As much as I love to travel the world, there are some AMAZING places right here in the United States of America. Some of the most beautiful scenery IN THE WORLD can be experienced without ever leaving the country. So this year I’m going to be focused on visiting a whole bunch of the National Parks and a few National Monuments here in the United States.
There are 63 National Parks in the U.S. and every one of them is unique and deserving in its own right. The Grand Canyon N.P. is nothing like the Grand Tetons N.P. which is nothing like Bryce N.P......well you get my point. Up until now, I’ve only visited 5 of our national treasures: The Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, the Everglades, and Sequoia National Parks. That is all going to change this year as I plan to hit up 15 more of them!
As usual, my travel companion is my sister, and it’s really thanks to her that I’ll be able to get to so many of the parks this year. She bought a 25’ camper van RV, and as part of HER plan to visit ALL of the National Parks someday, she put together a couple of shorter trips, and then a 6 week trip this summer. Since we’re also business partners, it was easy for me to get the time off.
The first National Park we visited was actually last fall, if I’m being honest, but I wanted to include it here anyway. It’s also one I’ve already been to, but it’s a great way to kick off my list. Even though I live in Arizona, it’s sad to say that I hadn’t been up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon in a really long time. So when Lynda said she wanted to go for the weekend, I was 100% on board.
If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, you know there is a south rim (where most people go) and a north rim. Our trip was to the south rim as it’s the easiest to get to from Phoenix. Also, because the north rim is higher in elevation, it closes in the winter because of snow. I’ve been to the north rim a couple of times, and even though it’s only 10 miles from the south rim as the crow flies, by car it’s an additional 4-5 hour drive to get there (you literally have to drive around the Grand Canyon). However, it really is worth it if you have the chance, and if you’re coming down from Utah, it’s not as bad. Just the fact that it’s less crowded is the number one reason for going there. The views aren’t quite as iconic as those on the south rim, but it's still amazing and its remoteness is a bonus.
We checked into our campsite at Mather Campground and got all set up before heading over to the rim for the sunset. If you ever get to go to the Grand Canyon, you have to check out a sunrise and/or sunset while you are there. Of course, the middle of the day shouldn’t be missed either! The cool thing about the Canyon, it has different looks at different times of the day. And if you’re lucky enough to get some weather while you’re there, even better. We had some intermittent rain over the Canyon one afternoon and it was really beautiful.
The next day we wanted to walk the Rim Trail. This is a really nice 13 mile paved trail from Hermit’s Rest, past the Grand Canyon Village, all the way to Kaibab Trail. There are shuttle stops along the way so you can access it at any point you want, and walk as much of it as you’d like. We had little Leo with us, and dogs aren’t allowed on any of the trails that lead down into the canyon itself, so we were limited in our choice of hikes. (Heads up: If you plan on bringing a dog to a National Park, check ahead. Most don’t allow dogs on the trails. We knew this before going, so we were prepared). We picked up some lunch over by Bright Angel Lodge, and later a snack by the Visitor's Center. In your backpack, just make sure you always have water with you--even in the winter. The dry Arizona air can really affect people who are used to a little more humidity.
There are many other hikes available that range from easy to really hard. One of the hard hikes is on many people’s bucket list: the Rim to Rim hike. It’s a 24 mile hike from the north rim to the south rim with a 6000 ft elevation change down to the Colorado River and then a 4500 ft climb back up to the top (you can see why most people go north to south). If you’re in really good shape, you can do the hike in one day, but many people opt to make it a 2 day trek. At the bottom, you can camp at Bright Angel Campground or stay in one of the cabins at Phantom Ranch. Just know, you will need a permit to stay overnight in the canyon, and those are currently given out by a lottery system.
The Grand Canyon is also home to a lot of wildlife. Elk and deer are common, but you’ll also want to keep an eye out for Bighorn Sheep, Ringtail Cats, and Abert’s Squirrels with their tufted pointy ears. Reptiles and birds are also in abundance. One of the most famous Grand Canyon residents is the California Condor. While I didn’t see any on this trip, I have come across them at the eastern end of the canyon and they are really a treat to see.
Here are some of the animals I was able to photograph on our short trip.
Above left to right, top to bottom: Violet-green Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Raven, Western Bluebird, Mule Deer, Elk (young), Elk in campground, Fence Lizard.
One recommendation I have is to check out the night sky while you're there. The Grand Canyon N.P. has been designated an International Dark Sky Park. Especially at a moonless time of night, you'll be blown away by the Milky Way and bright constellations.
If you haven’t been to the Grand Canyon before, all I can say is it’s an experience. Photographs don’t always do it justice. One of the best things you can do while you’re there is try to find a quiet spot and just sit for a while. Whether you are spiritual or not, it’s hard not to feel something when you open yourself up to its vastness and grandeur.
Like I said, we were only there for the weekend, so it was back to Phoenix the next day. Before taking off, one last walk to the rim then lunch at Yavapai Lodge's outdoor patio (I highly recommend the elk burger). It was a quick trip, but the Grand Canyon was a great way to start off my National Parks Tour.
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