Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
563
to get a room in or just outside the park. Founded in 1880 as a railroading and logging
town, Williams also has a bit of Western history to boast about, which makes it an inter-
esting place to explore for a morning or afternoon. Old brick commercial buildings
dating from the late 19th century line the main street, while modest Victorian homes sit
on the tree-shaded streets that spread south from the railroad tracks. In recent years,
however, mid-20th-century history has taken center stage: Williams was the last town on
historic Route 66 to be bypassed by I-40, and the town now plays up its Route 66 heri-
tage.
Most important for many visitors, however, is that Williams is where you'll find the
Grand Canyon Railway depot. The excursion train that departs from here not only pro-
vides a fun ride on the rails, but also serves as an alternative to dealing with traffic conges-
tion in Grand Canyon National Park.
Named for famed mountain man Bill Williams, the town sits at the edge of a ponde-
rosa pine forest atop the Mogollon Rim. Surrounding Williams is the Kaibab National
Forest, and within the forest not far from town are good fishing lakes, hiking and
mountain-biking trails, and even a small downhill ski area.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Williams is on I-40 just west of the junction with Arizona 64,
which leads north to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Amtrak
(
&
800/872-7245
) has service to Williams on its
Southwest Chief
line.
There's no station, though—the train stops on the outskirts of town. However, a shuttle
van from the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel will pick you up and drive you into town,
and, because most people coming to Williams by train are continuing on to the Grand
Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway, this arrangement works well.
For information on the
Grand Canyon Railway
excursion trains to Grand Canyon
Village, see “Exploring the Area: Route 66 & Beyond,” below.
VISITOR INFORMATION
For information on the Williams area, including details on
hiking, mountain biking, and fishing, contact the
City of Williams/Forest Service
Visitors Center,
200 W. Railroad Ave. (
&
800/863-0546
or 928/635-4707; www.
williamschamber.com). The visitor center, which includes some interesting historical
displays, is open daily from 8am to 5pm (until 6:30pm in the summer). The shop carries
books on the Grand Canyon and trail maps for the adjacent national forest.
EXPLORING THE AREA: ROUTE 66 & BEYOND
These days, most people coming to Williams are here to board the
Grand Canyon Rail-
way
, Grand Canyon Railway Depot, 233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. (
&
800/843-
8724
or 928/773-1976; www.thetrain.com), which operates vintage steam and diesel
locomotives between Williams and Grand Canyon Village. Round-trip fares (not includ-
ing tax or the national park entrance fee) range from $70 to $190 for adults, $40 to $110
for children 2 to 12. Although this is primarily a day-excursion train, it's possible to ride
up one day and return on a different day—just let the reservations clerk know. If you stay
overnight, be sure you have a reservation at one of the hotels right in Grand Canyon
Village.
Route 66
fans will want to drive Williams's main street, which, not surprisingly, is
named Route 66. Along this stretch of the old highway, you can check out the town's
vintage buildings, many of which house shops selling Route 66 souvenirs. There are also
a few antiques stores selling collectibles from the heyday of the famous highway.
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