rc_gromit
I'm looking to go camping this summer in/around the Grand Canyon. Does anyone have any advice/input on campgrounds? Specifically I'm looking for what to avoid, where to go, and general advice on time, location, and any other pertinent information.
Answer
Camping is closely controlled inside the National Park and is limited to specific designated camping areas.
Both the North Rim and South Rim have campgrounds with numbered drive-up spaces that have a picnic table and bathroom facilities nearby. They are nice, but you will be sharing the area with quite a few other campers, especially during the peak seasions. The South Rim also has an RV park area with full hookups. The South Rim actually has two drive-up camping areas: Mather Campground near the main lodges and Desert View near the Desert View Watchtower. I would recommend Mather as being closer to the main attractions and more shade. Reservations are recommended for both (see links below).
There is also camping inside the canyon itself that can be reached by backpacking. The large and popular backpacking campgrounds at Phantom Ranch and Indian Gardens have drinking water, picnic tables and nice bathroom facilities. There are also plenty of other backcountry camp spots which generally have no facilities beyond a very rustic pit toilet. All of the inner canyon backpacking campsites require a permit through the Backcountry office (which can be hard to get during peak seasons).
As far as camping (car camping) nearby outside of the National Park...
The North Rim of the park is surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest which is a nice pine forest. Just about anywhere beyond the park boundary, you can take old dirt roads off the main road and camp anywhere you want in the forest. You can generally even find completely undeveloped and undesignated spots along or near the rim to the west of the North Rim lodges.
The South Rim is a bit more limited. There is not as many dirt roads or options in the smaller stretch of Kaibab Forest bordering the park on the South Rim. There are a variety of nice 'camping at large' locations in the Coconino National Forest when you get close to Flagstaff, but that is a ways from the canyon. There is also the little family-run 'Flintstone Village' campground about 10 miles south of the Park boundary, but it is in a pretty desolate and uninteresting area.
As for time... the North Rim is closed during winter (mid-Oct to mid-May) but is great in summer. It is at a higher elevation than the South Rim and so it is cooler and because it is further away and less developed, it tends to be less crowded and more peaceful.
The South Rim is a crowded zoo from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You may have a hard time getting a spot and if you do, you will certainly be sharing the area with plenty of others. While I would not call the South Rim 'hot' during the summer (it is at 7000 feet), it does get a bit warm and muggy with highs in the upper 90s. Rim-side camping at the South Rim would probably be best mid-April through May and mid-Sept through October.
If you are roaming around the North Rim / Utah area, than you should check out nearby Zion National Park, which has a great campground (lots of trees, running stream) and Bryce National Park which also has a nice campground.
Camping is closely controlled inside the National Park and is limited to specific designated camping areas.
Both the North Rim and South Rim have campgrounds with numbered drive-up spaces that have a picnic table and bathroom facilities nearby. They are nice, but you will be sharing the area with quite a few other campers, especially during the peak seasions. The South Rim also has an RV park area with full hookups. The South Rim actually has two drive-up camping areas: Mather Campground near the main lodges and Desert View near the Desert View Watchtower. I would recommend Mather as being closer to the main attractions and more shade. Reservations are recommended for both (see links below).
There is also camping inside the canyon itself that can be reached by backpacking. The large and popular backpacking campgrounds at Phantom Ranch and Indian Gardens have drinking water, picnic tables and nice bathroom facilities. There are also plenty of other backcountry camp spots which generally have no facilities beyond a very rustic pit toilet. All of the inner canyon backpacking campsites require a permit through the Backcountry office (which can be hard to get during peak seasons).
As far as camping (car camping) nearby outside of the National Park...
The North Rim of the park is surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest which is a nice pine forest. Just about anywhere beyond the park boundary, you can take old dirt roads off the main road and camp anywhere you want in the forest. You can generally even find completely undeveloped and undesignated spots along or near the rim to the west of the North Rim lodges.
The South Rim is a bit more limited. There is not as many dirt roads or options in the smaller stretch of Kaibab Forest bordering the park on the South Rim. There are a variety of nice 'camping at large' locations in the Coconino National Forest when you get close to Flagstaff, but that is a ways from the canyon. There is also the little family-run 'Flintstone Village' campground about 10 miles south of the Park boundary, but it is in a pretty desolate and uninteresting area.
