? Grand Canyon Railway

17 years ago

I was wondering if anyone has rode the Grand Canyon Railway. If so, did you see lots of the Grand Canyon? We are taking my parents on a small vacation which includes the Grand Canyon. (limited on time) They are not able to walk much and we will be able to drive around, but was wondering if the Railway was worth riding.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

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Comments (6)

litereader
17 years ago
Are you referring to the train that goes from Williams up to the canyon? If so, I have ridden on it. It is a nice trip to the canyon, but once you are there, you have to walk up a hill to get the the edge of the canyon. I know that would probably be difficult for someone who has trouble walking. Also, you are on your own to walk the trail (paved) that goes along the edge.

All that being said, the trip may very well be worth it because even if all you do is get from the train to the lodge, you can go inside, have a great lunch and see the canyon. Seeing the canyon from any vantage point is worth it. One of my favorite places on earth -- I lived in Flagstaff and was fortunate enough to visit often.
dlg421
17 years ago
You won't see any of the canyon from the train. The scenery on the ride from Williams to the canyon is ok, but not the best - lots of flat land and scrub bushes. As mentioned above the train will only take you to the depot by the lodge at the Grand Canyon and you will have to do some walking from there to the rim. Save your money and instead of taking the train, drive to the canyon. There are many view points available from your car or the free shuttle that runs along the rim.

The Grand Canyon is awesome and it will be worth your time.

Enjoy!
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sable_ca
17 years ago
I agree that you should drive in. There's a bit of a hike from the train station to the Canyon rim (if I were having one of my bad back days, I couldn't do it). You can drive your parents right up to the beautiful El Tovar Lodge. They'll have a wonderful view of the Canyon, while you drive around looking for a parking space.

El Tovar has a wonderful restaurant, and you will be very very close to the rim. After dining, your parents can walk as much as they like. The paths along the rim go on and on and there are plenty of places to sit and rest along the way.

If you do drive, take the road from the east side of Flagstaff, not the road from the west (where the RR also is). The eastern road goes through some wonderful desert and canyon country and, IMO, should not be missed.

If you go, let us know how it all turned out!
Jodi_SoCal
17 years ago
We took the train from Williams to the rim about five years ago. It was a bit of an adventure.

About 3/4 of the way there, just as we were starting downhill, they informed us they were having trouble with the brakes and to hold on to your seats. WHAT??? LOL It's an old steam engine and I guess sometimes they don't always get the pressure in the brakes they need. We made it to the rim safe but a bit rattled.

Oh, and the toilet on our car wasn't working properly so if you used it, there was a gallon bottle of water on the floor next to it you had to use to "flush".

So I guess if you're going to take the train, ask about the brakes and toilets and watch for field workers mooning you as the train goes by. :-)

Jodi-
jemdandy
17 years ago
These comments refer to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

My advice is to drive your parents to the Grand Canyon in your car and park at the many overlooks available. The parking lots at many overlooks are only a short walk from the edge of the canyon.

The viewing area west of the main lodge/building is restricted. Personal auto traffic is not allowed, however, a tolley is avaiable that stops at every popular viewing spot. These run periodically. You can get off at any apot and catch another trolley to move to the next location. One caution: Do not miss the last trolley of the day. Its a long walk to the exit.

By using your own auto, you will have the most flexibility. For example, you might want to drive out of the park to get bite to eat or to visit San Francisco peak, a huge volcanic cinder cone. You will also have the flexibility to leave on your schedule, and not the train's schedule.

The main reason for taking the train is a nostalgic train ride. It does not enhance the viewing of the canyon.
sable_ca
17 years ago
I would say that the Canyon views west of El Tovar are restricted *to pedestrians*. They are, however, spectacular, and are worth making the effort to go even a few steps, if possible. Bring a pair of binoculars!

One benefit of driving in through the east entrance is that there are several pull-offs along the road, where you can view the Canyon from your car. I agree with Jemdandy - the train is good for a train experience. But it has no views of the Canyon.

? Grand Canyon Railway

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litereader

dlg421

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