First time to The Grand

Nick said:
What's the camping prospect like at Toroweap, @Artemus? Permit required? Primitive, designated sites, etc?

I have BFG All Terrains with a full size spare, a nice pump that hooks to my battery and plenty of flat fix stuff.
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You are good to go. Call me tomorrow night and I will avail you of more details. In the meantime call the NPS or research the very current info on the tiny but fantastically amazingly wonderful NPS campground right at the end of the road. It used to have two spots right on the rim. Like 10' away but they had to close them down because people kept/keep falling off there....
 
another voice for Toroweap. I simply like the spot a lot. Never had a flat out there with my BF Goodrich AT tires
Unfortunately the campground isn't free of charge any more and since last year you need to pick up a wilderness permit for $10 either at the St. george BLM or at Pipe Springs. There are a few spots close by at some of the spur roads where you can camp but then you still need to drive out to Toroweap in the dark for sunrise.
 
I was a toroweap last year in April - and am planning to go back next month. The road is not bad at all - except for the last 5 miles or something. We were super impressed with the condition of the road. Well grated dirt road. There is a ranger station maybe 20 minutes from the campground. I am wondering if one could drive to that spot and park for the night and ride a bike the last few miles? I will find out next time i am there

The road into the individual camp spots is rowdy. I think there are 8 spots. The ranger rolls up on a 4 wheeler and was super helpful. I don't remember how much it was. We parked on the side of the road that leads into the campground. He said that was a-ok to do. We were in my buddies' Mazda Tribute (same as Ford Escape).

The campground is like a 15 minute walk from the edge. So much to explore!!
 
Any thoughts on other things to do at Toroweap while I'm there? I don't know if I'm up for the sketchy climb down to the river. I've got a nice chair and plenty to read, so I'll probably be good, but thought I'd see if anyone has any other suggestions. My googling on Toroweap isn't coming up with much other than the overlook. Oh, and any favorite books on the Grand? I'm particularly interested in learning the geology.
 
Nick this is what we did one time in the Arizona Strip starting from St George.
Depending on your time you could do part of it or alternatively move on faster.

day 1: Drove direction Whitmore Canyon for hike to the River and camp there, see the site of member Hatchcanyon for pics:
http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Arizona/Arizona_Strip/index.php text is German.
After the "International Airport" the road got rougher, our better halves refused to continue so we turned around and camped there.
day 2: Drove to Toroweap spent the afternoon going to the viewpoint and further relaxed and camped.
day 3; Hiked/scrambled down to Lava Falls and camped for another night.
day 4: Drove via Nampaweap to see the Petroglyphs than continued to Tuckup Canyon and camped.
day 5: hiked to the Shaman's Panel and returned to civilization after that.
 
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You are going to have fun!

While we were out there, or rather on the way, we climbed a peak. Some highpoint. A quick search make me think it was Mt. Trumbull. It was well worth it, and had a very remote feel.

Also pretty neat was that hike down the lava flow. Not good in hot weather, otherwise pretty casual for the average wilderness traveler.

I did it solo, and as I was sitting by the river, a friendly boater invited me on his raft for a run thru Lava. To this date, almost 25 years later, this is the only part of the Grand Canyon I've run!
 
So, now that we hyped it and you visited it did the Grand and, specifically Toroweap, delight you?
 
It was without a doubt amongst the most incredible things I've ever seen. Having two excellent sunsets back to back certainly helped with the wow factor. And doing it solo definitely added to the exhilaration factor. So many photos to work through, but a trip report is coming soon. Now I just need to find a dog sitter so I can take Audra out there in the spring. Thanks much to everyone here for the advice, and thanks in particular for pushing me toward Toroweap. That was one hell of a good way to see it for the first time.

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Nick said:
It was without a doubt amongst the most incredible things I've ever seen. Having two excellent sunsets back to back certainly helped with the wow factor. And doing it solo definitely added to the exhilaration factor. So many photos to work through, but a trip report is coming soon. Now I just need to find a dog sitter so I can take Audra out there in the spring. Thanks much for everyone here for the advice, and thanks in particular for pushing me toward Toroweap. That was one hell of a good way to see it for the first time.

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That makes me grin... And in the bastardized words of Lucy's husband... "You got some 'splorin' to do!"
 
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