Great weekend at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon!
Weather fantastic mid 50s during the day, nighttime temps about 25. We stayed at the Grand Hotel in Tusayan.
Tusayan is located just outside of the Grand Canyon National Park and only about a 15 minute drive to the South Rim visitor center. Low season hotel room rates of $108 / night. By early March rates are near $400! Great hotel with a fantastic “feel”. Definitely a repeat stay hotel!
Saturday morning drove to the GC visitor center parking lot to hitch a ride on the “Orange” route park shuttle bus for the 15 minute ride to the South Kiabab trailhead. Sure glad we brought along our micro-spikes for the start of the hike on icy trial conditions for the first half mile on the North facing decent.
Absolutely beautiful clear day starting the hike at noon. A bit cold and windy on the start of the trail but once in the sun warmed to the mid 50s. Perhaps as high as 70 when we reached Skeleton Point. The first major view point was “OOH AAH Point” offering a 270 degree view on the Canyon. The next major point of interest was Cedar Ridge a popular lunch and turn around point as well as a solar toilet. After a short stop we continued down the trail to Skeleton Point or better description close to it. Map said 3 miles to this location and after 3.3 miles on my GPS thought we must be there. My last time up this trail was 17 years ago and I don’t recall seeing a sign to mark this spot. After lunch we started back up the trail at about 2:15 pm.
Reaching Cedar Ridge we ran into 3 college kids from Austrialia we first met at OOH AAH. They were completely out of water and franking don’t know if they had any to start. Fortunately we were able to donate a couple of Gatorades. Always nice to help out those in need but sure would like to see people better prepared. Time back up 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Tusayan across from the Hotel.
Sunday had a pretty good breakfast buffet at the hotel and then drove back to the South Rim visitor center. Saturday weather was great Sunday awesome with perfect picture weather. After a tour of the unimpressive visitor center, we walked the 3 mile rim trail west with the first stop Mather Point without question the most visited view point in the Park. Tour Busses can park within 100 yards on this view point. Big flat rock is a very popular picture spot requiring a wait in line. Yes we participated in this tourist event and have the photo here to view.
What struck me as continued on the paved rim trail was the exposure to the vertical cliffs with only a few locations protected by guard rails. Now I understand why there are frequent falling deaths on this trail many times by people attempting self portraits. Next major point of interest on the Rim Trail is the stunning Yavapai Geology Museum, first dedicated in July 1928, was designed by architect Herbert C. Maier.
After another mile we arrived at the Grand Canyon South Rim Village consisting of the El Tovar, Verkamp Visitor Center, Hopi House, Kolb Studio, and Lookout Studio. The later used as the lead photo for this Post.
Past the Kolb Studio is the Bright Angel Trailhead. From here we took the “Blue” Shuttle back to the visitor center parking lot. The shuttle system around the park in our limited use seemed quite efficent running busses about every 15 minutes.
On the way home took Highway 64 East stopping at the Desert View Watchtower. This interesting tower built in 1932 and affords a 360 degree view of the Grand Canyon and even Mt. Humpherys at the base of Flagstaff.