[jillybean]

Hi, does anyone have experience with the helicopter tours departing Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, could you
share your experience and recommendations?

Thanks.

[aguahombre]

I don't believe one of them has crashed since 2001. But, I might be wrong.


http://articles.lati...1/news/mn-32921

oops, I was wrong.

http://www.lasvegass...ash-identified/

[jillybean]

That's a good start(:

It is still less dangerous then being a pedestrian in Nevada
http://www.lasvegass...own-pedestrian/

[wyman]

jillybean, on 2012-June-20, 22:24, said:

Hi, does anyone have experience with the helicopter tours departing Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, could you
share your experience and recommendations?

Thanks.

Never done a helicopter tour of the GC, but I've only heard good things (including from relatives). From personal experience, I'd recommend a day or so there if you can swing it (unfortunately, with travel time from LV, this eats a few days up).

When we went a few years ago, we were on a tight timeline. We arrived in the late afternoon (south rim), took the park bus a few stops, took lots of pictures, and when the sun went down we went and rested at the hotel. We got up early, did a morning couple-hour hike into the canyon (not all the way to the bottom, but the views were still excellent -- not for the faint of heart though as it is just switchbacks in a canyon), and hiked back out. We were on the road by late morning/early afternoon (after an unfortunate nail in the tire incident, even), and we hit Vegas before sundown, including a stop for pictures at the Hoover Dam, but no tour or anything.

If you haven't seen it, the GC is incredible, and I highly recommend it. I suspect it's good both by helicopter and not, but there was something about standing at the edge. Maybe someday I'll get to compare the experiences.

[BunnyGo]

Sorry, don't know anything about helicopter rides. Just wanted to echo wyman in saying the canyon was amazing, and if you have the time for a multi day trip there, it's definitely worth it. I did a hike from the south ridge to horseshoe mesa down the old copper mine trail. Was just great.

[cherdano]

Definitely include a hike into the canyon if you have time. If you don't, change your plans.
(Obviously don't go too far down if it's just a day hike, especially if you are not very experienced hiking; the combination of much hotter temperature in the canyon than at the rim, and the uphill being at the end, makes it easy to misjudge how much you can do.)

[jillybean]

Thanks for the replies, this will be the second trip to the GC for me. The first time I stayed at the North Rim and did some hiking, this time I am taking my parents so hiking is not on the intinerary.
We will be based in Vegas and rather than a long drive to the Canyon to look in over the rim I thought one of the helicopter
tours taking in the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and a landing in the Canyon would be spectacular. I am also planning a trip to the Zion Canyon/National Park.

[wyman]

jillybean, on 2012-June-21, 09:18, said:

Thanks for the replies, this will be the second trip to the GC for me. The first time I stayed at the North Rim and did some hiking, this time I am taking my parents so hiking is not on the intinerary.
We will be based in Vegas and rather than a long drive to the Canyon to look in over the rim I thought one of the helicopter
tours taking in the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and a landing in the Canyon would be spectacular. I am also planning a trip to the Zion Canyon/National Park.

Awesome, should be a lot of fun. I loved Zion (but I _really_ loved Bryce Canyon for photo ops -- it is unfortunately somewhat further out of your way, though. Perhaps on another trip).

[blackshoe]

Given your parameters, I'd say the chopper tour is a great idea. Might be expensive, I dunno. Last time I was in that area (the GC) was 40 years ago. Did a chopper tour from the South Rim; it was excellent, took about an hour, and only cost about 50 bucks a head. I guess inflation would make that about 150 now.

If you want to read about the Grand Canyon, The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin Fletcher is a fascinating book.

[Phil]

jillybean, on 2012-June-21, 09:18, said:

I am also planning a trip to the Zion Canyon/National Park.

We camped at Bryce Canyon a few weeks ago. While Bryce is pretty cool, Zion is simply awesome and I've been there 4-5 times. We drove through Zion and I wished I had more time to stop again. South of LV, we were stuck in 1-15 traffic after the Electric Daisy Carnival that happened to be that weekend

Its take longer than you think from Las Vegas, so I would suggest getting an early start.

Zion has the most incredible views you will ever see. Its best if you can hike a little and get above the canyon floor, but there are some 'easy' hikes your parents might like. Probably the Lower Emerald Pools would be best:

http://www.zionnatio...pools-trail.htm

Afterward, you can have lunch at the Lodge, which is close to the trailhead and you don't have to get back on the shuttle bus that is mandatory during the summer.

[kenberg]

Becky and I flew into LV, stayed the night, and drove on to the Grand Canyon, Zion, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, several other stops including Hoover Dam. I don't remember the drive as burdensome but others could feel differently. I concur with everyone that the whole trip was stunning. Enjoy!