Welcome back friends, to Day 5. Ever dreamt of visiting the Grand Canyon or Horseshoe bend? Stick around!
- 4th State: Arizona -
If you are like me, the Grand Canyon is a place you have heard of countless times before. Naturally, in planning our road trip the Grand Canyon was one stop we knew we could not miss.
I do, however, wish we could have spent more time going down into the Canyon. Nevertheless, however you do decide to experience the Grand Cayon, it is a breathtaking site.
If ever presented the opportunity, say YES!
Our time here was extremely limited. With only half a day to see as much of the Grand Canyon as possible, we had to get going. Now there are many ways to experience the Canyon, with some including up to a week of activities, hikes, tours and lookout points. If you are limited on time at this location, but you still want to experience as much as you can, this post is perfect for you!
[We started our day driving from La Verkin, Utah, where we had spent the night. The drive to Grand Canyon National Park was around four and a half hours.]
North Rim v. South Rim:
The first decision to make when visiting this national park is much more complex than it might sound. North or South? Sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Let me explain. The Grand Canyon National Park stretches over 1,218,375 acres. Therefore, trying to drive from one side of the Canyon to the other, while on a map seemingly only 10 miles apart, would take over 4.5 hours of driving for 220 miles (354 km). With that being said, travelers need to plan on which side of the park they would like to experience. This being even more relevant if your time in this National Park is limited.
Now you might be asking, “Well, why does it matter which side I choose?” My answer is simple, it makes a world of a difference, North Rim, and South Rim, at times can seem like two different National Parks. Believe it or not, there are key aspects of each side that appeal to different individuals and draws travelers for a variety of reasons. One key aspect to consider is from which side you are coming.
Also, your route can be an indicator.
- N ow let us talk about the differences between the two sides. -
North Rim:
There is something about the North Rim that invokes a sense of solitude and serenity. The North Rim is inarguably more photogenic than its Southern counterpart. Here, the canyon experiences a faster corrosion rate than the more famous Southern region. This faster corrosion rate makes for more dramatic rock formations, vibrant colors, and stunning landscapes.
Still the Southern region is visited more often, why? The reason lies in two factors. The first being that the North Rim closes down for the Winter (December 1 – May 14). The second; for travelers wanting to descend into the canyon below, the Northern Rim adds about 1,300 feet to the South Rim starting point. In contrast, visitors seeking day hikes instead of expeditions are drawn to the North Rim for an array of options.
An initial draw into the North Rim for visitors who are limited on time is the small hike accessible by the Visitor’s Center.
Bright Angel Point:
Distance: 0.8 miles roundtrip.
Time needed: 30 minutes.
Type of Trail: Short paved walk.
Difficulty: Easy.
Elevation Gain: 0 ft.
A short walk on a paved trail to a spectacular view of the canyon. The trail begins at the log shelter in the parking area by the visitor center or at the corner of the back porch behind the lodge.
After our day prior, hiking Angel’s Landing, Justin and I decided to take it a little slower this day. Deciding on a much shorter and easier hike gave us the chance to really take in the breathtaking scenery and landscape. While the idea of hiking into the canyon was tantalizing, our schedule simply did not allow it. Something to look forward to for next time, I suppose!
Self-guiding nature trail pamphlets are available from a box along the trail.
Check out the NPS website for 12 more options of day hikes in the North Rim.
South Rim:
The more popular of the two, South Rim, is known for its hiking trails and activities. Visitors are expected throughout the Southern region year-round and descending to the canyon floor is most common from here. This southern region offers drives along the canyon rim, hikes through the canyon, biking trails, and stunning views.
Now, for us the choice was made purely based on which rim was closest to our route. As you can imagine, a six-state road trip in 12 days does not lend much time to drive the 4.5 hours to the other side of the park. We went with the North Rim. Both Justin and I plan to go back to the Grand Canyon in the near future to go down into the canyon and hike. As for right now, we had seen and experienced the vast landscapes of the Grand Canyon National Park, and it was already time to move on to our next adventure.
Our final adventure of the day led us back to the state of Utah:
Horseshoe bend:
Distance: 1.5 miles (2.4 km) roundtrip.
Time needed: 1 hour.
Type of Trail: Gravel Road.
Difficulty: Easy.
A social media favorite, horseshoe bend has become increasingly more popular to travelers from across the world. This exquisite landscape is a part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Horseshoe bend was created by the Colorado river as the waters carved out 1,000 feet of canyon in the shape of a horseshoe. Nature is truly marvelous, isn’t it?
The parking lot and the trailhead can be located off of Highway 89, approximately 5 miles south of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center.
Be aware, there is a hike involved in getting to horseshoe bend. Getting to the parking lot off of highway 89, you will need to park your vehicle and proceed on a small hike to the outlook. While the hike itself is easy in nature, I would recommend close toed shoes as well as a hat perhaps sunglasses.
The wind coming out of the canyon sends millions of little beads of sand flying everywhere.
Arriving at the overlook was an astonishing sight. Out of nowhere the canyon appears in front of you. Well worth the hike, the wind, and the sand lapping at your legs, you see Horseshoe bend. You take in the flowing Colorado river and the Navajo rock formation carved out by eternal water flow. It is truly breathtaking.
As we closed off another day of our road trip thankful for what we were able to accomplish, we look forward for what is still to come for the next week of our trip.
Come back next time to see where we are now!
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