Our Hike into the Grand Canyon

Last night’s low temperature was 17 degrees F!!! The ranger said yesterday’s and today’s weather is more typical for early March, NOT early May. It was our coldest night camping ever, including Alaska and Yukon. We didn’t think to unhook the water to the trailer last night and our water hose to the trailer froze.

So we get up this morning, unhook our frozen hose (we use the water from our fresh water tank instead) and take our time getting ready. We’re not anxious to go outside – too cold early in the morning.

We finally do leave for the park around 10:30am. We’re going to hike down the canyon today! Actually we’re only hiking 600 feet below the rim. The South Kaibab Trail was highly recommended by the ranger at last night’s evening program.

The hike is great – wonderfully, incredible scenery for every step of the hike.

View from top of trail:

Of course the walk down is easy and we get to Ooo Aah Point in about 40 minutes.

View of rocks on the way down:

View of Ooo Aah Point:

We stop here for at least 30 minutes to enjoy the view and eat our lunch. Our view from Ooo Aah Point:

While we’re sitting there, two different mule trains that are traveling up from the canyon pass us.

We thought about taking a mule to the bottom of the canyon, but changed our minds when we realized how close the mules get to the edge of the canyon. Seeing the mules today, I definitely made the right decision for me. I’d rather have two feet on the ground when I’m on the trail versus sitting on a mule and depending on the mule to keep me safe.

The return walk up the canyon is slower but not as bad as I thought it might be. We make lots of stops to admire the scenery, plus they have switchbacks at the steepest part of this trail.

After our hike we continue walking along the rim for another mile or so before returning to the trailer for a break (and rest for my legs).

View of the South Kaibab Trail from the Rim Trail:

We see a very tame elk beside the trail:

We rest, have dinner, and return to the canyon to take the shuttle to Hopi Point to watch the sunset.

We end our day by attending the evening ranger talk. It’s supposed to be on hiking the canyon but they change the topic to ravens. Very disappointing, but this ranger tells lots of jokes, so we enjoy it more than we expect.