Part 1 Hiking the Grand Canyon because it’s a long hike, and my first rim to rim
.jpg "Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Canyons from NR GRCA NP AZ")
Roaring Springs canyon to Bright Angle canyon from North Rim
Last summer I was hired as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park, a dream come true.
.jpg "2008 Staff ready to hike rim to rim NR GRCA NP AZ")
Wes, Andrea, Robin, Gaelyn, Amala, Bill and Jamie
As part of my almost three weeks of training I hiked the Grand Canyon with six other Rangers, rim to rim, north to south, in three days and two nights. It was 27 degrees F at 9:30am when we started down the North Kaibab Trail at 8,250 feet.
.jpg "Standing in Supai Tunnel N Kaibab trail NR GRCA NP AZ")
Robin in Supai Tunnel
Supai Tunnel was blasted in the 1930s. This is located almost two miles down with a drop of 1450 feet. Water and compost toilets are located near the tunnel. Many day hikers come this far before returning to the North Rim.
.jpg "North Kaibab trail NR GRCA NP AZ")
North Kaibab trail to Roaring Springs
By then it was warm enough to reduce layers. I never needed those long pants or fleece again, just had to carry them. But weather can change so rapidly it’s good to be prepared.
.jpg "Looking up Roaring Springs North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Looking north back up to trailhead
My pack weighed about 30 pounds with just the basics, including plenty of snacks and water.
.jpg "Needle's Eye North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Needle’s Eye North Kaibab trail
.jpg "Roaring Springs waterfall North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Roaring Springs
We took the short side trail to Roaring Springs where there’s potable water and compost toilets. The springs pour out of the canyon walls high above and flow into Bright Angel Creek. The National Park Service does not recommend a round trip day hike beyond this point, 4.7 miles one way with a 3000 foot drop in elevation.
.jpg "On the North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Gaelyn along trail
In the late 1920s, Utah Parks Company a concessionaire, built a pipeline from Roaring Springs to the North Rim to provide for all water needs. From 1965-70, another pipeline was built to the South Rim.
.jpg "North Kaibab trail along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
Trail along Bright Angel Creek
We continued to descend another two miles further to Cottonwood Camp where we stopped for the night. At this point we’d dropped about 4200 feet in almost seven miles. It sure felt good to get off my feet. Yet downhill hadn’t been too bad. Knees felt good. Just tired, a good kind of tired. Slept on the ground under the stars and could see a far off light high above from the North Rim’s Grand Lodge.
.jpg "North Kaibab trail along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
More trail along Bright Angel Creek
Up to this point we’d all hiked pretty much together. But in the morning everyone left separately and hiked at their own pace.
.jpg "Bridge over Bright Angel Creek leads to Ribbon Falls GRCA NP AZ")
Bridge over Bright Angel Creek leads to Ribbon Falls
About one mile below the campground a spur trail leads to Ribbon Falls. I opted not to add any extra miles. Maybe next time.
.jpg "Agave along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
Agave
So I continued following Bright Angel creek into…
.jpg "The Box North Kaibab trail along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
The Box
…the Box, one of the most amazing sections of the trail yet. It hugs the 1200 foot high gorge walls and crosses the creek, on bridges, several times.
.jpg "Phantom Ranch GRCA NP AZ")
Phantom Ranch
Suddenly the box opens up to Phantom Ranch, a surprisingly green and open grassy area with willows and cottonwoods. In 1907 David Rust set up the first tent houses for visitor accommodations when hiking the Grand Canyon and later in 1921 Mary Colter designed the still used Phantom Ranch facilities.
.jpg "NPS bunkhouse Phantom Ranch GRCA NP AZ")
The bunkhouse
I wandered wearily into the National Park Service bunkhouse and as I dropped my pack was offered a cold beer. All I heard was cold. I don’t usually drink beer, but it sure tasted good. Put up my tired feet and enjoyed the view. I had hiked almost 14 miles and dropped about 5800 feet in elevation.
.jpg "Looking up at South Rim from Phantom Ranch GRCA NP AZ")
View from the bunkhouse
OMG, I still had to climb out of this hole.
.jpg "2008 Staff ready to hike rim to rim NR GRCA NP AZ")
Wes, Andrea, Robin, Gaelyn, Amala, Bill and Jamie
As part of my almost three weeks of training I hiked the Grand Canyon with six other Rangers, rim to rim, north to south, in three days and two nights. It was 27 degrees F at 9:30am when we started down the North Kaibab Trail at 8,250 feet.
.jpg "Standing in Supai Tunnel N Kaibab trail NR GRCA NP AZ")
Robin in Supai Tunnel
Supai Tunnel was blasted in the 1930s. This is located almost two miles down with a drop of 1450 feet. Water and compost toilets are located near the tunnel. Many day hikers come this far before returning to the North Rim.
.jpg "North Kaibab trail NR GRCA NP AZ")
North Kaibab trail to Roaring Springs
By then it was warm enough to reduce layers. I never needed those long pants or fleece again, just had to carry them. But weather can change so rapidly it’s good to be prepared.
