Turn long Grand Canyon trails into day hikes

Grand Canyon National Park

This blog entry by Hikes with Tykes author Rob Bignell originally appeared in Seattle Backpackers Magazine.

The Grand Canyon is one of those rare landscapes that humbles a soul.

Its immense size – 6000 feet deep from rim to canyon floor at its deepest, 18 miles across from rim to rim at its widest – appears unreal to most visitors. Then there’s the unfathomable age of the rock, up to 2 billion years old. Or simply watch the ever-shifting light as the canyon’s mood rotates through the day, ranging from the mystical, multiple hues of sunrise and sunset, to the utterly stark harshness of its brilliantly lit desert walls at high noon.

Many of the national park’s trails head into the backcountry by going up and down steep canyon sides, offering fantastic adventures for backpackers. That’s not so great for families, especially with small children, though, who often find themselves limited to the crowded paved rim trails. Still, a small segment of any of those backcountry trails can be done as a day hike.

Primary among them on the South Rim is the Grandview Trail. A segment of it can be done as a 2.2-mile round trip day hike, but you’ll need to be in shape, and any children with you should be on your back or in their teens.

Following the western side of the ridge that extends northeast of Grandview Point, the trail quickly descends into the canyon. Logs and cobblestones make up the trail’s base during many sections.

Hikers first pass through Kaibab Limestone, formed some 245 million years ago during the Permian Era. This 300-feet thick layer of white to yellow rock once sat at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea that was much like today’s Caribbean.

About 1.1 miles from the rim, you’ll reach the Coconino Saddle, having descended 790 feet. The rock here formed about 270 million year ago. The impressive view below is of the upper valley of Hance Creek. Given the elevation you must hike to reach the rim, this marks a good turnaround point for day hikers.

On the North Rim, the North Kaibab Trail is the only maintained trail into the canyon. Day hike about 500 feet down in elevation, which alone is a steep trail at a high altitude covering about a 1.5-mile round trip. Children again will have to be on your back or older teens.

The trail descends from a montane forest, consisting of aspen, Douglas fir and ponderosa pine, into Roaring Springs Canyon. Meltwater flowing down this side canyon feeds the Colorado River.

As the trail winds downward, you’ll have gone about 500 feet below the rim in 0.75 miles of walking. At that point is the Coconino Overlook, where an excellent view of Roaring Springs Canyon awaits.

Turning back at the overlook is a good idea for day hikers. If early in the day, you may want to consider going a little farther down to the Supai Tunnel. A man-made passageway through the rock, reaching the tunnel makes for a 1.8-mile hike and about 1440 feet below the rim. Go ahead and walk through the small tunnel to see the looming cliffs with pinyon and juniper ahead.

Some other backcountry trails that you can shorten into great family day hikes include:
g South Kaibab Trail – On the South Rim, take the Kaibab Trail Route shuttle bus to the trailhead, which is east of the village and south of Yaki Point. While the trail goes for up to six miles round trip, you may want to shorten this steep walk by stopping after 0.75 miles (for 1.5 miles round trip) at Ooh-ahh Point, which is less than 200 feet below the rim. At the point, you round Yaki Point for a suddenly expansive view of the eastern canyon.
g Ken Patrick Trail – A short segment of this 10-mile (one-way) trail on the North Rim can be done through a forested area. About a mile from the North Kaibab parking lot, you’ll reach the junction for the Uncle Jim Trail; turn back here for a two-mile round trip. For families with older teens, you might consider extending the hike by taking part of the Uncle Jim route. A lollipop trail, combined with the Ken Patrick it runs 5 miles through woodland to Uncle Jim Point, a canyon overlook.
g Widforss Trail – Walk about a half-mile through aspen groves to the North Rim’s edge for a one-mile round trip. You’ll find that this trail is much less busy than those in the lodge area or those at the end of Cape Royal Road. The walk can be extended for several miles; if going the full length, the Widforss runs up to five miles one way with 350 feet in elevation change.

Read more about day hiking the Grand Canyon in my Hittin the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park guidebook.

Shorten backcountry trips into day hikes at Grand Canyon National Park’s Widforss area

View of the Transept from Widforss Trail.
Photo courtesy Grand Canyon NPS.

Getting away from the Grand Canyon National Park’s crowds doesn’t mean require a backcountry hike far off the beaten path. Two long trails leaving from the North Rim’s Widforss parking area can be shortened into day hikes yet are within a few miles of the visitor’s center.

To reach the parking area, enter the park on Hwy. 67. About a quarter mile past the Cape Royal Road junction, turn right onto the dirt road. That first road ends at a parking lot in about a mile.

From the lot, two trails head into the backcountry.
• Widforss Trail – Walk about a half-mile through aspen groves to the canyon rim for a one-mile round trip. You’ll find that this trail is much less crowded than those in the lodge area or those at the end of Cape Royal Road. The walk can be extended for several miles; if going the full length, the Widforss runs up to five miles one way with a 350 feet in elevation change.
• South Kaibab Trail – For a real escape from the crowds, consider walking a little of this jeep trail, which heads north of the parking lot. In about 0.4 miles, you’ll reach the trail junction with the Point Sublime Trail; turnaround here for a 0.8-mile round trip. As both the South Kaibab and Point Sublime trails head into the backcountry, don’t go too far on either one.

Read more about day hiking the Grand Canyon in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park guidebook.

Shorten South Rim trails into day hikes

Cedar Ridge as seen from Oooh-Ahh-Point
on the South Kaibab Trail.

Among the Grand Canyon National Park’s most spectacular sights can be seen on day hikes near Grand Canyon Village, the gateway to the South Rim. While each of the trails heads for several miles, each of them can be shortened into reasonable day hikes.

The three major South Rim trails near the village include:
•Bright Angel Trail – You’ll find the trailhead at Bright Angel Lodge near the mule corral. While the trail heads 13.6 miles round trip into the backcountry, day hikers can turnaround after 1.5 miles (for three miles round trip) at the Mile-and-a-half Resthouse after descending 1063 feet. The trail is very steep, with 10 percent average grades and if children are with you, is best for older teens.
•South Kaibab Trail – Take the Kaibab Trail Route shuttle bus to the trailhead, which is east of the village and south of Yaki Point. While a the trail goes for up to six miles round trip, you may want to shorten this steep walk by stopping after 0.75 miles (for 1.5 miles round trip) at Ooh-ahh Point, which is less than 200 feet below the rim. At the point, you round Yaki Point for a suddenly expansive view of the eastern canyon. Most elementary school-aged kids can handle this trail.
•South Rim Trail – While the South Rim Trail extends several miles along the canyon edge, the short eastern section is perfect for a day hike with children of any age. They’ll be able to see the Colorado River a mile below and an array of incredible buttes, towers and ridges that stretch up to 10 miles away on the canyon’s other side. Access the trail at any viewpoint in the village or on Hermit’s Road.

Read more about day hiking the Grand Canyon in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park guidebook.