Sunday – December 17, 2017
When we planned this trip, we knew we would be very close to the Grand Canyon, but neither one of us had intended to go there. We had read about road closures due to snow and bad weather during the winter, especially around Flagstaff. However, this time we realized there was a dry spell in Arizona. And it wasn’t very cold. And no snow had fallen yet in the high altitudes! So, we thought we would give it a try!!
Jeff and I checked our phones for weather forecasts, road conditions, and directions. We got an early start because the day was short and sunset would be about 5:30pm at this latitude. We choose the Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive out of Sedona and we were off!
It was 39 degrees, sunny and cloudless in Sedona when we left. We were going into higher altitudes so we carried extra layers of clothing. The Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive was ranked as one of the top five scenic drives in America by Rand McNally. As the website says, it is a “breathtaking stretch of beauty on a winding road that climbs from Sedona to the top of the Mogollon Rim.” We stopped at the overlook which was at an elevation of 6420 feet.
We knew there would be one relatively boring hour between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon Village. Jeff had last visited the Canyon in 1965 when he was a college freshman. I visited in 1978 when my sons were young. We wondered if it had changed.
The roads weren’t very crowded. We both were very excited when we arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park entrance gate. A sign informed us that we were at 6772 feet elevation. We parked in a huge parking lot and followed pedestrian signs out to the edge of the canyon. Yes! It was still there! Still Magnificent!!!
The Grand Canyon is the most spectacular natural wilderness area in the world. It is indescribable and photos do not capture the majestic beauty, breathtaking size and scope, or variety of colors of the canyon. I’m very happy we took the opportunity to experience the Grand Canyon on this trip. It was the perfect end to an excellent birthday celebration!