New Review Posted On Trip Advisor
(Updated: November 29th, 2012)
“Great day exploring all around the canyon”
We did the sunset deluxe combo – so we did two different tours; first the Indian Paintings tours followed up by the Sunset Tour. The jeeps themselves were well maintained, clean and had comfortable seats.
Indian Paintings tour – you drive about 5 minutes outside of Tusayan and then go offroad (kind of around the airport). Once you leave the highway the drive to the canyon was pretty rough and a lot of fun as you get bounced around a lot. You eventually get to a small slot canyon with no vehicle access and after a ten minute leisurely walk you get to the location of the petroglyphs. To get to the petroglyphs you have to hike up the side of a hill – which is a bit steep. At the top of the hill is a huge overhang that native Americans used as shelter. Our guide had a degree in ancient cultures and expertly told us about the local tribes and cultures, and the drawings themselves. There were many drawing to look at, were up there for about 30 minutes and really enjoyed it.
Sunset Tour – this tour takes you east through the Kaibab Forest on an old stage coach trail. The forest itself was pretty and we hardly saw any other cars or people all day. The first major stop is at a 6 story first watch tower, that you can climb to the top of. You then continue east to some of the major outlooks of the canyon just in time for the sunset. Our guide lived in the area and knew every road and trail in the canyon – even showing us some of his favorite camping spots.
Between the two tours we spent all afternoon on the jeep tours and my entire family thoroughly enjoyed it. You could definitely tell that the tour drivers lived in the area, knew their stuff and enjoyed what they did.
Visited November 2012
TOP 10 THINGS WE LOVE TO DO AT THE GRAND CANYON
(Updated: October 2nd, 2012)
TOP 10 THINGS WE LOVE TO DO AT THE GRAND CANYON
Plan the perfect day on the cheap with our fun suggestions.
1. Breakfast at the El Tovar. The historic El Tovar Hotel is located right at the edge of the Grand Canyon. This former Harvey House hotel was opened in 1905 and was designed by Charles Whittlesey. It can be quite pricey but breakfast is reasonable. The meals are huge so either share or request a ½ breakfast. Ask for a seat next to the window, order a latte and enjoy the sunrise. You can have a wonderful entrée like trout and eggs and a coffee for around $10.00.
2. Watch the mule trains depart for the inner canyon. Take a jaunt over to the Bright Angel Trailhead and watch a dozen tourists hop on mules for their once in a lifetime journey down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Listen to the mule skinners give their presentation of the trip down. It is entertaining and interesting.
3. Lookout Studio. This studio has a great view of the Grand Canyon. It currently operates as a gift shop and observation station for visitors, with telescopes on its outdoor terrace. Lookout Studio was constructed by the Santa Fe Railway in 1914 and was established as a photography studio. It is one of six buildings at the Grand Canyon that were designed by architect Mary Colter. It is usually not crowded with tourists. A little know fact….there is a picnic bench at the viewpoint in front of the studio. Grab a sandwich at one of the restaurants and picnic right in front of Lookout Studio.
4. Desert View Watch Tower. Desert View was constructed in 1932 as a replica of a prehistoric Indian tower. This 70 foot tower is the highest point at the South Rim and commands a view of the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert and San Francisco Peaks.
5. Tusayan Ruins. The Tusayan Ruins is an 800-year-old Pueblo Indian site located within Grand Canyon National Park and is considered by the National Park Service to be one of the major archeological sites in Arizona. The site consists of a small, u-shaped pueblo featuring a living area, storage rooms, and a kiva. The site was occupied for about twenty years, beginning around 1185.
6. Kolb Studio. Kolb Studio is located at the edge of Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park. It was the home and photographic studio of pioneers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb. This studio houses a gallery of early photos of the Grand Canyon plus features artwork of Grand Canyon artists.
7. Grand Canyon: A Journey Of Wonder movie. This 20 minute movie gives you a great history of the Grand Canyon and surrounding area. It runs every 30 minutes from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the Grand Canyon Visitor’s Center inside the National Park – and it is FREE.
8. Watch the condors soar. Get lucky and catch a glimpse of the protected California condor at Lookout Studio. For an up close view of the condors, walk out to the front viewpoint of Lookout Studio. This viewpoint offers condor viewing…sometimes the condors will perch on the roof of the Studio.
9. Shoshone Point. The short hike to Shoshone Point is a terrific 3 to 4 hour trip. After an easy, 30-minute stroll through a lovely, open Ponderosa pine woodland, hikers follow the road to the north that leads to the picnic area, a popular place for weddings. At the road’s end, the cliffs form a narrow viewpoint, with views of more than 180° of the Grand Canyon. There are usually few visitors. The point is not signposted from the East Rim Drive but next to the gate is a parking area, between mileposts 244 and 245.
10. The Indian Paintings Tour with Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris. In the Kaibab Forest view awesome Native Rock Art. This 90 minute, one-of-a-kind tour takes guests down rugged, scenic roads in a safari truck to the site of Native American predecessors. A short, easy hike through the forest leads to the rock ledge overhang. Knowledgeable, local guides discuss the rock art and ways of these ancient people. The tour runs $45 for adults. Visit http://www.grandcanyonjeeptours.com for more information on the tours.
Sight-Impaired Customer Enjoyed Grand Canyon Jeep Tour
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
I wanted to thank you so much for the wonderful sunset tour of the Grand Canyon you provided me and my friends, along with my guide dog. Our guide was impressive and very knowledgeable and a wonderful guide. He was very accommodating and helped me to experience the Grand Canyon in a way I could never have on our own. It was a very enjoyable trip and I would recommend it to other of my blind friends who would like to visit the canyon. I just can’t thank you enough. By the way the smell of the Ponderosa Pine is in the air everywhere in the canyon.