As for time... the North Rim is closed during winter (mid-Oct to mid-May) but is great in summer. It is at a higher elevation than the South Rim and so it is cooler and because it is further away and less developed, it tends to be less crowded and more peaceful.
The South Rim is a crowded zoo from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You may have a hard time getting a spot and if you do, you will certainly be sharing the area with plenty of others. While I would not call the South Rim 'hot' during the summer (it is at 7000 feet), it does get a bit warm and muggy with highs in the upper 90s. Rim-side camping at the South Rim would probably be best mid-April through May and mid-Sept through October.
If you are roaming around the North Rim / Utah area, than you should check out nearby Zion National Park, which has a great campground (lots of trees, running stream) and Bryce National Park which also has a nice campground.
Ideas for a picnic? ( gluten free )?
Jenna
I'm surprising my boyfriend with a picnic on our hike. He cannot have gluten, so it's kind of hard to take sandwiches and cookies and stuff. Any ideas?
Answer
Camping foods usually need to be relatively compact even if you have the luxury of carrying a lot (in a car, RV, motorboat or raft). Weight is, of course, an additional issue if you are backpacking, bicycling, or kayaking. Depending on which activity youâre doing, you can pick and choose among some of these easy options:
Trail mix: Itâs a snap to make your own with gluten-free dried fruits, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, and/or gluten-free cereal. Just use care in your selections. For example, while whole dates are usually gluten-free, chopped dates are often dusted in barley flour so that they will not stick together.
Snack bars/energy bars: Take some of your favorites (check the nutrition/health food section of your grocery store as there are an increasing number of possibilities out there) or, if you are so inclined, you can even make your own granola bars based on gluten-free granola, such as Bakery on Main or Trader Joeâs brands, or by using gluten-free rolled oats.
Boil-in-bag foods and pre-cooked foods: If weight is not an issue, these are convenient and non-perishable. Heat up a pan of water, slip in the pouch, cut it open and eat: if you are worried about keeping pans clean, this completely solves any cross-contamination problem. Tasty Bite makes a variety of gluten-free Indian and Thai foods packaged in âsmart pouches.â They are commonly available in regular grocery stores. To save packing room, toss out the boxes at home and bring only the pouches, but be sure to label them with a permanent marker if the pouches do not have the contents printed on them, since they will all look alike. Pre-cooked polenta rolls are similarly convenient.
Instant cereal: For gluten-loving campers, instant oatmeal in individual serving packs is a standard breakfast item. I donât know of anyone marketing gluten-free oats this way, but an equivalent for gluten-free campers is Quinoa instant hot cereal, similarly packaged (Altiplano Gold makes several flavors that can be ordered on-line). You can also pre-measure quick-cooking cereal, such as rice cereal, in Ziploc bags with a little salt and flavorings (cinnamon, sugar, etc.) of your choice. Pre-measure in the drinking cup that you plan to bring camping with you. Then you can use the same cup to measure water proportionately. I use the same method for measuring and packing other dried foods such as rice, quinoa, or polenta, often including herbs and spices: mark the contents, amount of water needed, and cooking time on the plastic bag.
Cured or dried meats: Freybe makes salami-type sausages that are compact and keep well. Shelton makes gluten-free turkey jerky. Though quite expensive, it is very lightweight.
Sâmores: A facsimile of everybodyâs camping favorite is easy to make. Marshmallows are typically gluten-free (find a brand that is labeled as such), as are plain Hersheyâs chocolate bars. Substituting gluten-free cookies for graham crackers makes gluten-free sâmores even more decadent than the originals.
Dried foods: A variety of dried foods, such as bean flakes, potato flakes, and vegetables are available in gluten-free versions and make packing light and camp cooking quick. As always, you need to read labels. Rice (including brown rice) that has been partially pre-cooked and dried does not take long to prepare. If you are using a small camp stove, quick-cooking items save on fuel weight, too.
