Denver To Grand Canyon - Phoenix

[Brad1445]

Seems every Dec/Jan I get this impulse to jump on the bike and head south west.

I could do hours of research on my own but I know that thats still just a shot in the dark compared to the people here and their experiences.

Im heading to Phoenix but think I would be wise to stop a day at the canyon on the way in. If so,

Where should I stay (lowest cost) I'm unemployed?
What is the must see portion in one day, assuming I'm coming from Denver and heading to Phoenix.?
I will have my Motard in my truck to cross the Colorado passes where can I ride around the canyon.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

[JimWilliamson]

My brother drove by there a couple weeks back and IIRC he said the north entrance was closed due to snow. Simply an item to check on.

If you have the option & desire... Walk down one of the trails into the canyon, as far as time & energy permits and hike out.

A slot canyon walk/hike (Page area???) is something I'd check out next time I'm in the area.

[KodiakRS]

Just some food for thought.  The high temperature at the rim of the canyon this weekend was a balmy 29F, the low a slightly chilly 5F.  Granted this is unusually cold, but expect temps to at least be in the 30's.  

[C 4]

Northern AZ gets damn cold and had a snowstorm last week. Down in Phoenix is mid 50s this week but no snow. Since you're trucking it in, you may get lucky and find some dry roads but cold regardless.

[bikerfish1100]

North Rim is 2000 ft higher than the south, so appreciably colder there. GC is really not a "ride around the canyon" kind of place, it is much more conducive to hiking. There are some decent roads on the north rim, but it's not really about "the ride" there at all.

[WBill]

North rim always closes in the fall, and no, there are no good roads you can use to ride around the Grand Canyon.  It is, after all, The Grand Canyon.  The road from Flagstaff to Valle (SR 181) and on to the the GC South Rim is nice if there's no snow, but there is probably snow up there now.  Dress warm!

There is a huge (5,000-6,000') difference in the climate between northern Arizona and Phoenix/points south.  Right now it's cold and many of the surface streets and highways are covered with ice where there is shade.  I also read that New Mexico got hit pretty hard by the last snow storm front that came through.  My bike is staying in the garage till the ice melts.  WBill

[DangerMoney]

Flagstaff is at 7000' elevation and has a real winter... so does much of northern AZ. Be prepared for winter driving conditions. From the north rim to the south rim is 200 miles of pavement  The only shortcut is to hike from one rim down to the bottom and back up the other rim.

Metro Phoenix is around 1000' elevation.

[bomber]

One day at the canyon would be tough, for me -- we spent 4.5 days, and felt we just scratched the surface . . . .

Still, accouring the a Ranger, the average visit to the park is 4 hours.

[X1Glider]

Brad, I was at the Grand Canyon 4 weeks ago (Nov. 9).  Page was clear but crisp (45) in the morning.  On my way to Bryce Canyon, I got stuck in a whiteout.  Front of the bike was covered in ice.  Then the rain washed it all off as I detoured through Coral Pink Sand Dunes...snow everywhere except the actual dunes.  Then got to the Bryce entrance only to find it closed down due to excessive snow.  So off to Zion.  Zion was sunny and clear.  Same day and really not that far from Bryce as the crow flies.  Stayed in Springdale that eve.  There were pretty cheap places to stay there.  Turned on the tube to find that Flagstaff got dumped on.  Just not uncommon to see snow at the elevations, even earlier in the fall.  I even had a real heavy frost at the entrance to Death Vally via Beatty.  That didn't last though.

My original route to the canyon was along south Colorado to Durango, then over the north rim.  That week, Colorado was getting a severe dumping on so scratched the idea.  Don't mind getting caught in snow as I'm geared up quite well, but I don't deliberately ride into 11" of anything.

If you go to Page, there are several places to take pics of those images you dream about getting.  The kind where you are down inside a crevasse where the wind has been carving beautiful, smooth shapes and the layers are clearly defined.  Upper Antelope Canyon comes to mind.  Tour the dam too.  But if you want the truly majestic pics, you need to go to Bryce.

[X1Glider]

[X1Glider]

[Brad1445]

Thank you for all the input.  I think I will hit the South rim because its one day from denver and the hotels are cheep right now. I know I will be cold at the top but have never been and thought if I needed a topping point between Denver and Phoenix, why not.  I'll post any interesting pictures that may pop up.

At least it will not be crowded :-]

[Clovis]

I'm in Colorado Springs and I'll probably host a ride to the grand canyon next Spring or late summer.

In the mean time I have a trip planned for the devils spine (1100 corners in 95 miles. It straddles the east arizona and west new Mexico border. It's a day and half ride to or about 800 miles to get there. Clifton,AZ).

Tentative dates is the weekend of April 27th. There's a post with details on the Csc if you're a member there. (cosportbikeclub.org). It will be a 3 day and roughly 1600 mile ride. I did I back in 2008 and it's pretty epic.

[Brad1445]

O hell yeah, I'll go check it to!  Thank you!