My question is, are there other beautiful areas of the Canyon that would be accessible outside of the parks area of control? Any help would be appreciated as my wife and I really want to see this.
Quote: VCUSkyhawkAny word? I would really appreciate the input. If I don't hear anything I will have to go to the so called "West Rim" which I hear does not have as nice views and is a bit more costly.
Based on everything I've heard, the West Rim is an overpriced tourist trap. I would suggest the Valley of Fire. It is a Nevada state park, so should be open, but I'd verify it before driving out there. It isn't nearly as impressive and fun as the Grand Canyon, but is a lot closer.
You might also consider Death Valley. Although it is a National Park, state highways cut through it, so I don't see how they could close those down. I'm sure the ranger stations will be closed, but I don't see how they could keep people from taking in the sights.
I have heard read similar things about the West Rim, but it may be my only option unless somebody on here can point me to some areas I can hit near the South Rim without going into the park. Again I appreciate any help!
It's indian owned so I really doubt whether they would close, no reason to.
As far as being costly, it's no worse than the road time and expense if you were thinking about going on the donkey ride to the bottom or the train ride, it's all great to see.
I second the wizard's call about going to the valley of fire, but call first. You can walk down a small gulley 500 yds. or so and it's wall to wall petroglyph's [yay] Also, it's a state park, the first one I believe in the state. You won't regret checking it out. Take water everywhere you go!
You can also go down and drive across Hoover dam and see the new free span concrete bridge, both are extremely impressive.
Lot's to look at, and the weather is great, come on down.
I drove past Valley Forge today. There's a state highway that runs through that park. There were lots of city and county police blocking off the park roads from the national park. There's no way that the closure is saving money there - the cities, townships, and counties are spending more enforcing the closure than it could possibly cost to run the park.
Quote: rdw4potusIt sounds like the House is going to vote (probably tomorrow, maybe Thursday) on a set of bills to reopen the national parks and VA claim processing centers during the partial shut-down.
I thought I head read that the House proposed that already and Reid shot it down? Maybe I misread.
Quote: VCUSkyhawkI thought I head read that the House proposed that already and Reid shot it down? Maybe I misread.
I think the House will vote and let the Senate vote it down. That makes the Senate dems look like veteran-hating, vacation-hating meanies, which gives the House GOP a slight benefit.
edit: and the parks are self-funding, so there's a decent reason to keep them open/re-open them.
Quote: rdw4potusI think the House will vote and let the Senate vote it down. That makes the Senate dems look like veteran-hating, vacation-hating meanies, which gives the House GOP a slight benefit.
I wish that were true. The media is loving this. They will still spin it to all be the GOP's fault.
Quote: VCUSkyhawkI wish that were true. The media is loving this. They will still spin it to all be the GOP's fault.
Well, much of it is the GOP's fault. They badly over-reached in their initial demands, and they got a knee-jerk reaction. If they didn't explicitly tie some of these things together, they'd garner consideration. The ideas are too good to be ignored. But lumping them into one cluster and applying it to one continuing resolution is a terrible plan. Partly because the list of GOP demands is worth MUCH more than a short-term funding bill, and partly because it's exposed rifts in the GOP that are just going to grow and intensify heading into the midterms.
Quote: rdw4potusWell, much of it is the GOP's fault. They badly over-reached in their initial demands, and they got a knee-jerk reaction. If they didn't explicitly tie some of these things together, they'd garner consideration. The ideas are too good to be ignored. But lumping them into one cluster and applying it to one continuing resolution is a terrible plan. Partly because the list of GOP demands is worth MUCH more than a short-term funding bill, and partly because it's exposed rifts in the GOP that are just going to grow and intensify heading into the midterms.
+1
Quote: rdw4potusWell, much of it is the GOP's fault. They badly over-reached in their initial demands, and they got a knee-jerk reaction. If they didn't explicitly tie some of these things together, they'd garner consideration. The ideas are too good to be ignored. But lumping them into one cluster and applying it to one continuing resolution is a terrible plan. Partly because the list of GOP demands is worth MUCH more than a short-term funding bill, and partly because it's exposed rifts in the GOP that are just going to grow and intensify heading into the midterms.
Where the GOP screwed up is they want to send the bill to Obama. If they want someone who can make a decision and get things done they should have sent it to Putin's desk.
Quote: AZDuffmanWhere the GOP screwed up is they want to send the bill to Obama. If they want someone who can make a decision and get things done they should have sent it to Putin's desk.
LOL!
Quote: AZDuffmanWhere the GOP screwed up is they want to send the bill to Obama. If they want someone who can make a decision and get things done they should have sent it to Putin's desk.
Putin is the boss of the GOP? Okay, that actually makes sense.
As for the shutdown, I don't see why this should upset the Parks. I've been to many when they are closed. I just don't stop to pay the entrance fees. I really don't care. If I had some complaint going through the court, yeah, I'd have a problem with it. I'll have to wait and see how it effects my upcoming trip to Vegas as the 1st night I will be .89 miles from Zion National Park and have a 2 day hike planned.
Hope you still get to your park...
Did you see my post up thread?
The skywalk is a lot closer and you could see Hoover Dam if you really want a long day.
Valley of Fire is about an hour from Vegas.
Zion is also beautiful but that's clear into Utah.
All the Fed parks are close, but there are still plenty of other places you can drive to without any problems. The Valley of Fire is about an hour from Vegas, and should be open, but I would call ahead before I made the trip, you can also get in behind the Valley of Fire, on the Logandale trails, I would highly recommend China Ranch, which in over in California, it's only about 85 miles from Vegas, and is a Date Nut Farm. It sits on the south end of Death Valley!
https://www.google.com/search?q=Logandale+trails&client=firefox-a&hs=gla&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=bKhLUor7DqugyAHDj4CABg&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1113&bih=698&dpr=1.2
http://www.chinaranch.com/
Zion will be closed, but if your willing to take a trip over to Utah, I would hit Snow Canyon state park.
http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/park/snow-canyon-state-park
https://www.google.com/search?q=snow+canyon+state+park&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=snow+canyon+state+park+pictures&revid=1630389527&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official
Anywhere around St George Utah is worth the trip!
You could hit some of the hot springs if you bring a bathing suit, that are about 100 miles from Vegas, most of the things are going to be from 60 miles out, PM me and tell me what you are into and I can tell you some places that you might love to see. I try to get the DI's I know out of the casinos when they come to Vegas, most of these guys have never seen the outside of a casino when they are in Vegas, I had a fishing trip planed for one of the guys that teaches the Little Joe School, but that may have to be cancel if they don't open up the Fed Parks by the end of the month!
My one buddy that works at Lake Mead, can't even go fishing, now that he is laid off, because of our stupid politicians, talk about being kick where it hurts! My buddy spent 4 hours putting up barricade this morning, they kicked out all of the RV guys, you can't get to you're boat down at Lake Mead, You could always drive around the gates getting into the park, before this happened, as I understand it now you can't because of the barricades!
Superrick
Quote: VCUSkyhawkThat is why I was wondering if it would be possible to see any of the grand canyon without actually entering the vast National Park System of it.
I should have mentioned that the south-east part of the Grand Canyon is on Navajo land. If you want to see the GC that way I think you would have to use dirt roads with no tourist facilities.
One can park along the highway at Oak Creek, First Creek, or whatever the other ones are, and walk in. Same for Calico Basin.