Yavapai Lodge

3 recommendations and reviews from 2 people

• Referral from September 7, 2015
  

  Anne M. asked:

  Happy weekend, y'all! I may have missed a thread on lodging, if so, please point me in the right direction. If I'm planning a March trip for R3, we have to leave from the South Rim, I assume. Where is the best place to stay (with kids)? Thanks!

  

  Dan C. replied:

  Grand Canyon Lodges are right on the south rim (http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/); this is a direct link the south rim lodging. Be careful to avoid third party websites that charge a commission to book you a room. Yavapai Lodge (http://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/yavapai-lodge) is about a mile from the south rim and is connected by a shuttle. They're all family friendly places. Bright Angel Lodge has rooms right off the rim. Both of these sites are in the park. All other options are just outside the park entrance.

  

  Ed N. replied:

  The North Rim Lodge is closed in March, so probably best to stay at one of the lodges inside the park near the South Rim. For South Rim lodge reservations, call (888) 297-2757 They have online reservations as well, but their online system does not show their full and actual room availability: http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com In order of my preference: Bright Angel Lodge: on the Rim, closest to the Bright Angel trailhead and, of all the directly-on-the-rim lodges, it is the lowest priced and has the best parking (which can still be rather tight). It has a shuttle stop right outside (including the first stop for the morning Hikers Express Shuttle), and a couple dining options, plus a bar and ice cream shop. If you are finishing your run at the Bright Angel trailhead this is by far the easiest and most convenient. The walls in the rooms however are often paper thin so you will probably be disturbed by people in adjacent rooms unless you are a heavy sleeper. Maswik Lodge - not directly on the Rim, but an easy quarter mile or so away (which might not be so easy after a 44 mile double crossing - but there is a regularly running shuttle bus that will take you from the trailhead to the lobby). The easiest parking of all the lodges near the Bright Angel trailhead. Right next to the Backcountry Office (the second stop on the Hikers Express Shuttle in the morning). Has a food court and a pizza bar (which is open the latest of all the food options on the South Rim). Thunderbird/Kachina Lodges - these are the two lodges just east of the Bright Angel Lodge. They are fairly similar to one another and much quieter and more comfortable than either Bright Angel or Maswik - but with very tight to non-existent parking and are more expensive. Of the two, the Kachina is the one closer to the El Tovar Lodge and, in my experience, has the most comfortable beds in the whole Park. El Tovar - if you want historic old school comfort, this is your place. Just east of the Thunderbird/Kachina Lodges (about a quarter mile from the Bright Angel trailhead) with slightly better parking, the best dining and bar options in the entire park, but also the most expensive. In my opinion, not worth the expense because you are not there for the room and ambiance (unless, of course, you are!) The general rule of thumb for the four lodges directly on the South Rim is that the farther east you go (farther away from the Bright Angel trailhead), the nicer and more expensive the lodges and dining options become: Bright Angel, Thunderbird, Kachina, El Tovar (Maswik would fit in right after the Bright Angel). A map: http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/upload/2011srwinter-guide-map1103.pdf Yavapai Lodge is way off by itself no where near the Bright Angel trailhead, but rather a couple miles or so south of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. It has its own food court (roughly similar to that of the Maswik) and is right across the parking lot from the General Store, Post Office, bank, etc. this is the one lodge that I have never stayed in, but it looks to be very easy parking because you are so far away from the sometimes very crowded South Rim.

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Recommendations from Ed N.

• Referral from September 15, 2014
  

  Hank W. asked:

  Anyone else making this journey on Saturday October 11th? 4 guys and I are hitting the trail @ 4 am for a R2R2R2 traverse in a day. For the folks that have done this before, any recommendations on the best way to get from the Yavapai Lodge the South Kaibab trail head at that hour?

  

  Ed N. replied:

  Grand Canyon Taxi Service: (928) 638-2822 http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm Taxi Service Daily, twenty-four hour, service is available to the Grand Canyon Airport, trailheads, and other destinations. Call (928) 638-2822 or (928) 638-2631, ext. 6563

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