Keller Travels: Sept 11-13: Grand Canyon

Sept 11-14: Grand Canyon

Before leaving Page, we stopped at Horseshoe Bend for the view of the river. The rocks and cliffs were quite interesting, but one couldn’t get close enough to the edge to see the entire bend of the river.

All of southwest Utah has a million dollar view!!!!!!

Our arrival at Grand Canyon Nat’l Park greeted us with rain and chilly temperatures. We have a beautiful site within the campground and quite convenient to hop on the shuttle bus. Our first stop was at the visitor center because it was raining again. By the time the orientation film was over, the sky was cloudy but blue. Finally, our first views of the Grand Canyon!

I was surprised that the colors were so muted, not the vivid reds I imagined. There were many people walking along the rim looking into and photographing the canyon. We hopped on the shuttle for the next stop but it was raining again with hail. We returned to the trailer for about an hour and rather then waste our first day we ventured out again. It was a good thing we did…..

A double rainbow over the canyon. It lasted at least 30 minutes, as if it was giving everyone a chance to take pictures. After a gloomy morning and afternoon, all appreciated it. It was soon approaching sunset we hopped on the shuttle again for Hopi Point. The shuttle was very crowded and there were several “slow downs” to view animals along the route. Needless to say by the time we got off the shuttle, the sun had already set.

During the time at the park we completed several hikes. Cedar Ridge Trail descends 1200 ft into the canyon and is approximately 3 miles round trip. A park ranger led this hike as our group of 30+ people descended into the canyon. The morning started a little chilly but we soon shed our jackets and enjoyed the beautiful morning with so many wonderful views. It was interesting to have mules pass us on the narrow trail. The trail needed some surface repair. The mules had canvas dirt bags hooked over the saddle, the rider would dumb the dirt over low spots, and then the “mule train” would head back down for another load. The mules were panting as they ascended the slopes. Of course we had to hike back up the canyon, it wasn’t as difficult as we thought it would be. Only 5% of the 5 million yearly visitors ever descend into the canyon!

Starting the 1200 ft descend

Down we go

Mules on the trail

Prrof that we made it!

Several roads are accessible only by shuttle bus. You may have to transfer several times, depending upon you destination. I wanted to get in a “long hike” so we walked the 8 miles of the Rim Trail. If you ever go to the Grand Canyon you must complete this hike. Easy walking, mostly paved, with a view of the canyon for almost the entire time. The colors became more vivid as we made it to our final point, Hermit’s Rest. We hopped on the shuttle rather than walk the 8 miles back. Once again it rained in the afternoon but this time with hail, enough to make the ground white. We did get soaked when we had to transfer buses.