I am doing a 21 day Grand Canyon trip, putting on at Lee's Ferry March 31, taking out at Pearce Ferry April 20. I was hoping I could park my plane at Marble Canyon for the duration of the trip and get a flight back from Pearce to Marble canyon.
Questions are, is it safe to leave a plane for 3 weeks at Marble Canyon? Is there an operator in the area that makes regular flights from Pearce to Lee's? Or is anyone in that area available to give a guy a ride back? Or Should I just park at Flagstaff and do all the shuttle by car?

Flew into Marble Canyon this summer. There are some spots for tiedowns, and it is directly across from the hotel and general store. I wouldn't say there is any sort of security though. Maybe Page is a better option?

No idea on the plane part, but if you haven't done the canyon before, have fun. It's a great trip! That's a good time of year as well.

Pete

I've done the canyon numerous times, always left the skywagon at home. I think by the time you figure out flights etc. it will be cheaper and less time to drive from Basalt and set up a car shuttle. Are you guys outfitting yourselves? If you are getting outfitting all those companies have shuttle services. Just my 2 cents.

Enjoy!

I've done the canyon numerous times, always left the skywagon at home. I think by the time you figure out flights etc. it will be cheaper and less time to drive from Basalt and set up a car shuttle. Are you guys outfitting yourselves? If you are getting outfitting all those companies have shuttle services. Just my 2 cents.

Enjoy!

Its 2.25 hours by 180 to Marble Canyon, its 8.5 hours to Flagstaff to meet up with the boat rental company, then the trip to the put in. Takeout airfield to the Marble Canyon is 1 hour, back to Flagstaff is a few hours.
I am renting a boat for simplicity, the only thing I am bringing along is my drysuit, PFD, throw bags, and personal camp gear, and beer, an easy load for the 180. Plus, I simply prefer to fly over drive.
It may not work out, but that's why I am asking the questions.

Flew to Marble Canyon about a month ago in a rented Cherokee 6 with a group of friends and then got backhauled up to kayak down from the Glen Canyon Dam. There's a $5 fee per night the plane is tied down, paid at the gift shop across the street. The restaurant next to the gift shop has phenomenal food. The guys who work there more or less keep an eye on things but there isn't any security. The walk from the airport to the launch point is about 6 miles along a paved road and there aren't any taxis or shuttles available.

It's a narrow runway and you have to push the plane up a slight incline to get it into the tiedown area (I'd recommend bringing your own ratchet straps).

That section of the grand canyon is incredible, and this time of year the upper stretch has phenomenal fishing and duck hunting. Next time I go I'm definitely not leaving the rods behind. Enjoy the trip! And if you talk to a guide named Troy with Lee's Ferry Anglers, tell him hi, he's the man.

Enjoy!

My advice would be to try and find a CFI out of Page with 180 experience and have him ferry your plane back from Marble Canyon, tie it down at Page - then fly down and pick you up at the takeout. Will likely only cost you some ferry time, and maybe gas for tie downs in page. And your plane will sit behind the relative security of the Page ramp.

The people at Classic Aviation were awesome when we were there just a couple of weeks ago. They do tailwheel instruction in a J3 and a Citabria, so I'm sure someone there could be trusted with a 2 minute flight from Marble to PGA. Call them and chat about your options.

[url]https://flyclassicaviation.com/aircraft-rental//url]