.jpg "Looking up Roaring Springs North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Looking north back up to trailhead
My pack weighed about 30 pounds with just the basics, including plenty of snacks and water.
.jpg "Needle's Eye North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Needle’s Eye North Kaibab trail
.jpg "Roaring Springs waterfall North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Roaring Springs
We took the short side trail to Roaring Springs where there’s potable water and compost toilets. The springs pour out of the canyon walls high above and flow into Bright Angel Creek. The National Park Service does not recommend a round trip day hike beyond this point, 4.7 miles one way with a 3000 foot drop in elevation.
.jpg "On the North Kaibab trail GRCA NP AZ")
Gaelyn along trail
In the late 1920s, Utah Parks Company a concessionaire, built a pipeline from Roaring Springs to the North Rim to provide for all water needs. From 1965-70, another pipeline was built to the South Rim.
.jpg "North Kaibab trail along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
Trail along Bright Angel Creek
We continued to descend another two miles further to Cottonwood Camp where we stopped for the night. At this point we’d dropped about 4200 feet in almost seven miles. It sure felt good to get off my feet. Yet downhill hadn’t been too bad. Knees felt good. Just tired, a good kind of tired. Slept on the ground under the stars and could see a far off light high above from the North Rim’s Grand Lodge.
.jpg "North Kaibab trail along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
More trail along Bright Angel Creek
Up to this point we’d all hiked pretty much together. But in the morning everyone left separately and hiked at their own pace.
.jpg "Bridge over Bright Angel Creek leads to Ribbon Falls GRCA NP AZ")
Bridge over Bright Angel Creek leads to Ribbon Falls
About one mile below the campground a spur trail leads to Ribbon Falls. I opted not to add any extra miles. Maybe next time.
.jpg "Agave along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
Agave
So I continued following Bright Angel creek into…
.jpg "The Box North Kaibab trail along Bright Angel Creek GRCA NP AZ")
The Box
…the Box, one of the most amazing sections of the trail yet. It hugs the 1200 foot high gorge walls and crosses the creek, on bridges, several times.
.jpg "Phantom Ranch GRCA NP AZ")
Phantom Ranch
Suddenly the box opens up to Phantom Ranch, a surprisingly green and open grassy area with willows and cottonwoods. In 1907 David Rust set up the first tent houses for visitor accommodations when hiking the Grand Canyon and later in 1921 Mary Colter designed the still used Phantom Ranch facilities.
.jpg "NPS bunkhouse Phantom Ranch GRCA NP AZ")
The bunkhouse
I wandered wearily into the National Park Service bunkhouse and as I dropped my pack was offered a cold beer. All I heard was cold. I don’t usually drink beer, but it sure tasted good. Put up my tired feet and enjoyed the view. I had hiked almost 14 miles and dropped about 5800 feet in elevation.
.jpg "Looking up at South Rim from Phantom Ranch GRCA NP AZ")
View from the bunkhouse
OMG, I still had to climb out of this hole.
Please join me for Part 2 of Hiking the Grand Canyon.
I want you all to know; I was extremely nervous about hiking the Grand Canyon and had almost talked myself out of going up to the night before we left. Then another Ranger reminded me that “it’s just one step at a time.”
To camp overnight in the Grand Canyon requires permits many months in advance. You must be prepared both physically and mentally for this adventure.
Hi Gaelyn! It’s Elizabeth from “the caves.” I was sick of flipping through our crappy photo collection cuz I needed some cave photos to send somebody so I did a web search to see if there was a decent webpage that hit all the highlights of Oregon Caves’ tour. Guess what I found? It took me awhile to realize this was YOUR blog though! Very nice blog! Take care.
Stacey and I once went down Bright Angel to the Colorado, took a left turn and walked down river until we came up another side canyon where the busline ends. I can see the trip before my eyes, but the names I never seem to retain.
Oh my goodness, my husband’s dream is to hike the grand canyon too. However, I don’t think I’m physically fit to do that yet. Oh what a dream job you have.
One word: unimaginable!
Beautiful photos! That’s quite a hike down from the north rim lodge to Phantom Ranch. You seem to have made it with enough energy left for photos, so you were doing very well.
I’d like to take that trail sometime, but I’m not sure my knees would last…
Gaelyn,
I am so glad you did the hike, and didn’t talk yourself out of it. It is such a magical place to hike. I would like to hike down through the canyon again some day. Maybe spend a little more time down in the canyon next time. I really enjoyed camping next to the river after hiking down. I look forward to the second half!
I have read about this, without pictures, and still wanted to go. Your pictures make it even more of a dream. And even though a hike like that would scare me, I think the mules would scare me more! I know they are more sure-footed than me, but riding that high with those big drop-offs might do me in!
Excellent continuation from last week Gaelyn, love the shots.
