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
FLYWASHINGTON . COM 36 SPRING 2017