All Aboard the Grand Canyon Railway

Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011

The Grand Canyon Railway is a railroad that runs between Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. In 1901, the Santa Fe Railway finished constructing the branch line that ran 64 miles in distance. The railway is specifically used for transporting passengers. The first train to run on the railway was scheduled to depart on September 17, 1901. Due to competition with the growing use of automobiles, Santa Fe was forced to discontinue using the Grand Canyon Railway in July of 1968, but continued to use it for freight until 1974, hen it was abandoned.

In 1988, Max And Thelma Biegert, a couple from Phoenix, Arizona, bought the line and had it restored. It began operating in 1989 as a separate company from the Santa Fe. The first official run of the renewed railway was on September 17, 1989, in remembrance of the original debut date of the line. Now, on average, there is a grand total of about 240,000 passengers annually. The railroad uses diesel locomotives from the 1970s that have been renovated, and passengers ride in climate-controlled coaches from the 1950s. To add to the Old West feel, the railroad has hired actors that are dressed as bandits orchestrate a fake train robbery as the train returns Williams from the Grand Canyon.

In 2006, Xanterra Parks and Resorts bought the railway, and is the current operator of the GCNP’s restaurant, store concessions, and hotel. Xanterra is actually the corporate name for what was once known as the Fred Harvey Company. In 2008, Philip Anschutz bought Xanterra, and therefore gained ownership of the Grand Canyon Railway.

The ride on the train seems to take you back in time as you wind through the trees in the forest, along the plains, and look at the beautiful mountain views. There’s even a chance that you might see some native wildlife, including elk, deer, Pronghorn (which look quite similar to antelope), and maybe even some prairie dogs! Towards the middle part of your journey on the train, you will be able to see beautiful plants and trees like Pinyon-Juniper woodlands, grama grass, mountain ash, and live oak. There are a few different cars that you can take, including the Observation Dome, which I highly recommend. It has larger windows, and a better chance for more amazing views. The trip from Williams, AR to the Grand Canyon takes about two hours one way, and then you have about three hours to explore the canyon and shop before boarding the train again for the return trip.

The Grand Canyon Railway has one daily round trip from Williams to the Grand Canyon, and runs every day except December 25th. The train leaves the station in Williams at 9:30 am, and arrives at the Grand Canyon at 11:45 am. It will then depart again from the Grand Canyon at 3:30 pm, and arrive once again at Williams at 5:45 pm. The train does not offer one-way trips.

For a trip in Coach Class, it costs $70 per adult. For a trip in First Class, it costs $140 per adult. For a trip in the Observation Dome, it is $170. For a trip in the Luxury Parlor, it’s $190. Prices vary for children riding in coach or first class. Children are not allowed in the Observation Dome or the Luxury Parlor.

Grand Canyons First Raft Journey

Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Today, the raft journey through the Grand Canyon is one of the West's great white-water thrills. It's hard to imagine just how daunting the trip must have been in 1869, when John Wesley Powell first decided to attempt it. Back then, the canyon was utterly unexplored. It existed on maps only as a blank spot in the southwest. Powell was a geology professor from Illinois who had lost his right arm as an officer during the Civil War. Despite this handicap, he got together nine men, mostly his own friends and relatives, and transported four wooden boats to Green River in Wyoming. Waving goodbye to a few well-wishers by the riverbank, they set off to face 1,000 miles of unknown river. The challenge was extreme. The intrepid group had to learn how to ride the rapids as they went, with their clumsy boats regularly overturning. They subsisted on a diet of dry biscuits for much of the time. Three men became so discouraged they decided to hike out through the desert. They were never heard from again, and are presumed killed by Indians. But Powell and the others would emerge unscathed at the southern end of the Grand Canyon, three months after their trip had begun. Powell became a national celebrity, as famous in the United States as Neil Armstrong would become after walking on the moon – a feat that occurred, coincidentally, exactly a century later.

The Colorado Monument - National Parks Vacations

Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010

In amongst the Grand Canyon, the Bryce Canyon and the Arches National Park sits the Colorado National Monument. Located only 12 miles away from the Grand Junction you will have the ability to experience one of the many great wonders of the world.

The Colorado National Monument is apart of the Colorado Plateau with the sheer walled canyons, unusual rock formations, fossils of dinosaurs, towering monoliths and many remains of prehistoric Indian cultures. The land reflects the history and environment perfectly, especially with the colorful sandstones everywhere you look.

There are many things you can do here, especially hiking and camping. Throughout the summer time there is designated campfire programs and people are able to travel here all year long, 24 hours a day.

John Otto, a man who lived on and off of the monument for almost 30 years helped preserve the Colorado National Monument as much as he could and in 1911 it became official that it was now a national monument. He started camping out at the canyon back in 1906 and after 5 years it finally became a place that would never be touched or harmed.

The Colorado National Monument is something that you should take the time to see if you are traveling through or near Colorado. The beauty surrounding it and the many other great findings in the Colorado Plateau make it a great escape from the real world. Take a hike through the trails or plan a weekend away with the family, there is much to do while experiencing the Colorado National Monument.