Grand Canyon day hike
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:38 pm
I made my first day hike into the Grand Canyon June 23 2007.
As my user name implies, I'm a big fan of Mt. Whitney, but the Grand Canyon holds a close 2nd place. Never a dull moment.
For anyone thinking of making this hike for the 1st time, I thought I would provide some helpful tips.
Obviously it is a different type of hiking experience in that you have to hike down first and then back up. That is an important point since the trip back up will happen during the hotter part of the day if you are hiking in the summer as I did.
I had planned to hike on the popular Bright Angel trail, down to the river and back up the same way. After arriving and scoping out the trail I realized that this may not be the optimum trail for experiencing the splendors of the canyon. Bright Angel trail is situated in a valley between 2 ridges. Therefore for most of the hike down you only have one view of the canyon. Its a great view, but basically does not change.
This was somewhat of a disappointment to me, and I investigated further to find an alternative.
South Kaibab just a couple miles east of Bright Angel is situated on a ridge that juts out into the canyon. The trail goes along the top of the ridge so that you have wide open views on both sides.
The hiking distance to the river is 2-3 miles shorter also. Even though there is no water on the trail it is only about a 3 hr. hike to the river.
I chose to take South Kaibab to the river and hook up to Bright Angel at the Bright Angel campground just a few hundred yards north of the river.
There is plenty of water available on Bright Angel up to about 2 miles from the trail head. A stream flows along side the trail from Indian Gardens down to the river. Above Indian Gardens on the switchbacks there are 2 water stations with shelter and restrooms.
This makes Bright Angel a better route back to the rim. Also the 4 miles or so of switchbacks up to the rim are in the shade in the late afternoon after about 4:30.
All things considered the South Kaibab to Bright Angel loop is the best way to go I think. Optimum views and optimum water supply.
The loop is about 16 miles total. I completed the trip in 12 hours exactly
from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. That includes more than 2 hours resting and lunch, and other stops to take pictures and talk to other hikers. I took a very leisurely pace and still had plenty of time.
I drank about 6 liters of water, plus 3 20 oz. bottles of Gatorade, and 2 bottles of Carbo Force that I mix in my water. I even licked table salt from my hand periodically to replace lost sodium.
The temperature was 120 deg according to thermometers located at Indian Gardens. That was at 3:40 pm. It was probably hotter near the river earlier in the afternoon. It actually did not feel that hot, and I suspected if the rangers are not messing with the instruments to scare hikers, but thats just me.
I passed one woman suffering from heat exhaustion near the river. The rangers picked her up by raft.
The park tries to discourage day hikes to the river and back as being too dangerous. It would be for the average tourist hiker that is not conditioned or prepared. But for a conditioned hiker with adequate water and food, and not in a hurry, it is no problem. Plus if you hike in the fall or spring, the heat is not such an issue.
To make the loop you have to park your car at the Bright Angel Lodge and take a morning shuttle to South Kaibab. The shuttles run from sunrise to sunset, and there is a hiker's express shuttle that goes directly to the trailhead. It picks up on the hour at 4,5,and 6 am.
I posted some photos of the hike on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9479793@N0 ... 3551/show/
It is a great hike and I hope to go back again.
I hope this info is helpful.
As my user name implies, I'm a big fan of Mt. Whitney, but the Grand Canyon holds a close 2nd place. Never a dull moment.
For anyone thinking of making this hike for the 1st time, I thought I would provide some helpful tips.
Obviously it is a different type of hiking experience in that you have to hike down first and then back up. That is an important point since the trip back up will happen during the hotter part of the day if you are hiking in the summer as I did.
I had planned to hike on the popular Bright Angel trail, down to the river and back up the same way. After arriving and scoping out the trail I realized that this may not be the optimum trail for experiencing the splendors of the canyon. Bright Angel trail is situated in a valley between 2 ridges. Therefore for most of the hike down you only have one view of the canyon. Its a great view, but basically does not change.
This was somewhat of a disappointment to me, and I investigated further to find an alternative.
South Kaibab just a couple miles east of Bright Angel is situated on a ridge that juts out into the canyon. The trail goes along the top of the ridge so that you have wide open views on both sides.
The hiking distance to the river is 2-3 miles shorter also. Even though there is no water on the trail it is only about a 3 hr. hike to the river.
I chose to take South Kaibab to the river and hook up to Bright Angel at the Bright Angel campground just a few hundred yards north of the river.
There is plenty of water available on Bright Angel up to about 2 miles from the trail head. A stream flows along side the trail from Indian Gardens down to the river. Above Indian Gardens on the switchbacks there are 2 water stations with shelter and restrooms.
This makes Bright Angel a better route back to the rim. Also the 4 miles or so of switchbacks up to the rim are in the shade in the late afternoon after about 4:30.
All things considered the South Kaibab to Bright Angel loop is the best way to go I think. Optimum views and optimum water supply.
The loop is about 16 miles total. I completed the trip in 12 hours exactly
from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. That includes more than 2 hours resting and lunch, and other stops to take pictures and talk to other hikers. I took a very leisurely pace and still had plenty of time.
I drank about 6 liters of water, plus 3 20 oz. bottles of Gatorade, and 2 bottles of Carbo Force that I mix in my water. I even licked table salt from my hand periodically to replace lost sodium.
The temperature was 120 deg according to thermometers located at Indian Gardens. That was at 3:40 pm. It was probably hotter near the river earlier in the afternoon. It actually did not feel that hot, and I suspected if the rangers are not messing with the instruments to scare hikers, but thats just me.
I passed one woman suffering from heat exhaustion near the river. The rangers picked her up by raft.
The park tries to discourage day hikes to the river and back as being too dangerous. It would be for the average tourist hiker that is not conditioned or prepared. But for a conditioned hiker with adequate water and food, and not in a hurry, it is no problem. Plus if you hike in the fall or spring, the heat is not such an issue.
To make the loop you have to park your car at the Bright Angel Lodge and take a morning shuttle to South Kaibab. The shuttles run from sunrise to sunset, and there is a hiker's express shuttle that goes directly to the trailhead. It picks up on the hour at 4,5,and 6 am.
I posted some photos of the hike on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9479793@N0 ... 3551/show/
It is a great hike and I hope to go back again.
I hope this info is helpful.