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For the majority of people who visit the Grand Canyon, walking up to the edge and looking out on its majestic beauty is enough. Maybe they opt for the hop on/hop off bus tour that snakes along the South Rim for a few miles.
Well, for me (and fortunately or unfortunately, depending on which family member you ask), I chose to not only do the above mentioned activities but to also get reservations for two nights down in the belly of the canyon at Phantom Ranch. I was SO excited when I received the confirmation email!
Applying for Phantom Ranch Reservations
Application is through a lottery system. It had taken me a few tries before receiving a yes. Submissions are taken 15 months in advance so you need to figure out when you’d like to go and count backwards from there to decide when to apply to the lottery.
Tips on visiting the Grand Canyon
Along with scouring the internet for tips and ideas, I always like to invest in a physical travel guide for the region. It’s worth every penny by the end of the trip by providing hints, tips and contact information. Check out my Travel Hacks for a comprehensive guide.
Grand Canyon Lodging
We stayed in one of the Bright Angel cabins. Note that they do not have A/C. They are cozy and have quite a bit of historical charm. Reservations for the cabins need to be made months in advance, as they fill up quickly. Staying here allowed us to be close by the bus stop. The park provides a free 5:00am shuttle bus which takes you to the Kaibab Trailhead.
Starting the Hike
You can’t see the trail you will be taking down into the canyon so it can be a little daunting as to where the trailhead will lead you. The excitement of the unknown is what ignites me. Others in my family don’t necessarily feel the same way. The path is about three foot wide, smooth and is really well maintained.
That being said, I would highly recommend hiking shoes for their great traction. Be sure to break them in prior to your trip so you don’t acquire blisters. There is an outhouse about halfway down but no running water so be sure to bring enough! We had camelbacks along with several bottles of water. We snacked along the way and then took a lunch break at the midway point.
The views were absolutely amazing at every bend. Heading out in the morning allowed us to see the sun rising and casting its glow on the rocks. The trail down to the Grand Canyon’s Phantom Ranch was continually descending but in a comfortable sort of way, weaving back and forth along the sides of the cliffs.
Colorado River
Seeing the Colorado River for the first time was exciting for two reasons. One, it was huge, even at our altitude, and two, it meant we were almost to our destination. We walked through a short tunnel and then across the suspension bridge to get to the other side. From there, we were only about 30 minutes from Phantom Ranch.
Arriving at the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon
Once we arrived at the ranch (about 5 1/2 hours of hiking), we checked in, grabbed our cards, relaxing by the river and visiting with fellow hikers. Finally, the bell was rung and it was time to eat supper. We were famished! Hikers’ stew, salad and bread was served family style. It was absolutely delicious!!
Staying at the Phantom Ranch
We were pretty sore the next day, but we did want to explore the area a bit. Not wanting to waste our time at the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon we headed out on two short hikes. Our favorite was the trail that took us up a nearby cliff and gave us an aerial view of the camp. With the green rooftops on the cabins, the camp blends in so well, even when you know what you’re looking for!
Because of a cancelled reservation, we were able to switch to a private cabin for our second night at the camp. All of the cabins are absolutely adorable. They have a toilet and a sink inside with bunk beds. Showers are a short distance away.
Heading up Angel Bright Trail
5:30am the next morning we were geared up and headed back to the South Rim. We chose to take the Angel Bright Trail which runs along the Colorado River for awhile and then makes a more gradual incline up to the South Rim. I found the diversity in the vegetation along this trail to be quite interesting.
Going up is always harder than going down. This trail is also busier due to the popularity for tourists who are already in the trailhead area. The views were spectacular, but you had to make a point of turning around every so often to take them in because, for the most part, you were hiking toward a cliff view.
6 hours later we made it to the top! It was exhilarating knowing what we had just accomplished.
Our next goal – Hike the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim. 🙂 If you’ve had that experience, please share recommendations on making it go as smoothly as possible.
You may also enjoy reading about our hiking adventure in the Blue Mountains.
Be sure to Pin this article for future reference. If you have friends or family who will be traveling to the Grand Canyon. be sure to send this article their way. They’ll be happy you did.
