble, other than that enjoy the sights. The guys at the GCN FBO are great and you may well get a lift to the canyon, definately worth walking the rim if it's not too cold.

Vegas is worth a visit, as is a hoover dam flyover (always worth an ask), I've not flown into the smaller grand canyon airports (eg GC caverns) apparently there are some interesting planes there, but I'd go for KGCN and the long runways :)

Alex.
 
when you're walking around the grand canyon, don't do like the others do and go beyond the fence/guardrail...that's just asking for trouble.

There's some neat things to do in Williams... they have a great mexican restaurant dive there and the train (grand canyon railway) is neat although i'm not sure they operate during the winter months (i'm betting they dont). I think most of the lodges are closed on the south side too

are you staying on the north or south rim?
 
Going to be on the south rim, either flying into GCN or Valle, haven't decided yet.

Thanks for the advice guys! I really appreciate it! :)
 
Jshutt64 said:
Going to be on the south rim, either flying into GCN or Valle, haven't decided yet.

Thanks for the advice guys! I really appreciate it! :)
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Go to the north rim off of Hwy 93 and see the new glass walkway that goes out over the edge of the canyon. Pretty cool.
 
MikeD said:
Go to the north rim off of Hwy 93 and see the new glass walkway that goes out over the edge of the canyon. Pretty cool.
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I think you mean the West Rim here. I would agree, but it is definitely a tourist trap as you can take no pictures off of the rim, etc. The airport the serves this area is 1G4. It is in the middle of nowhere and I believe the Hualapai Tribe tries to enforce an outrageous landing fee for GA.

I would recommend heading over to the South rim. Plenty of places to stay at KGCN and you will find lots of things to do in the park to take up a day. Bring a jacket!
 
vheissu said:
I think you mean the West Rim here. I would agree, but it is definitely a tourist trap as you can take no pictures off of the rim, etc. The airport the serves this area is 1G4. It is in the middle of nowhere and I believe the Hualapai Tribe tries to enforce an outrageous landing fee for GA.

I would recommend heading over to the South rim. Plenty of places to stay at KGCN and you will find lots of things to do in the park to take up a day. Bring a jacket!
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Yes, west rim. Just had north rim on the mind from the previous posts.
 
Fly over Lake Powell first and then you can join the Zuni corridor to KGCN.

Surprisingly, seeing the Canyon from the air did not really impress me. I was much more impressed from the ground.
 
I fly over the canyon at least once a week...I would recommend flying over the west rim....It has the better view of the canyon with guano point, eagle point?? forgot the name ect.... Grand Canyon west airport will normally charge you a 150 dollar landing fee per plane... Unless you pay for the bus tour passes...The glass canyon walk is about 30 bucks per person..FYI- the guano point buffett has the best food.. I feel that landing there is kind of a rip, but its something to cross off on your bucket list.. Only place you can't take pics is on the glass walkway.... We normally fly over the canyon around 8,500 feet which clears you over the restricted airspace at 8,000... The restricted airspace increases to about 14,500 feet the farther south you fly... Flying over the canyon near grand canyon national park airport is pretty tricky with all the restricted corridors. If you do land at grand canyon national park-Ask the FBO at for a ride into town...Normally they will be cool and do it for a tip... Just make sure you have the right frequencies and monitor them. If you have any questions just pm me

FYI- Sedona is by far cooler then the canyon
 
I recommend KPGA if you have the time to get up there. I find it much more scenic and breathtaking that the Grand Canyon.
 
Man now I have some hard decisions to make. Stay with the Grand Canyon, or bail and go to Sedona or Page? :D
 
Make sure to read the reviews on airnav. Grand Canyon West is pretty expensive. Sedona is really cool, but if you have never been to the canyon then go there. I was bummed when they closed Tuweep.

Marble canyon is nice, land and have a bite to eat across the street.
 
Jshutt64 said:
Man now I have some hard decisions to make. Stay with the Grand Canyon, or bail and go to Sedona or Page? :D
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GCN was a nice area, I've only seen it from the ground. That whole area from Jerome to Sedona was beautiful.

When I took a tour of Riddle Prescott a few years ago, it sounded like the hip thing to do was "go to Page and eat some pie." :dunno:
 
Sedona is a great place to fly. Nice view, interesting airport to land at. But for my money KPGA is the prettiest location I've been to. There's also a natural rock bridge you can fly over on the huge mountain east of town. Ask the local tour guide pilots the name of the mountain and the location.
 
Sedona is an awesome little airport, and unless you plane on joining the Navy, it's the closest you'll get to landing on an aircraft carrier....should have an issue in the winter with DA, but in the summer it's rough. If you do go to Sedona though, watch out for updrafts, communicate, and make sure to get breakfast at the restaurant on the airport! The Snoopy Skillet is the bomb!!!

A crappy cell phone pic of Sedona from the South. I think I was still IFR with Albuquerque Ctr just about to cancel....8,000 ft.

Sedona.jpg
 
ozziecat35 said:
Sedona is an awesome little airport, and unless you plane on joining the Navy, it's the closest you'll get to landing on an aircraft carrier
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Oh hardly, my friend. :D Maybe SEZ is for the CONUS. But you want a true aircraft-carrier style airport, try this one in France on for style!

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....should have an issue in the winter with DA, but in the summer it's rough. If you do go to Sedona though, watch out for updrafts, communicate, and make sure to get breakfast at the restaurant on the airport! The Snoopy Skillet is the bomb!!!
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The restaurant there used to have the best butter-brickle dessert ever!
 
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