It's easy to see why the South Rim is the most visited Rim of the Grand Canyon. It has the most lodges, restaurants and trails. Your first glimpse of the South Rim is this wide based oasis of canyons. It seems to go on and on. We entered from the east side and wound our way slowly to the South Rim. There are stops along the way and you wish you had enough time to stop and read at each place. But we did want to get there before sunset so we only stopped at a few.
At the North Rim we had bought a Senior Pass which lets us into all the State Parks for a year for $10 so we were able to show our card and pass right into the road leading to the lodges. As luck would have it, right in front of our cabins was construction as they are expanding some trails and adding some features. A nice worker told us to just park right there in front of the cabin as all work was done for the day so we could unpack our bags and move the car later. We were happy to oblige and walked 30 feet to our small cabins. Once again they are rustic but clean and maybe a tad bigger than the ones at North Rim. The best part is you are right by the Rim and can get up and view the sites on the way to breakfast.
We arrived around 4pm so we had time to get something to eat in one of the many small cafes and restaurants. It was pretty busy but eventually we were able to get a table and enjoy a surprisingly good meal. We were amazed at the choices offered in a place where all the food has to be trucked in each week!
After the meal we took our place outside and witnessed another glorious sunset. At night the sky is so vast and unmarred by city lights and the stars seem to go on forever. It is too amazing for words.
The next day we get up early as there are so many angles to the Canyon to see. The great thing about the South Rim is you can hike as far as you want and when you are done, simply catch a shuttle bus back to the lodge.
The important thing is to bring some water as the hiking will make you thirsty. You start out with the chill of the morning and by mid morning, the jacket is tied around your waist. It is easy to assume that once you seen one part of the canyon you have seen it all but each trail leads to an angle that is changed by the depth, shadows, drop off views--the canyon is a living breathing change of art.
We were talking to one gentleman who was 78 who this year did not walk down the canyon and back up! We are huffing and puffing to get through our trails and he "feels his age this year" and doesn't walk down to the bottom? Oh, Vey! We still congratulate ourselves on the trail we manage to walk and with the pictures we hope will show the Canyon's gracious beauty that man has not yet managed to destroy.
That alone, makes the trip worthwhile.
By 1 we are packed, had some lunch and ready to make our way to our last stop, the West Rim.
The adventure truly begins when we get a glimpse of the unpaved road leading to the West Rim...
At the North Rim we had bought a Senior Pass which lets us into all the State Parks for a year for $10 so we were able to show our card and pass right into the road leading to the lodges. As luck would have it, right in front of our cabins was construction as they are expanding some trails and adding some features. A nice worker told us to just park right there in front of the cabin as all work was done for the day so we could unpack our bags and move the car later. We were happy to oblige and walked 30 feet to our small cabins. Once again they are rustic but clean and maybe a tad bigger than the ones at North Rim. The best part is you are right by the Rim and can get up and view the sites on the way to breakfast.
We arrived around 4pm so we had time to get something to eat in one of the many small cafes and restaurants. It was pretty busy but eventually we were able to get a table and enjoy a surprisingly good meal. We were amazed at the choices offered in a place where all the food has to be trucked in each week!
After the meal we took our place outside and witnessed another glorious sunset. At night the sky is so vast and unmarred by city lights and the stars seem to go on forever. It is too amazing for words.
The next day we get up early as there are so many angles to the Canyon to see. The great thing about the South Rim is you can hike as far as you want and when you are done, simply catch a shuttle bus back to the lodge.
The important thing is to bring some water as the hiking will make you thirsty. You start out with the chill of the morning and by mid morning, the jacket is tied around your waist. It is easy to assume that once you seen one part of the canyon you have seen it all but each trail leads to an angle that is changed by the depth, shadows, drop off views--the canyon is a living breathing change of art.
We were talking to one gentleman who was 78 who this year did not walk down the canyon and back up! We are huffing and puffing to get through our trails and he "feels his age this year" and doesn't walk down to the bottom? Oh, Vey! We still congratulate ourselves on the trail we manage to walk and with the pictures we hope will show the Canyon's gracious beauty that man has not yet managed to destroy.
That alone, makes the trip worthwhile.
By 1 we are packed, had some lunch and ready to make our way to our last stop, the West Rim.
The adventure truly begins when we get a glimpse of the unpaved road leading to the West Rim...
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