Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time is breath taking. No matter how many photos or videos you have seen of this spectacular landscape, nothing can really prepare you for the shear scale of it.
Where we stayed on Route 66
After a while scouring the internet for an affordable accommodation option, we settled on the Route 66 town, Williams. An hour drive from Williams to the South Rim parking lot of the Grand Canyon is definitely worth it for the charm of the classic diners, neon signs and vintage memorabilia.
Exploring the rim of the Grand Canyon
When we entered the Grand Canyon National Park, we purchased a $35 vehicle permit that was valid for 7 days. Upon arriving in the parking lot, we were greeted by a lovely flat tire. Make sure to a have a spare!
We decided to spend a total of 2 days at the Grand Canyon. On the first day, we walked along the winding paths that line the edge of the canyon. Hours were spent entranced by the ancient landscape. Since we came by car, we decided to drive around the park. Desert View was an interesting and popular viewpoint with a historic watch tower. The other stops along Highway 64, or Desert View Drive, were marked by parking lots. We chose to stop at every single one. And we do not regret it!
Hiking into the Grand Canyon
Hiking into the Grand Canyon is done by a very small fraction of the people who visit the National Park. These hikes involve steep terrain, walking along cliff edges, and incredible heat with low shade. During the summer months, these hikes are not to be completed during the day.
There are multiple hikes to choose from, so we opted to visit the information centre to speak with a park warden. He suggested completing the South Kaibab Trail. This trail is highly trafficked during high season, and serves as a route for the famous mule ride tour packages. Since we were visiting in February, and began our hike early in the morning, crowds were not a worry.
The hike consist of 3 main points, Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Ridge, before the final descent to the river. Cedar Ridge is a popular turn around point for families as there is a restroom and spectacular views. The National Park Service recommends Skeleton Ridge as the turn around point for day hikers. If continuing on to the river, it is highly recommended to camp for the night. We chose to turn around at Skeleton Point as the heat of the day was beginning and we had a long drive ahead of us later that afternoon.
From the trail head to Skeleton Point and back, our total mileage was around 6 miles. We were regularly stopping to take in the glorious views, drink water and catch our breath, so the entire hike took about 4 hours. This included a long lunch break at Skeleton Point. And the walk back up was definitely harder then the descent.
Describing the views is almost impossible. Hiking the Grand Canyon was an experience I will never forget. Descending into the canyon allows you to see so much more detail, colour and life than what you can view from the top. And the South Kaibab Trail had amazing views the entire time. I can’t wait to do it again! Next time, I’ll be camping at the bottom.