Dutch oven baked goods: If your trip is such that you can carry an aluminum (lighter than cast iron) Dutch oven and some charcoal, you can turn out cornbread, brownies, and cakes that will make you the hit of the crowd. Bring your favorite gluten-free mixes, or mix up your own dry ingredients from your favorite recipes. Donât forget to bring the necessary wet ingredients, too, of course. Search for Dutch oven camping recipes on-line to learn the basic technique. Itâs not hard.
Okay, now you have no excuses not to get out there. Have a great gluten-free summer and remember that getting active and outdoors is as important as eating well.
Camping foods usually need to be relatively compact even if you have the luxury of carrying a lot (in a car, RV, motorboat or raft). Weight is, of course, an additional issue if you are backpacking, bicycling, or kayaking. Depending on which activity youâre doing, you can pick and choose among some of these easy options:
Trail mix: Itâs a snap to make your own with gluten-free dried fruits, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, and/or gluten-free cereal. Just use care in your selections. For example, while whole dates are usually gluten-free, chopped dates are often dusted in barley flour so that they will not stick together.
Snack bars/energy bars: Take some of your favorites (check the nutrition/health food section of your grocery store as there are an increasing number of possibilities out there) or, if you are so inclined, you can even make your own granola bars based on gluten-free granola, such as Bakery on Main or Trader Joeâs brands, or by using gluten-free rolled oats.
Boil-in-bag foods and pre-cooked foods: If weight is not an issue, these are convenient and non-perishable. Heat up a pan of water, slip in the pouch, cut it open and eat: if you are worried about keeping pans clean, this completely solves any cross-contamination problem. Tasty Bite makes a variety of gluten-free Indian and Thai foods packaged in âsmart pouches.â They are commonly available in regular grocery stores. To save packing room, toss out the boxes at home and bring only the pouches, but be sure to label them with a permanent marker if the pouches do not have the contents printed on them, since they will all look alike. Pre-cooked polenta rolls are similarly convenient.
Instant cereal: For gluten-loving campers, instant oatmeal in individual serving packs is a standard breakfast item. I donât know of anyone marketing gluten-free oats this way, but an equivalent for gluten-free campers is Quinoa instant hot cereal, similarly packaged (Altiplano Gold makes several flavors that can be ordered on-line). You can also pre-measure quick-cooking cereal, such as rice cereal, in Ziploc bags with a little salt and flavorings (cinnamon, sugar, etc.) of your choice. Pre-measure in the drinking cup that you plan to bring camping with you. Then you can use the same cup to measure water proportionately. I use the same method for measuring and packing other dried foods such as rice, quinoa, or polenta, often including herbs and spices: mark the contents, amount of water needed, and cooking time on the plastic bag.
Cured or dried meats: Freybe makes salami-type sausages that are compact and keep well. Shelton makes gluten-free turkey jerky. Though quite expensive, it is very lightweight.
Sâmores: A facsimile of everybodyâs camping favorite is easy to make. Marshmallows are typically gluten-free (find a brand that is labeled as such), as are plain Hersheyâs chocolate bars. Substituting gluten-free cookies for graham crackers makes gluten-free sâmores even more decadent than the originals.
Dried foods: A variety of dried foods, such as bean flakes, potato flakes, and vegetables are available in gluten-free versions and make packing light and camp cooking quick. As always, you need to read labels. Rice (including brown rice) that has been partially pre-cooked and dried does not take long to prepare. If you are using a small camp stove, quick-cooking items save on fuel weight, too.
Dutch oven baked goods: If your trip is such that you can carry an aluminum (lighter than cast iron) Dutch oven and some charcoal, you can turn out cornbread, brownies, and cakes that will make you the hit of the crowd. Bring your favorite gluten-free mixes, or mix up your own dry ingredients from your favorite recipes. Donât forget to bring the necessary wet ingredients, too, of course. Search for Dutch oven camping recipes on-line to learn the basic technique. Itâs not hard.
Okay, now you have no excuses not to get out there. Have a great gluten-free summer and remember that getting active and outdoors is as important as eating well.
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Title Post: Camping around the Grand Canyon?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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