Your National Parks Part 38

The Grand Canon

Location: Northern Arizona. Area of reservation: 1260 square miles. Season: Throughout the year. Address of Supervisor of Tusayan National Forest: Williams, Arizona.

Railroad Connections

THE GRAND CAnON is reached by a branch line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad extending from Williams, Arizona, to Grand Canon Station, almost at the edge of the plateau. The round-trip excursion fare from Williams is $7.50; stopovers being allowed on both railroad and Pullman tickets. Some trains carry through sleeper to the Canon.

Round-trip fares are as follows: From Chicago, $80.00; from St. Louis, $72.00; from Kansas City, $60.00; from Denver, $55.00.

Automobile Routes

The Grand Canon may be reached by automobile from Flagstaff and Williams. Westbound tourists turn north at Flagstaff, reach the Canon at Grand View Hotel, follow the rim to El Tovar, and reach the main road at Williams. Distances: Flagstaff to Grand View, 71.5 miles; Grand View to El Tovar, 13.2 miles; El Tovar to Williams, 63.4 miles.

Hotels and Camps

El Tovar is located at the railroad terminus, not far from the head of Bright Angel Trail. Rates are $4.00 and $4.50 a day, without bath, and $6.00 and upwards a day, with bath. Bright Angel Cottages, adjacent to the hotel, are operated on the European plan, and rates for rooms are $1.25 to $1.50 a day; meals may be obtained a la carte at the cafe. In summer several large tents are used in addition to the cottages.

Trips

As the Grand Canon is not a National Park there is no way to license the individuals offering horses for hire. Tourists are advised to arrange with the transportation department of El Tovar Hotel for all trips into and near the Canon. By doing this the tourist is a.s.sured of good service and responsible guides.

A fine road has been built along the rim of the Canon from El Tovar Hotel westward for about 7-1/2 miles to the head of the Hermit Trail.

There is also a road running 2 miles eastward along the rim from El Tovar to Yavapai Point. A third road runs eastward 13 miles to Grand View; the western half of this road is through the forest, while the eastern end is along the Canon rim. There are three trails into the Canon--Bright Angel Trail, starting near El Tovar Hotel; Hermit Trail, starting 9 miles to the west, and Grand View Trail, 13 miles to the east.

The following trips by coach are made daily from El Tovar:--

To Hopi Point on Hermit Rim Road, 2 miles to the west and return: 10 A.M. and 2 P.M., $1.00; sunset trip, $1.50.

To Mohave Point on Hermit Rim Road, 3 miles to the west and return: 9 A.M. and 2 P.M., $2.00. Hopi Point is pa.s.sed on this drive.

To head of Hermit Trail on Hermit Rim Road, 7-1/2 miles to the west and return: 9 A.M. and 2 P.M., $3.00. Stops are made _en route_ at Hopi, Mohave, and Pima Points. From October 1 to May 1, the afternoon trip starts at 2.30, and the rate is $4.00 on account of the additional time spent at Hopi Point to view the sunset.

To Yavapai and Grandeur Points, 2 miles to the east: 10.15 A.M., $1.00

Bright Angel Trail starts near El Tovar Hotel and extends to the river, 7 miles distant. There is also a branch leading to the plateau at the top of the granite wall, 1272 feet above the river. There are three distinct trips made on the Bright Angel Trail: To the river, 8.30 A.M., round trip, $5.00; to the Plateau, 10.30 A.M., round trip, $4.00; to the river and Plateau, 8 A.M., round trip, $6.00. If less than three persons make the trip, there is an additional charge of $5.00 for a guide for the party. All three trips are made on muleback, accompanied by a guide, and each trip requires an entire day.

Hermit Trail is a new path that extends from Hermit Rim Road to the Colorado River. At present horses can be used only as far as Hermit Camp on the plateau at the head of the granite wall, but there is a footpath from the camp to the river. The following trips may be made to points on the Hermit Trail:--

One-day trip:-- El Tovar to Santa Maria Spring on Hermit Trail, round trip $7.00; guide extra.

Two-day trip:-- El Tovar to Hermit Camp, round trip $15.00, which includes guide, horse, accommodations, and supper, breakfast and lunch at camp. The return trip may be made by way of Bright Angel Trail for $7.00 additional for each person.

Boucher Trail is west of and opposite Hermit Trail. This trip is on horseback or by wagon on the Hermit Rim Road as far as the head of Hermit Trail, then on horseback to Boucher Trail and down that trail to Boucher's Camp at Dripping Springs, 900 feet below the rim. The Boucher Trail continues to the river, but it is not possible to make the round trip to a point farther than Dripping Springs, when lunch is eaten: El Tovar to Dripping Springs and return, $4.00 each for three or more persons; if there are less than 3 persons, an extra charge of $5.00 is made for a guide.

The following regular trips may be made by automobile:--

Grand View, 13 miles, 9.30 A.M. and 2 P.M., round trip $4.00.

Desert View, 32 miles, 8 A.M., $30.00 for one to three persons; each person over three, $10.00 additional.

