The Grand Canyon & Northern Arizona - American Southwest - page 543

• Wilderness River Adventures, P.O. Box 717, Page, AZ 86040 ( & 800/992-8022 or
928/645-3296; www.riveradventures.com), offers 4- to 8-day motorized-raft trips and
6-, 7-, 12-, 14-, and 16-day oar trips. The 4-day trips (actually 3 1 / 2 days) involve hik-
ing out from Phantom Ranch. This is one of the bigger companies operating on the
canyon, and it offers a wide variety of trips, which makes it a good one to check with
if you're not sure which type of trip you want to do.
For information on 1-day rafting trips at the west end of the Grand Canyon, see
“Havasu Canyon & Grand Canyon West,” later in this chapter.

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WHERE TO STAY
Hotel rooms both within and just outside the park are in high demand. Make reserva-
tions as far in advance as possible, and don't expect to find a room if you head up here
in summer without a reservation. There, is, however, one long-shot option. See “Inside
the Park,” below, for details.

Inside the Park
All hotels inside the park are operated by Xanterra South Rim/Xanterra Parks &
Resorts. Reservations are taken up to 13 months in advance, beginning on the first of
the month. If you want to stay in one of the historic rim cabins at Bright Angel Lodge,
reserve at least a year in advance. However, rooms with shared bathrooms at Bright Angel
Lodge are often the last in the park to book up, and although they're small and very basic,
they're your best bet if you're trying to get a last-minute reservation.
To make reservations at any of the in-park hotels listed below, contact Xanterra South
Rim/Xanterra Parks & Resorts, 6312 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Ste. 600N, Greenwood
Village, CO 80111 ( & 888/297-2757 or 303/297-2757; www.xanterra.com or www.
grandcanyonlodges.com). It is sometimes possible, due to cancellations and no-shows, to
get a same-day reservation; it's a long shot, but it happens. Same-day reservations can be
made by calling & 928/638-2631. Xanterra accepts American Express, Diners Club,
Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Children 16 and under stay free in their parent's
room.
Expensive
El Tovar Hotel El Tovar Hotel, which first opened its doors in 1905, is the park's
premier lodge. Built of local rock and Oregon pine by Hopi craftsmen, it's a rustic yet
luxurious mountain lodge that perches on the edge of the canyon (although with views
from only a few rooms). The lobby, entered from a veranda set with rustic furniture, has
a small fireplace, cathedral ceiling, and log walls on which moose, deer, and antelope
heads are displayed. Although guest rooms are comfortable and attractively decorated,
the standard units are rather small, as are the bathrooms. For more legroom, book a
deluxe unit. Suites, with private terraces and stunning views, are extremely spacious. El
Tovar Dining Room (see “Where to Dine,” below) serves a mix of continental and South-
western cuisine and is the best restaurant in the village. Just off the lobby is a cocktail
lounge with a view.
78 units. $174-$268 double; $321-$426 suite. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; concierge; room service.
In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer.

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Thunderbird & Kachina Lodges If you want great views, these hotels are your best
bets—but only if you get a room with a view. These two side-by-side hotels date from
the 1960s and, with their dated exteriors, are a far cry from what you might imagine a
national park hotel would look like. They do, however, have the biggest windows of any