Day 16: Tuesday 8 April 2025 – Phoenix to Grand Canyon

We set out early from Phoenix with the plan to make a quick drive to the Grand Canyon and camp overnight in our tent. We haven’t tent camped in over 30 years so there was some trepidation to our plan. especially since the weather reports indicated that nighttime temperatures were dropping below freezing along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; but what’s an adventure without a little trepidation?

It’s about a 4 hour drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon which would leave us time for a hike into the canyon. Several people recommended we visit Sedona AZ so we decided to leave the interstate and drive through Sedona on our way. This added about a half hour but was well worth it for the view. The canyon surrounding Sedona is stunning, with deep red canyon walls offset by the green fauna surrounding them. I imagine there are some beautiful hiking trails in the area as well, though we didn’t stop.

As we left the mountains around Sedona, the landscape flattened out and remained flat all the way into the park, However, as the elevation increased, the shrubs and bushes gave way to trees and tall pines. It’s easy to imagine what it must have been like for the first visitors to the canyon thinking they were on a continuous plain until you reach the edge of the canyon and are struck by the immensity of its expanse.

We checked into our campsite early afternoon and pitched our tent before heading out on our hike. Almost immediately we were visited by a couple of elk casually walking through the camping area. The elk were a near continuous presence in the campground. Although very large they were rather docile and did not seem bothered by people in the area.

On previous visits to the Grand Canyon we would hike down Bright Angel Trail which begins at the village. This trip we decided to hike the Kaibab Trail about 2 miles east of Bright Angel to get a different view. This trail was built by the National Park Service in the early 1900s as a free alternative to the Bright Angel trail which was privately owned and charged a fee for visitors to walk the trail. The start of the trail is a series of switchbacks down a steep canyon wall and then a fairly constant downhill path out to the first viewpoint know as Ooh Aah Point. The total round trip to Ooh Aah Point is about 2 miles and drops 790 feet from the rim. The views were amazing. No matter how many times we have been to the Grand Canyon, it never ceases to impress on the extent and majesty of the natural beauty.

Pictures can’t catch the beauty of the canyon – it has to be experienced. After our hike we returned to our campsite and headed into the village along the rim for dinner at the Arizona Steakhouse. Although the restaurant looks out over the canyon, we could only get a reservation after sunset so our view was of mostly darkness, hampered by the dining area lights. However, the steak dinner was fabulous and very welcomed after our hike. The beauty of the night with a near full moon caused me to attempt some nighttime pictures. I am amazed at what my Samsung phone camera can capture in what seemed like full darkness.