With your trip a year or more away, you have the best chance of finding lodging close to the rim; the hotels nearest to the South, West and North Rims can be booked up to 13 months in advance, so book now if staying close to the rim is important to you. If you're not sure when you plan to visit, you may need to look for lodging outside the rim; the hotels nearest to the South, West, and North Rims are often booked up to a year in advance.
If you're planning this Grand Canyon trip as a once-in-a-lifetime kind of vacation, with significant resources dedicated equal to making it forever memorable, the world is your oyster. At the North Rim, visitors with about a year to plan and a big or even unlimited budget have access to 'bucket-list' activities such as 3, 7, 14 or even day Colorado River whitewater rafting trips.
The better physical shape you're in, the more you will enjoy your Grand Canyon hike. Therefore, it's wise to start training for your adventure as early as 9 months out in order to give you plenty of time to start slow and gradually work up to your peak physical condition.
Starting slowly and increasing your endurance and strength over time will protect your joints, build muscle and strengthen your cardiovascular system; it's also key to minimizing soreness and keeping at your routine so you don't abandon your training program.
Train three times a week doing your choice of cardio workouts for at a minimum of one hour per day. Walking up and down hills, gradually carrying more and more weight - lbs for a day hike; lbs for a backpacking trip - is an ideal training exercise for hiking the Grand Canyon , but cycling, running, step-aerobics, stair-climbing and swimming are excellent options. Your endurance will build if you work out at least once a week for an hour straight; other days, your minute workouts can be broken up into morning and evening sessions.
