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Sedona vs Grand Canyon

davec

davec

New member
Lockport, IL
Aircraft Year
1974
Aircraft Type
112/A
Reg Number
N1189J
Serial Number
189
Have a trip planned to see relatives in Phoenix area over holidays, and would like opinions of Grand Canyon ga flight vs Sedona. IMHO as a pilot the Sedona airport is a destination itself, but that doesn’t apply to the family. What are your opinions one vs the other ( I am thinking one advantage for Grand Canyon is that crowds are probably at all time lows). I am from Chicago so I don’t know the area but have flown out to Tucson a few times ...

we would probably make a 1 day stay out of the trip ...

thanks for your help ..
 
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Dave, what is it you're looking to do and see? Phoenix to the Grand Canyon should be about 1.5 hours for you; Sedona's nearly under the path. My wife and I spent a 3-day weekend in Sedona a few years back, plenty to do in that area. The airport cafe has excellent food, the scenery is great. We found a very quaint town of Cottonwood - even flew there & back one day months later for a lunch/shopping run. The Grand Canyon is surely a sight to see, tho. Took my family there years ago (car trip) & there isn't really a "town" there so much as it's a US Park Service sight. You can stay in the park at some historic lodges, usually you have to book those months in advance. And I'd guess probably not many local hotels would be open this time of year, tho - off season & COVID. The thing to see there, of course, is the Canyon & these days you have to take a shuttle bus between stops on the loop. No more private cars driving around. The nps.gov/grca site has lots of info about what's open, roads, news, etc.

Earlier this year I took a day trip for an overflight of the Grand Canyon. It was incredible & I included Monument Valley on the way. Having seen the Grand Canyon from the ground & the air I'd say you can't take in the full breadth either way, but you can see alot more of it in the air. There is an altitude restriction. Crossing over the Canyon you must fly through "corridors", with minimum altitudes of 10,500 and 11,500 (depending north or south). The GCN airport is at 6,600 - so crossing the Canyon you must be at least about 4,000 AGL above the rim. Winter will make for colder air & better performance; if it snows the scenery would be amazing.

This was part of my flight plan:

Grand Canyon 94J flight.jpg

Good luck on your planning & holiday.
 
Sedona won't be as cold and everything will be open. Grand canyon - not so much lots of stuff up there closes down for the winter.
 
Sedona and surrounding area will make for very memorable flying. We have held annual Commander fly-ins there. Great times. If you want to use Sedona as a base, drive to Williams and take the steam train to the Canyon. Fun experience for the family. It will deliver you to the rim of the Canyon right at the historic old lodge. (Time for canyon viewing and lunch at the Lodge before taking the train back to Williams) With Covid, you’ll have to check to see what is open or available in either location. If you do Sedona and have family members that want some scenic flying, be sure to catch the Meteor Crater NE of Sedona.
 
Great to criss cross the canyon, the sectional never expires, the one I have is 15 years old and still current. I planned it out on Foreflight and marked the waypoints. It was a breeze following the instructions. A great flight over the Canyon. Valle just South is a good small airport 40G , rental cars and good inexpensive motel across the road. there is an aviation museum also at Velle
Life is a barrel of fun.

Ken
 
Thanks to covid-19 most stuff on the reservation is closed right now.


Click image for larger version Name: Screenshot_20201216-102117.png Views: 0 Size: 173.2 KB ID: 173609
 
Call ahead wherever you go, make sure whats open and whats closed. Weather can be an issue this time of year in norther AZ. Either place is great to visit.
 
Thanks everyone, looks like Sedona is more likely based on everything I have heard...seems like most stuff around there is open, a quick flight up from Phoenix ....That crater sounds interesting too, might have to fly over that....we don’t get all this fun stuff in the Midwest...
 
I have been to Sedona several times and the runway is interesting. When I was there the last time the airport restaurant was open and had good food. Very nice place.
 
You'll learn why they call the airport the "USS Sedona" once you're on final!
Basically an aircraft carrier set down right in the middle of a desert...Beautiful!
 
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