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Hi everybody, I would like to take a cross country rail trip through the southern US and heard of a private rail that could take you to the south part of the Grand Canyon. Has anyone else been on this? I’d depart from GBO on the Crescent to begin my journey. I’d love some feedback on stops or other points of interest as well.
 
Hi everybody, I would like to take a cross country rail trip through the southern US and heard of a private rail that could take you to the south part of the Grand Canyon. Has anyone else been on this? I’d depart from GBO on the Crescent to begin my journey. I’d love some feedback on stops or other points of interest as well.
Be sure to read all the comments in this thread. You can book through Amtrak reservations a shuttle from the Flagstaff Amtrak station to a hotel near the Grand Canyon Railway, as well as the ticket on the GCRR itself.

Or you might consider a car rental as others have suggested, but driving to and in the park during the busy summer season can be frustrating.

Regardless of how you reach the canyon, I suggest spending the night in a park hotel. This allows you to see the amazing colors of sunset and sunrise (don't sleep in). From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. the light doesn't give the best effect.
 
There is a hotel at the Williams station where the Grand canyon train leaves from. It also has a cafeteria style restaurant which I felt was overpriced and had the ambience of a high school cafeteria. But there are some nice restaurants in Williams within walking distance. We particularly liked the Red Raven.
 
Be sure to read all the comments in this thread. You can book through Amtrak reservations a shuttle from the Flagstaff Amtrak station to a hotel near the Grand Canyon Railway, as well as the ticket on the GCRR itself.

Or you might consider a car rental as others have suggested, but driving to and in the park during the busy summer season can be frustrating.

Regardless of how you reach the canyon, I suggest spending the night in a park hotel. This allows you to see the amazing colors of sunset and sunrise (don't sleep in). From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. the light doesn't give the best effect.
I definitely will stay at a hotel there and take that advice! Much appreciated.
 
Hi all - I am doing this same trip in April.

Can I just check something in regards to the connecting bus from Williams to Flagstaff. If the train is running a few hours late, will the connecting bus leave Williams later too? Or will that leave at the original time and you have a few hours wait in Flagstaff?

Thanks!
 
A thousand years ago I was a tour pilot (among other things) for a small airplane charter company. In those days, the Grand Canyon lodges would book *exactly* one year ahead, resetting at midnight. I loved flying to the Canyon in winter, so would stay up and nab two of the Bright Angel *rimside* cabins, for a total of four people. I would try to get two or three weekends in February, two nights each.

Then the next winter, I'd look at the weather and if it looked good, make some calls and sell the trip to a couple, and take along my girlfriend at the time. If the weather was bad, they had no problem cancelling with a day or so notice.

I'm very familiar with all the South Rim options, so if anyone has questions, ask here or pm me. The only question I can't answer now is how to get one!
 
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