Welcome To The Grand Canyon!
Yes, it’s as incredibly beautiful – and vast – as you imagine – in fact, The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and has a depth of over a mile – 6,093 feet!
Walking Rim To Rim!
I visited for the first time last year, and did a mini-hike into the canyon – before reading about a way to actually hike the canyon “rim to rim!”
These views are from the Southern Rim – a terrific national park that is incredibly well maintained. However, you can also see the north rim – although it’s HUNDREDS of miles to get around the canyon to it – and there you can begin the hike of a lifetime!
Here’s how I found it described:
“On this epic Grand Canyon hike, you’ll leave from the North Kaibab Trail on the North Rim, challenging your personal limits as you descend 14.3 miles and 6,000 feet to the bottom of the canyon before connecting with the Bright Angel Trail and climbing 4,500 feet and 9.6 miles back out again to the South Rim.”
So, as you look at this picture, remember you start OVER THERE and hike all the way to OVER HERE!
There are a couple of great hikes just from the Southern Rim as well.
The walk to Phantom Ranch is approximately 7.5 miles down the South Kaibab Trail (average hiking time is 4-5 hours down) and 10 miles on the Bright Angel Trail (average hiking time down is 4-6 hours, average hiking time up is 6-10 hours).
The National Park Service DOES NOT RECOMMEND hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day. Risks are greater for those who hike alone. There is no one to assist you if you become lost, ill, or injured. Mountain lions do inhabit the Grand Canyon.
Yes, MOUNTAIN LIONS!
There are several different ways to hike into the canyon, and there are a lot of signs that not only tell you what you are getting into, but provide you with plenty of warnings on how to tackle the hike.
This is an important point, as over 250 people are rescued from the canyon each year. As the Park Service notes on their website:
“The difference between a great adventure in Grand Canyon and a trip to the hospital (or worse) is up to YOU. DO NOT attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day, especially during the months of May to September.”
The Bright Angel Trailhead offered spectacular views and a nice walk into the canyon.
Here is what it was like to hike some of the way down – look at the views as you descend:
As you can see, there are no guardrails – you are expected to be serious when you attempt any hike here.
I also shared a video of the southern rim of the Grand Canyon – it’s really impossible to capture just how magnificent this natural wonder is, but I tried:
What was really cool was traveling to the southern rim by train! The small town of Williams offers a two+ hour train ride that is a blast!
Its the ONLY way to travel to the Grand Canyon – here are more details and pictures from inside the train as we were be ambushed by an outlaw gang!
https://johnrieber.com/2018/09/09/my-trip-to-the-grand-canyon-by-train-natures-beauty-on-display/
Let me know if you have ever hiked into the Grand Canyon!
Categories: Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Sports, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized
Great info!! I went to the Great Canyon 8 years ago and we just did the lookout area that is closest to Las Vegas!! This seems like quite a hike but fun. And the mountain lions omg!!
You know what they say: the closer you get to the wild, the closer the wild gets to you!
LOVE these pictures and the writing John. When we were there with the teens they did not want to hike and we always planned to go back. You make things so much easier. Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, it’s such an incredible place – never to change!
Absolutely gorgeous! And the Canyon demands your respect and common sense.I remember walking along the rim a healthy distance from the edge. Some have gotten too close to take a selfie and it has not turned out well. It’s not wise to turn your back on this awesome canyon.
Yes, they are making foolish decisions to get too close to the edge – don’t want them to force more fences! Thanks for commenting!
Wow, this is incredible! And such a coincidence because just the other week I’d read a book (another American crime thriller as I’m addicted) and it involved a mystery in the Grand Canyon, so the FBI agent ended up hiking a lot of it. I learned a lot I knew knew or realised about the canyon, it’s size, the trails, just how difficult & dangerous it can be with hiking due to heat & the intensity of the terrain. Great photos!
Caz x
That is hilarious – what are the odds? I loved it there, and the ONLY way to go is by train – 2-1/2 hours of incredible scenery and dropped off right by the canyon! Thanks for your comment and sharing your book story!
I recall your visit, John. I was suitably envious, and still am. Maybe one day… 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks Pete…this is new video and new information about how to cross the canyon…all from that one visit!
Very cool post and I love your pictures. What was your favorite part about the Grand Canyon?
Thanks for the comment! I was very impressed with how clean it was, how well organized for those who want tours, and how they have let it stay “natural” – not overly “protected” with fencing…
Great read! I just went to the southern rim in May for the first time. It’s such a beautiful place.
Isn’t it incredible? Photos just don’t capture it, and while I only went partway down, I’d go to the bottom for sure! Thanks for commenting!
I would definitely go back.
Yes, I took the train there and it was so much fun as well…you avoid the traffic and just relax and enjoy the scenery and it drops you off right at the canyon!