Our Favorite John Wesley Powell Quote
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
This quote from John Wesley Powell describes the diverse landscape of the Grand Canyon…
The Grand Canyon at sunset.
“The glories and the beauties of form, color and sound unite in the Grand Canyon – forms unrivaled even by the mountains, colors that vie with sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrop; from cataract to bubbling fountain.”
Perseids Meteor Shower August 11, 12 and 13!
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
Hey star gazers…the Grand Canyon offers some of the best viewing in the southwest! Wake up early Saturday and Sunday and watch the most reliable meteor shower display in the northern hemisphere – the Perseid meteor shower. It can be seen in the north eastern part of the sky, and with the moon waning to a crescent you will have maximum visibility of the showers. The peak mornings for the annual Perseid meteor shower will be August 11, 12 and 13 with best viewing from 11pm to 4 am. In the early mornings, just before sunrise, the meteors should be flying at a rate closer to 50 or 60 meteors per hour. Pick a nice viewing spot like Grandview Point or Yavapai Point, bring a thermos of hot coffee, a blanket to sit on and enjoy the show!
Annular Eclipse visible at Grand Canyon National Park
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
Astronomy lovers in the United States will be treated to a partial disappearance of the sun behind the moon this Sunday, May 20, 2012. Over the course of the solar eclipse, the sun won’t vanish completely, but will remain as a “ring of fire” around the moon for what is known as an annular eclipse. When the eclipse occurs, the moon will be near its most distant point from Earth, making it appear smaller in the sky and thus unable to block the entire sun. But it will still be a stunning sight. It’s been almost two decades (1994) since an annular eclipse was visible in the continental United States.
The Grand Canyon National Park lies in the path of this rare eclipse. The eclipse will occur from 6:34pm to 6:39pm, Arizona time. People can also log online to sites such as the Slooh Space Camera to see the event live.
Wherever you are, do not look directly at the eclipsed sun or you can get a serious eye injury. Wear specially made protective glasses or create your own viewing box by punching a small pinhole in a cardboard box.
Two weeks later, Venus will crawl across the face of the sun — a rare occurrence known as the “transit of Venus” that will also require special eye precaution.
Annular eclipse visible at the Grand Canyon, Sunday, May 20, 2012.
Super Moon
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
On May 5th, our guests on the Sunset Tour were treated to a spectacular site! A Super Moon over the Grand Canyon! This event lit up the night sky as the full moon passed at its closest to the earth, making it 14% larger and 30% brighter than other full moons. It is called a “perigee” moon by scientists, and the annual phenomenon occurs only once a year.
Pic of super moon taken on Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safari tour
Albino Mule Deer Spotted on Tour?
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
Is this an albino mule deer or a white deer?
This deer was photographed on Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris’ Grand Sunset Tour. It is a photo of an albino deer…or is it?
Albinism is uncommon in mule deer. Based on deer hunter reports, only about one deer in 30,000 is an albino. What usually happens is the mother abandons the albino fawn shortly after birth. If it is not abandoned, then the fawn has a difficult time with concealment and camoflage which, in turn, increases its chances of being killed by a predator. For an albino deer to reach adulthood is a rarity.
However, not all white deer are true albinos. An albino does not have the gene for normal coloration and does not produce the enzyme responsible for skin, hair and tissue coloration. The eyes of an albino are usually pink because blood vessels behind the lenses show through the unpigmented irises. On the other hand, white deer that have normally pigmented noses, eyes and hooves have a genetic mutation for hair color but are not an albino.
So what do you think? Is this a photo of an albino mule deer or is it just a deer with a white coat?
Rock Art from Indian Paintings Tour
(Updated: April 30th, 2012)
Rock art is beautiful to look at and fascinating to think about what the images represent. This photo is one of the many rock art images that you can see on our Indian Paintings Tour. It is a petroglyph chiseled over an ancient pictograph. Petroglyphs and pictographs represent two distinctive methods for producing rock art. Petroglyphs are carved into an exposed rock surface, while pictographs are painted onto those surfaces. The two methods require different materials and the creation of petroglyphs requires more time and effort.
The rock art was created centuries ago by the natives that visited this area. It is unique because the petroglyph is actually chiseled over the pictograph. This technique is not usually found in rock art sites and it is the only known site in the Grand Canyon area that has this type of superimposition.
The subject material looks like it could be a depiction of a deer or an elk. It is a mystery of what it symbolizes but it could be a hunting scene or possibly even a talisman created for good luck. What do you think it looks like?
New Website Launched!
(Updated: September 19th, 2012)
“The glories and the beauties of form, color, and sound unite in the Grand Canyon – forms unrivaled even by the mountains, colors that vie with sunsets, and sounds that span the diapason from tempest to tinkling raindrop, from cataract to bubbling fountain.”
~John Wesley Powell
Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris, the Original Grand Canyon Jeep Tour Company, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website.
What makes the site unlike other websites is how we highlight our unsurpassed knowledge of the Grand Canyon. We wanted to be able to showcase each of our many tours and highlight what makes the Grand Canyon so special. There is no other Grand Canyon jeep tour company who can claim to have as much experience with and knowledge of the Grand Canyon’s unique geology, history and culture.
Additionally, this new website has been designed to be user-friendly, engaging, and informative by allowing visitors to access information easily and intuitively about us and our tours. We want our website to mirror what we offer our customers.