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Grand Canyon West -
Located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Grand Canyon West is approximately 120
miles East of Las Vegas, NV, and 72 miles Northwest of Kingman, AZ. Attractions
available at Grand Canyon West include The Indian Village with authentic dwellings,
The Hualapai Market, and The Hualapai Ranch, a western town with horseback and wagon
rides. Grand Canyon West is the only location throughout the Grand Canyon where
visitors can access the river and water recreation activities at the bottom of the
canyon via helicopter tours.
Colorado River in the Grand Canyon -
Begin early in the morning with a ride to Diamond Creek. Launch into the water
in your raft and immediately encounter your first set of rapids — a taste
of what lies downstream. Pull over on the south side of the canyon to begin a
moderate hike to Travertine Falls. Return to the river where the water disappears
from the horizon below the towering canyon walls, dropping into a caldera, a
boulder-choked chute of solid white water! After about five hours on the
river, enjoy a helicopter ride out of the canyon to the rim above.
Helicopter View -
In this alternative canyon that is Grand Canyon West, the helicopters can dip
deeply because they've been excused from federal restrictions that keep flights
in the national park above the rim. The boats and rafts float more frequently too.
The Hualapai being a sovereign nation helps a lot with federal red tape. Anyway,
the helicopters come right to the riverside to pick you up at the end of the
raft trip.
Oak Creek Canyon Overlook -
The perspective is different in Oak Creek Canyon. The main road runs through the
canyon, and your experience is mainly looking up at the natural wonders as opposed
to Grand Canyon where most people look down from the rim. Due to the high elevation
Oak Creek Canyon's bottom is well watered and predominantly wooded. It is a primary
escape spot for Arizona's desert dwellers during the summer. Oak Creek Canyon offers
great scenic hiking, fishing, and access to wilderness areas.
Sedona, AZ
is the gateway to spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation in Oak Creek Canyon
and the surrounding Red Rock Country of Arizona's Mogollon Rim. The town also offers
world-class resorts, shopping, arts and crafts. The collection of Sedona's impressive,
natural endowments also includes the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest, which
essentially engulfs this city and encompasses seven intriguing wilderness areas. Seen
in this photo is the agave parryi or century plant. Century plants bloom only once in
their life. The blooming spike is so large and grows so fast that it saps all the
resources of the plant, which then dies, leaving a tall wooden seed stalk.
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