Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [181]
RIM TRAILS: SOUTH RIM
West Rim (Hermits Rest) Trail & South Rim Trail
8 miles on West Rim Trail to Hermits Rest, 2.1 miles on South Rim Trail to Mather Point. Easy to moderate. Access: Grand Canyon Village, along rim behind El Tovar Hotel. Water sources at Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, Park Headquarters, Yavapai Point, and Canyon View Information Plaza.
From Grand Canyon village, you can follow the rim trail 8 miles west to Hermits Rest or 1.5 miles northeast to Yavapai Point.
West Rim (Hermits Rest) Trail. Walking instead of driving along the rim is a great way to see the canyon while putting some room between yourself and the crowds at the overlooks. The trail travels parallel to Hermit Road and passes through all the same scenic overlooks described in the driving tour (above). The 1.3-mile stretch from the Village to Maricopa Point is paved, with one 200-vertical-foot climb. Past Maricopa Point, the trail planes off somewhat, and the pavement ends. For the rest of the way to Hermits Rest, the "trail" becomes a series of footpaths that meander through pinyon-juniper woodland along the rim (when not crossing overlooks). Sagebrush roots and loose rocks make for tricky footing, but the scenery is lovely, and the crowds thin as you move farther west.
Because 16 miles might be too much for 1 day, I recommend hiking out on this trail from Grand Canyon Village and taking the shuttle back (Mar–Nov). By hiking out, you can avoid revisiting the same overlooks on the shuttle ride back—the shuttles stop at every turnout en route to Hermits Rest, but only at Mohave Point and Hopi Point on their way back to Grand Canyon Village.
South Rim Trail. This smooth, paved trail connects Grand Canyon Village and Mather Point, 2.1 miles away. Around the lodges, the path is a flat sidewalk teeming with people. The crowds dissipate somewhat between the east edge of the village and Yavapai Point. Near Yavapai Point you'll find many smooth flat rocks along the rim— great places from which to contemplate the canyon. Yavapai Point has a historic observation station overlooking the canyon. Passing Yavapai Point, you can walk another .7 mile to Mather Point on a portion of the park's new greenway trail, which closely parallels the rim. If you grow fatigued during your walk, you can catch a shuttle back to Grand Canyon Village from Mather or Yavapai Point.
RIM TRAILS: NORTH RIM
Cape Final Trail
2 miles one-way. Easy. Access: Unmarked dirt parking area off Cape Royal Rd., 4.9 miles south of Roosevelt Point.
This relatively flat, boulder-free trail is a good choice for a first hike in the backcountry. It meanders through ponderosa pine forest on an old jeep trail, ending at Cape Final, where you'll have partial views of the northern canyon and Juno Temple.
Cliff Springs Trail
.5 mile one-way. Moderate. Access: Small pullout 1⁄3 mile north of Cape Royal on Cape Royal Rd.
Both scenic and fairly short, this hike is perfect for active families. The dirt trail seems to head into forest away from the canyon, but it soon descends into a narrow, rocky side canyon that drains into the larger one—a reminder that the Walhalla Plateau is a peninsula in the Grand Canyon. It hugs the north wall of the side canyon, passing under limestone overhangs, in light colored green by the canopies of box elder trees. The springs drip from one of these overhangs, where mosses carpet fissures in the rock. The spring water is not potable and must be purified before drinking. A waist-high boulder marks the end of the trail.
Ken Patrick Trail
10 miles one-way. Strenuous. Access: From south side of parking area for Point Imperial or from parking area for North Kaibab Trail (on North Rim entrance road, 2 miles north of Grand Canyon Lodge).
This steeply rolling trail travels through ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forest between the head of Roaring Springs Canyon and Point Imperial. Starting at the North Kaibab end, the first mile of the trail has been pounded into dust by mules.