Off to the Grand Canyon West

I went with a 55 & Better group that my sister belongs to at the San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita (in Orange County), California, on a three–day trip to the Grand Canyon West in Arizona. I am not Catholic or a member of the group but was welcomed to join my sister on the trip. The first day of our trip we drove to Laughlin, Nevada, where we spent two nights. On our second day, we drove to the Grand Canyon West in Arizona, and on our third day, we drove from Laughlin back to California. Photo of our Main Street Experiences bus (taken in Laughlin, NV).

Father Olson

We were blessed twice by two priests before leaving on our journey, first when getting on the bus, including sprinkling holy water on us, and second by Father Ted Olson (pictured) when we were all on the bus. This was a first for me––no previous blessings on any trip I have taken beforehand. It was very nice.

Leaving Rancho Santa Margarita

We had beautiful scenery with mountain backgrounds throughout the trip, including these mountains behind Rancho Santa Margarita.

Cajon Pass

On the Cajon Pass between the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains. The pass was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault, the major earthquake fault that runs north and south in most of California and which we will be crossing. I did think about it when we crossed it and did as well when my sister and I were driving on the Cajon Pass in fog several years ago––not a great experience then.

Mojave Desert

We spent much time driving through the Mojave Desert, the driest desert in North America but still one with various desert plants growing on it. The Mojave is mainly located in southeastern California and southern Nevada and we drove through it in both states.

Laughlin, Nevada

With a rest stop and a lunch break in Barstow, California, followed by wine and snacks and Bingo games on the bus (I won one game with a $5 prize), it took us about 6 1/2–7 hours to reach Laughlin, Nevada. Laughlin is located on the Colorado River and has many hotels. Directly opposite it, on the other side of the river, is Bullhead City, Arizona. Gambling is legal in the State of Nevada and there are many casinos, including one in our hotel: the Riverside Resort. For various reasons, including lack of cleanliness, I would not recommend the hotel. The hotel that is most recommended is Harrahs. However, the Riverside Resort rates are inexpensive and it draws a large 55 plus crowd.

Riverside Resort

Slot machines at the Riverside Resort––very popular with the 55 plus crowd. I played a penny machine but the smallest bet you could make was 20 cents. I very quickly lost $6.00 and that was the end of my gambling.

Riverside Casino

The Riverside Casino had a Loser’s Lounge to go along with a Winner’s Lounge in another area.

Golden Nugget Hotel

On our first night in Laughlin, my sister and I had a great dinner at the Golden Nugget Hotel with my in–laws who live across the river in Bullhead City, Arizona. The dinner made our trip special. Photo: When I first walked past this man at the Golden Nugget, I thought he was real. A very good artwork. I have put my photos of our trip from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, to Laughlin, Nevada, on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/california–to–laughlin–nevada/
(Slide Shows, United States, Grand Canyon West, CA–NV–AZ, “California to Laughlin, Nevada).

Union Pass

On the second day of our trip, we headed from Laughlin to the Grand Canyon West going through the Black Mountains on the Union Pass. The pass is spectacular on both sides and you need to be in the front seat of a car to fully see all of its beautiful rock formations. On a bus, you mainly see but one side of the pass.

Mojave Desert

After going through the Union Pass, we drove through miles and miles and miles of the Mojave Desert.

Grand Canyon West

We arrived at Grand Canyon West in about two hours from Laughlin (it is also about two hours from Las Vegas). Grand Canyon West is not part of the Grand Canyon National Park. Rather, it is on the Hualapai (pronounced Wa–la–pie) Indian Reservation. The reservation, established in 1883, is less than 1,000,000 acres and the tribe has about 2,300 members. In the national park, there are three main viewing areas: the south rim, the north rim, and the east rim. The south rim is the most popular and I have been there four times on various trips, but this was my first time at the west rim. Photos of the south rim can be found at Slide Shows, United States, Arizona/Nevada. There is no album to the photos as it disappeared when there was a glitch in my website.

Skywalk

There was a shuttle bus at the Grand Canyon West entrance that would drop you off at three locations. My sister and I got off at the second stop, Eagle Point, and immediately went to the Skywalk before it got too crowded. The Skywalk was completed by the Hualapai tribe in March 2007. It is a horseshoe–shaped steel frame with a glass floor. It projects about 70 feet (21 m) from the canyon rim and is 4,000 feet (1,219 m) above the canyon floor. We got into the photo line to have our photo taken by one of the Skywalk’s photographers (see slide show). No cameras, personal photo–taking, or bags are allowed on the Skywalk (there are lockers for you) and you need to put on booties over your shoes. I thought I would be nervous on the Skywalk as I do not like heights and I don’t have good balance, but you are able to hold onto the outside rail as you walk around the horseshoe and the height didn’t bother me––all worry about nothing.

Eagle Point View

A view of the Grand Canyon at Eagle Point. We ate lunch here and then forgot to go to the small Native American Village here.

Guano Point

We got back on the shuttle bus and got off at the highest point: Guano Point. Here you could see the Colorado River, though muddy, that carved the Grand Canyon. The whole of the canyon is 277 river miles (446 km) long, up to 18 (29 km) miles wide, and a mile (1.6 km) deep.

Guano Point

What was unusual at Guano Point was that there were views of both sides of the canyon. Photo: a view of the other side. You can see from the photos of both Guano Point and Eagle Point that there are no rails protecting you from falling into the canyon. Grand Canyon West is not recommended as a place to bring small children.

Grand Canyon West–MOVIE

A movie I took on the shuttle bus going from Guano Point to the Hualapai Ranch, the lowest stop.

Hualapai Ranch

We got off the shuttle bus at the Hualapai Ranch, which is very much like an Old West town. Here, there are wagon and stagecoach rides, horseback riding, and overnight cabins. The Hualapai also have a hotel in Peach Springs, Arizona, where their tribal headquarters is located, about two hours away.

I have put my photos of our trip to Grand Canyon West on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/grand–canyon–west/

(Slide Shows, United States, Grand Canyon West, “Grand Canyon West, CA–NV–AZ”).

Laughlin, Nevada

We started to drive back to California the next day about 12 p.m., which gave us enough time to take the River Walk that extends all the way to Harrahs at the end of the hotel strip. It is a very nice walk except for all the flying bugs trying to attack you, so I didn’t stay on it too long. The last time we were here, my sister and I walked part of it at night and came across a number of racoons.

Mohave Desert

We drove back through a long stretch of the Mohave Desert and stopped for lunch at Barstow, California. After Barstow, wine and snacks were served and we played Bingo.

Cajon Pass

Another ride through the Cajon Pass and we were almost back in Orange County, a trip with stopping for lunch of about 6 hours.

I have put my photos of our trip from Laughlin, Nevada, to Orange County, California, on a slide show. Go to
http://www.peggysphotos.com/laughlin–nevada–to–california/

(Slide Shows, United States, Grand Canyon West, CA–NV–AZ, “Laughlin, Nevada, to California”).