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Writer's pictureHelen Avaient

Taking a day trip on the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona USA

Updated: Jan 18, 2023

Once upon a time…. Well, that is how all good stories start, and my spontaneous day trip to the Grand Canyon is a really good tale!


I had spent a New Year's holiday with friends in Arizona and it was time to farewell them at the Las Vegas airport. Just as they were about to board their plane, a text came through to say their destination airport was shut due to massive snowfalls and they would not be able to fly back for at least two nights.


So, what did we do…. We drove to Williams in Arizona, why not? It was only three and a half hours away. Let’s go to the Grand Canyon! As it had snowed here too, we made the smartest decision – to take the Grand Canyon Railway train, rather than drive through the snow ourselves. What a fabulous choice it was. The train trip is a true adventure.

the Grand Canyon railway train snakes its way through snow covered pines and ground as it turns gently into a bend

The departure from Williams was at 9.30am, and it is best to arrive there around an hour early. There is a café in the depot, and a staged shootout is performed outside around 9.00am.

a mock western shootout with cowboys at the Grand Canyon Railway with the passengers watching the show

Boarding started at 9.15am and as one of my friends was handicapped, a lift was organised to enable them to board the train. There are 3 steps up for able bodied passengers. The staff were very helpful and said that the lift is used almost every day. There is a lift at the Canyon end to enable easy access on and off the train there as well.

a chair lift is available to lift people with disabilities into the Grand Canyon railway train

Once onboard we were welcomed by our fabulous PSA (Passenger Service Attendant) Dennis. Dennis has worked for the railway for around eleven years and was an enthusiastic host. He kept us entertained with facts throughout the journey. He also handed out information brochures and papers, including a scavenger hunt list that adults enjoyed as well as the children aboard. If anyone had a birthday or anniversary, they were given a card to celebrate the occasion. On our return journey, Dennis handed out “thank you for your service” cards to veterans, service personnel, first responders, nurses and teachers. These thoughtful gifts were a really nice touch of appreciation.


We were entertained throughout the trip, there and back, by guitar playing musicians who encouraged singalongs as they strolled through the carriages.


At the Grand Canyon depot, wheelchairs are available for people who need to use them.

the log cabin of the Grand Canyon railway depot is covered in snow during a winter storm

This is a great service as people who would not be able to get around by themselves can still enjoy the views and facilities here. To get from the train depot to the El Tovar hotel and back, people needing assistance can get a lift in one of the complimentary vans on site. The El Tovar is about a hundred steps or so from the station.


The train trip takes around one and a half hours each way. Some people stay at the Grand Canyon hotels and take the train back another day. My friends and I did the day trip, so we were able to enjoy four hours at the east rim before the train departed at 3.30pm.


The El Tovar is a mix of Swiss chalet with its dark stained timbers and Norwegian villa with its stonework and wide verandas. Built in 1905, it was exceptional at its time with hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing and electric lights. It was rated as the most luxurious hotel west of the Mississippi River. The hotel was part of the Fred Harvey Company, well known for first class hotels and restaurants along the railway route.

the El Tovar hotel on the edge of the Grand Canyon is coated in snow during a winter storm. It is a wooden structure with stone walls around the porch.

Today, guests can stay overnight or longer here. They can also enjoy the dining rooms with large glass windows overlooking the Canyon. Gift shops stock a range of souvenirs and clothing, which was much needed by me. I hadn’t planned on a visit to the snow, so the purchase of a new set of gloves was a necessity.

Helen wearing warm hat, gloves and coat in the winter snow. The craggy features of the Grand Canyon in the background as she stands near the edge of this natural wonder