Grand Canyon

What clothes should I wear to Grand Canyon on the driving trip and for walking around there?
Im going to the Grand Canyon for the Winter and I want to wear something nice yet comfortable for the long trip and something good for walking and shopping around in.
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is at an elevation of 7,000 feet (half a mile higher than Denver), so unlike much of Arizona, they have a real winter with snow storms and sub-freezing temperatures (although winters have tended to be milder the last few years).
The weather on any given day can vary quite a bit depending on if a storm is going through. From December through February, a very nice day at the canyon might get up to the low 50s, but typically it will be in the 40s or lower and if a storm hits there may be heavy snow fall. It gets even colder after dark and temps will almost always drop well below freezing at night.
So you will want to be prepared and dress for WINTER. That means a warm heavy coat and warm hat at a minimum. Gloves, a scarf and warm boots (water-proof hiking boots are fine) are not a bad idea. They don’t have a lot of snow on the ground yet, but once they do, you have to be ready for icy spots on the paths (ie: have footwear with good treads and consider getting YakTraks – see link below). For maximum comfort and flexibility, it is best to dress in layers starting with a light moisture-wicking layer, than a warm insulating layer (like a fleece) and then a water and wind proof outer shell (jacket or coat) so that you can add or remove layers depending on the current temperature or your activity.
If you plan to do any hiking (and you should), temperatures get warmer as you go deeper in the canyon (it can be like Phoenix at the bottom), but you should not attempt to go the bottom and back in a day. Always wear comfortable shoes, carry plenty of water and remember it is a lot tougher hiking up and out than hiking down.
Also be aware that there is not a lot of shopping to be done at the canyon. The Grand Canyon Association runs a bookstore at the visitor center and a few other locations (like Kolb Studio), jewelry and higher-end items can be found at El Tovar and Hopi House and a couple of the other lodges have more knick-knack souvenier items, but the whole Grand Canyon Village is not a large area and most of the activities and things to do involve being outside (although just hanging out in front of the big fireplace in the El Tovar lodge is nice too).
Have fun! The Grand Canyon is a great place to visit in winter. The crowds are low, the temps are nice for hiking and the canyon looks its prettiest under a fresh blanket of snow. But do be prepared for cold weather and possible ice and snow.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk
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Camp Chef Grand Canyon National Park 12-Quart Dutch Oven $58.00 Camp Chef 12 Qt. Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven… make meals for MANY in this Pot! Fry up your favorites in this Cast-Iron Pot Set from Camp Chef! Comes with 12 qt. cast iron pot and lid… flip the lid over and use it as a skillet! Includes lift tool, starter booklet with seasoning tips, sample bread recipe, desert recipe and main dish recipe. Features a Lewis & Clark commemorative edition cast o… |
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Greetings from Grand Canyon Arizona Fridge Magnet $3.99 This is a charming refrigerator magnet featuring the phrase, “Greetings from Grand Canyon Ariz.” It is in the style of vintage postcards, where pictures of famous local sights would be superimposed on the letters. It is approximately 3″x2″. This would make a great way to pay tribute to your hometown or display the places you’ve traveled…. |
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Arizona Grand Canyon State Elements Shot Glass $5.95 Here’s a very rare and hard to find souvenir collectible shot glass from Arizona. It’s a 5x6cm style shot glass measuring 2.25″ tall and 1.8″ in diameter. It depicts a variety of scenery found in this beautiful state…. |
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Kenny Loggins: Outside from the Redwoods $8.94 Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 05/01/2001 Run time: 80 minutes Rating: Nr… |
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Kenny Loggins – Live From the Grand Canyon $7.22 The Grand Canyon serves as the backdrop for this live concert performance by Kenny Loggins and band.No Track Information AvailableMedia Type: DVDArtist: LOGGINS,KENNYTitle: LIVE FROM THE GRAND CANYONStreet Release Date: 11/16/2004… |
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Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite; Death Valley Suite $6.26 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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Echoes Through Time: The Grand Canyon [VHS] $10.90 Random Walk Productions Presents the 5-time Gold Medal Winning Video series, NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST, featuring, “ECHOES THROUGH TIME, THE GRAND CANYON” and “YOSEMITE, AHWAHNEE STYLE.” These tapes are perfect trip planners and souvenirs. Viewers learn about each Park’s best activities, scenic highlights and natural wonders. They feature: • Award-winning cinematogra… |
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Lassie: To The Rescue / At The Grand Canyon [VHS] $3.00 … |
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The Grand Canyon Suite ~ The American Musical Masterpiece by Ferde Grofe $20.00 The Grand Canyon Suite is one of the most popular 20th Century American orchestral works. It consists of 5 movements: Sunrise, Painted Desert, On the Trail, Sunset and Cloudburst. As a you man, Ferdinand Grofe wandered about the American Southwest in the early 1920′s, playing the piano in hotel bands, vaudeville houses and dance halls. He fell under the spell of the Grand Canyon and vowed to somed… |
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Anco 30-22 Winter Blade (30-22) $6.50 Anco, 22″, Replacement Winter Wiper Blade, Fits Domestic & Import: Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagon, Mazda, Rubber Boot…. |
Tags: arizona, canyon, grand, grand canyon, grand canyon railway, grand canyon skywalk, grand canyon university, grand canyon weather, grandcanyon, travel
This entry was posted on Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 3:23 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
