April 2019
Because we got ahead of schedule with our time in Grand Canyon National Park, we made the decision to splurge and schedule a helicopter flight over and through the canyon. That was most definitely money well spent! We even got to sit up front with the pilot. After landing back at the Grand Canyon Airport, we headed back into the park for a third day and checked out the remaining points of interest on our list and took in the incredible views once more.
Arriving at the Grand Canyon airport for a helicopter tour
Arriving at the Grand Canyon airport for a helicopter tour
Helicopters are coming and going. We'll be taking a slightly fancier aircraft.
We will be taking the yellow "imperial" route
No shortage of choppers here
There's our ride!
We got to ride upfront with the pilot
Headed out over Kaibab National Forest toward the south rim of the Grand Canyon
Headed out over Kaibab National Forest toward the south rim of the Grand Canyon
Headed out over Kaibab National Forest toward the south rim of the Grand Canyon
Headed out over Kaibab National Forest toward the south rim of the Grand Canyon
It's amazing how the forest just drops off and the canyon begins. They were literally playing dramatic music at this point of the tour.
My mother and our pilot
Flying low over the South Rim
Flying low over the South Rim
You can't get views like this from the ground!
You can't get views like this from the ground!
The Colorado River snakes through the Grand Canyon. This is definitely the best way to view it!
The Colorado River snakes through the Grand Canyon. This is definitely the best way to view it!
The Colorado River snakes through the Grand Canyon. This is definitely the best way to view it!
The Colorado River snakes through the Grand Canyon. This is definitely the best way to view it!
The Colorado River snakes through the Grand Canyon. This is definitely the best way to view it!
Flying over some of the less developed parts of the South Rim
The Grand Canyon gets narrower as we go
Some of these views of the grand Canyon and Colorado River don't even seem real, yet I took these photos myself
Some of these views of the grand Canyon and Colorado River don't even seem real, yet I took these photos myself
Looking over the South Rim as the Grand Canyon narrows
Some of the many rapids in the Colorado River
Some of these views of the grand Canyon and Colorado River don't even seem real, yet I took these photos myself
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is much more wild
I didn't expect that we'd see snow in Arizona but there it is on the North Rim
I didn't expect that we'd see snow in Arizona but there it is on the North Rim
I didn't expect that we'd see snow in Arizona but there it is on the North Rim
Flying back over the expanse that is the Grand Canyon
Flying back over the expanse that is the Grand Canyon
There's a lot of helicopter traffic ahead of us as we fly back to the south room
There's a lot of helicopter traffic ahead of us as we fly back to the south room
We're back over the South Rim as our flight nears its end
You're definitely never alone in the skies above the Grand Canyon
That's the Grand Canyon Squire Inn where we're staying
Approaching the landing pad back at Grand Canyon Airport
And we are back on the ground
This helicopter gave us an unforgettable (and air-conditioned) ride
Another chopper heads off to the Grand Canyon
Back to walking the South Rim of the canyon
If you want to hike down into the canyon, there's one of the trails you could take.
Back to walking the South Rim of the canyon
We're brave when there's a safety rail along the rim!
We're brave when there's a safety rail along the rim!
The canyon seems to go on forever
I don't think this sign could be much more clear, but we saw plenty of people risking their lives throughout the park.
Have I mentioned that these pictures don't look real to me even though I took them?
Have I mentioned that these pictures don't look real to me even though I took them?
This little blue bird in mid-hop is a Mexican Jay
This little blue bird is a Mexican Jay
One last glimpse of the Grand Canyon before heading out of the park
We never got to see a real mountain lion but this one is probably a lot safer anyway
It is nearly impossible to get a picture of the Grand Canyon National Park sign without someone standing in front of it. This is about the best I could do!
We stayed at the Grand Canyon Squire Inn in Tusayan
It's hard to miss our hotel with the giant eagle statue out front
We liked the Big E Steakhouse the previous night so we went back again
We liked the Big E Steakhouse the previous night so we went back again