Many camping trips into the Canon and along the rim may be taken if time is available. From October to April, camping should be confined to the Canon itself, but from April to October camping trips may be planned to include both the rim region and the Canon. The rates for camping trips range from $10.00 to $15.00 a day for one person with $6.00 to $8.00 a day extra for each additional person. The rates quoted are for guides, animals, and camp equipment: Three-day trip down Hermit Trail and up Bright Angel Trail, distance 34 miles, rate $14.00 a day for one person, $8.00 a day extra for each additional person. Provisions are extra.

Another three-day trip is to the Havasupai Indian Village in Cataract Canon. The distance is about 50 miles in each direction, 35 miles by wagon and 15 miles on horseback. The round trip from El Tovar costs $15.00 a day for one person and $5.00 a day extra for each additional member of the party. These rates include all services as well as horse feed, but do not include provisions or lodging at the village for members of party and guide, for which an additional charge of $2.00 a day is made. For parties of 3 to 6 persons an extra guide is needed at an additional cost of $5.00 a day, besides his board and lodging at the Indian Village.

A three-day trip may be made by way of Bright Angel and Boucher Trails, a total distance of 52 miles. The route follows Bright Angel Trail to the Plateau, which is followed westward for 30 miles along the Tonto Trail. Camp is made on Monument Creek the first night and on Hermit Creek the second night. The return is made by Boucher Trail to the rim of the Canon. The rate for this trip is $12.00 a day for one person and $6.00 extra for each additional person; guide and camp equipment are included, but provisions are extra.

A trip by way of Bright Angel and Grand View Trails, a distance of 55 miles, may be made in three days. This route follows Bright Angel Trail to the Plateau, which is followed eastward for 30 miles along the Tonto Trail. The return is made by way of Grand View Trail to the rim and then to El Tovar. The rates for this trip are $12.00 a day for one person and $6.00 a day extra for each additional person; guide and camp equipment are furnished, but provisions are extra.

An easy two-day trip is the one to Desert View, 32 miles east of El Tovar, by wagon. On this trip Grand View Point is pa.s.sed and camp is made on the rim at Desert View 16 miles beyond Grand View Point. The rate is $10.00 a day for one person, and $5.00 a day extra for each additional person; guide and camp equipment are furnished, but provisions are extra.

Clothing

No special equipment is required unless the tourist expects to indulge in tramping or camping. For the one-day trips ordinary clothing will suffice, as women's divided skirts, men's overalls, linen duster, and straw hats may be rented at El Tovar Hotel. If much tramping is to be done appropriate shoes should be worn.

La.s.sen Volcanic National Park

Location: Northern California. Area: 124 square miles. Season: June 1 to September 30. Address of Forest Supervisor temporarily in charge of Park: Red Bluff, California, October 16 to May 14; Mineral, California, May 15 to October 15.

Railroad Connections

The best routes to La.s.sen Park region are from Red Bluff on the San Francisco-Portland line of the Southern Pacific, from Fernley, Nevada, on the San Francisco-Ogden line of the Southern, and from Keddie, on the main line of the Western Pacific. Stopovers may be obtained on through tickets reading through these places. The best stopping-place is Drakesbad, which is near the base of La.s.sen Peak. The round-trip fare from San Francisco to Red Bluff is $6.00; from that point the route is by automobile stage, 72 miles, to Drakesbad; stage fare, $15.00 for round trip. From Fernley, Nevada, a side trip to Westwood via Susanville may be obtained for $6.85 for the round trip. From Westwood the route is by automobile stage 35 miles to Drakesbad; stage fare, $6.00 for round trip. Westwood may also be reached from San Francisco; round trip, $20.00. There is a through sleeper from San Francisco to Susanville, where direct connection is made with train to Westwood. Keddie, on the Western Pacific, is 71 miles from Drakesbad; there is no regular stage line. Round-trip fare from San Francisco to Keddie is $12.25. The Park may be reached also from Redding, on the San Francisco-Portland line of the Southern Pacific, but there are no hotels or camps on this route within less than 15 miles of the Park; this route is feasible only for campers.

Automobile Routes

The Park is reached from Red Bluff on the main highway between San Francisco and Portland. Red Bluff is 260 miles from San Francisco and 72 miles from the Park.

Hotels and Camps

The only stopping-place within the Park is at Drakesbad, where there is a camp. Rates are $3.00 to $3.50 a day. South of the Park accommodations may be secured at Lee's Camp at Chester, 12 miles from La.s.sen Peak, 70 miles from Red Bluff, 27 miles from Westwood; rates $2.00 a day.

Trips

There are no scheduled trips in this Park; there has not been time to develop this cla.s.s of service. Guides and horses may be obtained at Drakesbad for $2.50 a day. The most important trip is to the volcano of La.s.sen Peak, 7 miles from Drakesbad. Another interesting trip is to Cinder Cone, Snag Lake, and Twin Lake; distance, 22 miles for the round trip.

Other trips are as follows: Boiling Lake, 1 mile; Devil's Kitchen, 1-1/2 miles; b.u.mpas h.e.l.l, 6 miles.