Lonely
Planet Grand Canyon National Park, by Jennifer Denniston,
David Lukas, Amy Marr, and Kimberley O'Neil
David Lukas and Amy Marr, who also collaborated
on the superb guide
to Yosemite National Park, have joined forces with Jennifer
Denniston and Kimberley O'Neil to create the best guide we have
ever seen about the Grand Canyon. "The Grand," as
river runners reverentially refer to the Colorado River, has
cut a gorge through the relatively soft sedimentary sandstone
layers a mile deep and nearly ten miles wide. The mighty river
flows free for 277 miles and has some of the best-known and
exciting rapids in America. Grand Canyon National Park encompasses
1.2 million acres and is home to 1500 plant species along with
305 bird, 76 mammal, 41 reptile, and 26 fish species. There
are flora and fauna in the park that are found nowhere else
in the world. A few years ago, I spent a total of four weeks
exploring a couple sections of the park, and this guidebook
had awakened an abiding desire to return as soon as possible.
A hallmark of the Lonely Planet
guides is the care and consideration that goes into structuring
the trip itineraries for visiting the areas they profile.
For the South Rim, there are suggestions for spending as little
as an hour (which would be a downright shame!) to a full week.
Likewise, some very time-smart suggestions are made for visiting
the North Rim, and a number of two-week itineraries include
visits to various surrounding attractions like Pipe Springs
National Monument, Lake Powell. You can even learn about taking
a ride down the Colorado on a raft.
Although there is no substitute
for walking down into the gorge and exploring the hiking trails
(and this book includes excellent tips and suggestions for
hiking in the park), I really enjoyed the description of the
Hermit Road and Desert View driving trips on the South Rim.
The authors did a wonderful job of sharing just enough history
to make the scenic routes come alive.
Lonely Planet Grand Canyon
National Park is full of insider's tips for enjoying the
park. The dining room at the El Tovar is a fabulous place
for lunch, but the authors suggest arriving before 12:15 pm
to beat the rush from the guests arriving on the Grand Canyon
Railway. They also offer a list of "top ten" picnic
spots, best places to view sunsets, the proper protocol for
dealing with mules when meeting them on the narrow hiking
trails -- move to the inner side of trail and turn your backpack
into the cliff away from the animals to avoid being accidentally
knocked off the trail -- and the coolest hikes to take on
hot days. There are also a number of very useful checklists
for gear and equipment and some tips for avoiding injury while
visiting the area. Like other Lonely Planet books, the maps
are excellent, and the descriptions of places to stay and
eat have been vetted by locals and are 100% trustworthy.
Best Advice in the Book: Don't
be discouraged by the crowds even though it can get a little
busy in the Grand Canyon Village in the summer months. Despite
the undeniable fact that you may have to put up with serious
gridlock getting into the park, it is surprisingly easy to
find quiet and solitude. The Lonely Planet Grand Canyon
National Park guide is the ideal book to help you find
out how, and it will enrich your experience when you next
visit to this magnificent natural and historical treasure.
Mark
4/25/04
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