Trip Highlights

  • Bryce Canyon is famous for its ghostly council of hoodoo formations, slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires. The term, “hoodoo,” comes from early geologists who thought the rock formations could cast spells. The Canyon isn’t carved by flowing water. Instead, it is eroded by frost-wedging, where water seeps into cracks, freezes, and shatters or pries the rock apart. Also, naturally acidic rainwater slowly dissolves layers of limestone in the Canyon. We will view the magical play of both sunset and sunrise on Bryce’s wild contours.
  • Paria Canyon – Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness is a desolate palette of flash flood-carved sandstone slot canyons, undulating landscapes of rainbow stone contours and ancient Anasazi ruins. Sandy campsites under shady Pinon trees next to the Paria River makes this a unique and a magical place to explore and camp
  • Glen Canyon and Marble Canyon of the Colorado River segue from Glen Canyon Dam to Lee’s Ferry, at the northern boundary of Grand Canyon National Park. This stretch of the Colorado River is smooth and rapid-free. California Condors can be seen above soaring along the rim of thousand-foot cliffs while trout are easily observed through the clear waters beneath. Ancient people’s petroglyphs are carved in the canyon walls at one of the beach stops.
  • The North Rim is 1,400 feet higher than the South Rim. The Grand Canyon is more than nine miles across. The thread of the Colorado River is visible a mile below. These dimensions illustrate the immensity of the Grand Canyon, which is dramatically evident at Bright Angel Point. The sunset displays pale yellows, brilliant oranges, and deep reds on mesas and ridges. Warm hues contrast with deep shadows in crevices and jumbles of boulders.
  • The steep top part of the North Kaibab Trail (trailhead at 8,250 ft) is a high alpine forest of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and aspen, which, in October, will be becoming golden.
  • The Coconino Overlook (7,750 ft), which is only two-thirds of a mile down from the North Kaibab trailhead, has a good view of Roaring Springs Canyon. Geologic layers are clearly visible to the naked eye from the overlook.
  • A series of steep switchbacks leads to the Supai Tunnel (6,800 ft) 1.8 miles down. The alpine forest gives way to pinyons and junipers. The trail hugs the imposing cliffs of limestone, shale, and sandstone for several miles. Water and restrooms are available.
  • The Roaring Springs fork (5,200 ft) is 4.7 miles down. The side trail to Roaring Springs is a quarter-mile hike one-way. This huge perpetual artesian source rushes out of the rock face and is the primary water supply for all of the Inner Canyon and South Rim facilities. It is also the major tributary of Bright Angel Creek, which is beaver habitat. Water and restrooms are available.
  • Cottonwood Campground (4,000 ft) is 6.9 miles down at the convergence of two canyons. The campground is surrounded by yucca and prickly pear cactus, evidence of the warmer Inner Canyon climate. Water and restrooms are available.
  • Ribbon Falls ( 3,720 ft) is an easy quarter-mile hike one-way from the main trail. The one-hundred-foot waterfall beats down on an enormous moss-covered travertine dome. The cool, moist grotto is filled with maidenhair fern, golden columbine, and scarlet monkey flowers.
  • After continuing down the North Kaibab Trail along Bright Angel Creek, Bright Angel Canyon forms “The Box,” where thousand-foot walls of Vishnu schist and Zoroaster granite extend for four miles. Water in Bright Angel Creek must be treated.
  • Phantom Ranch has cabins, a canteen, and a small store that sells drinks, snacks, and T-shirts. Postcards are sold and delivered by mule back to the U.S. Post Office at the South Rim. We will dine at the canteen in the company of travelers from all over the world. On occasion, ringtails can be seen climbing the exterior stone walls of the canteen. Water and restrooms are available.
  • Bright Angel Campground (2,480 ft) is 14.4 miles down from the North Rim, about half a mile beyond Phantom Ranch. Only one-fifth of one percent of all the visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park spend a night below the Canyon’s rim. The campground is along trout inhabited Bright Angel Creek. Cottonwood trees shade the campground and deer and kit fox are often seen. Water and restrooms are available.
  • The Colorado River (2,400 ft) is a quarter mile from Bright Angel Campground. There are two bridges, the Black Bridge and the Silver Bridge. The power and immensity of the river is quite startling in this desert environment. The river area is populated by mule deer and desert bighorn sheep. California condor and golden eagles can sometimes be seen soaring overhead.
  • The River Trail gently rises and falls as it follows 1.7 miles along the Colorado River, affording spectacular views up and down the Inner Gorge. Underfoot, and high above the water in some places, are ancient river sand deposits. The trail turns sharply away from the river at the River Resthouse. There is no fresh water here, but restrooms are available.
  • Bright Angel Trail starts at the River Resthouse and ascends in a series of switchbacks with breath-taking views of Grand Canyon mesas and the North Rim. It was the route historically used by the Havasupai Indians.
  • A small creek runs through Indian Gardens Campground (3,900 ft), 4.5 miles from Bright Angel Campground. Deer forage in the high-desert chaparral and under the cottonwood trees by the creek. Water and restrooms are available.
  • Sunset and moonrise are visible from Plateau Point, which is an easy three-mile round-trip hike from Indian Gardens Campground. This open promontory overlooks the Colorado River, both up and down Grand Canyon. If the evening is clear, the setting sun will seem to melt the Canyon into warm hued waxes.  Climbing the rest of the way up to the South Rim along Bright Angel Trail involves hiking 3,000 ft in 4.5 miles. On the way, the hiker passes the 3 Mile Resthouse (4,750 ft) after 1.7 miles of steep switchbacks. Water and restrooms are available. Then comes the 2 Mile Corner (5,490 ft), where there are Indian pictographs. Next is the 1.5 Mile Resthouse (5,730 ft). Water and restrooms are available. After a very steep climb and more pictographs, the hiker arrives at the South Rim’s Bright Angel Trailhead(6,860 ft). Water and restrooms are available.

 

Climbing the rest of the way up to the South Rim along Bright Angel Trail involves hiking 3,000 ft in 4.5 miles. On the way, the hiker passes the 3 Mile Resthouse (4,750 ft) after 1.7 miles of steep switchbacks. Water and restrooms are available. Then comes the 2 Mile Corner (5,490 ft), where there are Indian pictographs. Next is the 1.5 Mile Resthouse (5,730 ft). Water and restrooms are available. After a very steep climb and more pictographs, the hiker arrives at the South Rim’s Bright Angel Trailhead(6,860 ft). Water and restrooms are available.

 

Sources:

This section is a summary of information from personal experiences, aided by the websites listed below:

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