S Kaibab Trail Grand Canyon: Below Cedar Ridge NPS Photo by Michael Quinn
SOME BEST-BET OPTIONS FOR EXPERIENCING THE GRAND CANYON’ S SOUTH RIM:
BY FOOT
The Grand Canyon’ s Historic Village District, site of iconic buildings including El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge and Hopi House gift shop, among others, has some of the best— and most easily accessible— canyon views.
The paved, flat Rim Trail winds along the canyon’ s edge with places to comfortably view the chasm along the way. The village segment is the most popular part of the 14-mile Rim Trail, which begins at the South Kaibab Trailhead and winds west to Hermit’ s Rest. Free park shuttles will ferry you to different parts of the trail.
Also in the Historic Village is the Trail of Time, a paved, interpretive geological path that starts at the Yavapai Geology Museum and ends. 71 miles beyond, near Verkamp’ s Visitor Center in the village. The trail traces 1.2 billion years of canyon development with samples of the oldest“ basement” rocks, to the relatively young( 270 million years old) cap rocks. Continue beyond Verkamp’ s for another 1.5 miles to Maricopa Point, and you’ ll have figuratively stepped back in time 4.6 billion years to Earth’ s creation.
For a taste of hiking below the rim, nothing beats the Bright Angel Trail, which winds down from the west end of the Historic Village District. It’ s a relatively gentle descent, and though it’ s the most trafficked trail in the canyon, it’ s ideal for casual hikers, since there’ s drinking water and restroom facilities at several points during the summer. The trail ultimately leads to Phantom Ranch, 11 miles away on the Colorado River. Shorter treks include hikes to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse, Three-Mile Resthouse and Indian Garden.
For more ambitious hikers, the steeper South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge is a scenic
2-mile round-trip jaunt. If you’ re up for more, continue a mile beyond Cedar Ridge to Skeleton Point. There’ s no water on this route, so be sure to carry your own.
Park Service rangers also lead interpretive walks. Check the daily roster for schedules.
BY BUS
The U. S. Park Service operates free shuttle buses in and around the village. In high season( mid-May to mid-October) they travel as far as Tusayan, a gateway community seven miles from the rim. You don’ t even need tickets. Just go to a stop and hop on.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates five narrated bus tours along the South Rim. Children 16 and under ride free when accompanied by an adult. They range from two to about four hours.
BY MULE
The Grand Canyon mule rides have been
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