Have a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
I’m so glad to be taking this adventure through your eyes. The trails do look inviting and the scenery is spectacular. I love the color of the earth there, much redder than in my area.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful walk. What spectacular country. It is on my Bucket List! Thank you also for all of the information. Have a nice week.
Smiles
What a beautiful place. I hope to visit someday and see it for myself.
Oh, I really want to do that, but I know I am not either physcially or mentally ready for it. Maybe next winter I can do more to get in shape for it.
I look at this and realise our worls’ are so different. Yours is so vast, awesome. Makes you feel such a small part and a reminder how mother nature knows best.
That looks like a wonderful hike although I’m sure it was very challenging. I loved your shots and enjoyed this post so much.
Gaelyn: More power to you to be able to do this hike. It looks like a wonderful place to exxperience nature.
One of the highlights of my life was hiking down the Bright Angel and catching a raft for the rest of the way down the canyon. It exceeded my expectations. Thanks for taking me back.
It’s amazing that once you are in the canyon, it feels like a totally different place than when one views it from the top. There are these different levels and tiers that you give you different points of views and experiences within this natural wonder.
It looks like hard work tramping in the heat but the scenary makes it look like fun. Great range of photos.
Gaelyn, those are beautiful shots, great place to visit and your zoom make it even more fascinating. I’ll love to visit someday.
Thank you
From Now and Then.
Mary Elizabeth.
I did the Kaibab several years back, sans pack and I was sore for a week! We stupidly didn’t leave until about 9am–in AUGUST–meaning we were coming back out of it (no, we didn’t camp–just a quick dip in Roaring Springs and right back out) at the hottest time of day, during the hottest time of year. I finished the last few miles in my bikini! Though I distinctly remember a large family of Mormons descending the trail (with a mattress over their heads…what???) in full head-to-toe garb. Something tells me they were a bit hotter than I was!
I did the Kaibab several years back, sans pack and I was sore for a week! We stupidly didn’t leave until about 9am–in AUGUST–meaning we were coming back out of it (no, we didn’t camp–just a quick dip in Roaring Springs and right back out) at the hottest time of day, during the hottest time of year. I finished the last few miles in my bikini! Though I distinctly remember a large family of Mormons descending the trail (with a mattress over their heads…what???) in full head-to-toe garb. Something tells me they were a bit hotter than I was!
I am so glad you did it so I can ride on your back. At my age and in my condition I am not allower over 2,000m without extra oxygen. Downhill I might have meade it without a pack, but up is another matter. A most enjoyable hike with great pictures.
Everything so pretty. Been to the Grand Canyon so many times but never went hiking. Too scared to cross that hanging bridge!
Wow, I would so love to be here, the rocks are just amazing and so great with your photos.
How lucky!
Thanks for taking me along on this virtual tour. 🙂
Fantastic! I think between you and Janie I’ve been persuaded to put ‘hiking the Grand Canyon’ on my list of things I want to do! 🙂
Oh WOW!! I was waiting for these Gaelyn. Is there any place on earth which is more meautiful than this? No, I do not think so and believe me, I have seen a LOT of fantastic sights over my years. There is just something magic about the place which I love. Unfortunaely when we were there, my husband was too sick so we never did any hiking. Maybe I will get to do it the next time I am there.
Thanks once again for posting the beautiful shots. How I wish I could be there right now!!
Awesome place. The Grand Canyon is so majestic and you captured it well. My boyfriend will fly to the US in May to raft the Grand Canyon. That was 10 years in the waiting. A dream come true for him. Looking forward to seeing more of this majestic canyon.
Wow! Our friend made this trip last year. Now we know what it entails. Thanks for the details and fab photos– and what a wonderful life you lead!
It really is one of the wonders of the world and I really enjoyed your hike down into it, and it was not as tiring either! Looking forward to next week.
Oh how beautiful. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos and I’m with you on the “OMG I still had to climb out of this hole.” I think I would be fine going down it’s the climb back up that seems to take forever. But in a place this beautiful I think it would be worth it. Also thanks for stopping by my blog and for the nice comment that you left for me.
I’m glad you took your camera along! That’s a hike I would like to take thought I’m not sure my legs are willing. I really like the view from the bunkhouse.
A beautiful place for hiking! I bet there are endless photo opportunities there. Thanks for sharing!
Certainly an unforgettable adventure! I like hiking very much and wish to visit Grand Canyon one day … Waiting impatiently for the second part of the story!
Wow – Gaelyn – you are so lucky! The photos are amazingly beautiful. I’m so proud of you – what an incredible hike!
I would love to do that..but I would not love to have a backpack on.
Congrats on doing this even though you wanted to opt out. I bet now you are thrilled to have done it.
I will stay tuned for your next post.
I am so glad that you decided to go on that hike. How awesome! I loved the box area. Everything looked so wild and beautiful
Thanks for taking us along on your hike. The scenery is absolutely beautiful.
Your posts and pictures bring to life all those 'westerns' I read in my younger days… 😉 fantastic place! Well captured!