South Kaibab Trail - Grand Canyon

Our final hike of the trip was the incredibly beautiful South Kaibab Trail. This trail is a bit shorter than the Bright Angel trail but definitely still a challenge. We did a total of 6 miles and had a blast! 

There are a few trail markers along the way - Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point. It's something like .2 miles to Ooh Aah Point, 1.5 miles to Cedar Ridge and 3 miles down to Skeleton Point. Just remember if you go down, you have to come back up!

The path is fairly closed off in the beginning, but it really opens up at the aptly-named Ooh Aah Point. It's a great turn around spot for families with children or inexperienced hikers. 

From there, the path is fairly narrow and a little scary at times! I was constantly worrying about one of us slipping off the edge. Realistically, the trail is plenty wide enough and is rarely a straight drop. Just be careful and pay attention to where you are going and it will be fine!

We took a brief break at Cedar Ridge on the way down before making our way to Skeleton Point. We actually went up to the left at the end of the trail so we could get a better view of the river and it was so nice!

Skeleton Point

After resting and enjoying the view, we hiked back up to Cedar Ridge where we used the restrooms that were available (not very pleasant, but still nice that they are there!) and then enjoyed a nice lunch. It's kind of the ultimate picnic spot! I really enjoy taking leisurely hikes and just relaxing with my husband and taking it all in.

This trail is also known for having donkeys going up and down alongside hikers. If you encounter any, be sure to step off the trail and be respectful. The donkeys are used to humans and won't cause any trouble unless provoked. 

All in all, we had an awesome time hiking this trail! It was towards the end of our trip, so we were definitely tired. However, we left plenty of time, took tons of breaks and ate lots of snacks and were just fine. As always, hike responsibly, be mindful of your abilities and the weather conditions and you'll be just fine!

If you'd like any help planning your next adventure, email me at Malena@MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com or check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon

After our exciting (but strenuous) hike down Bright Angel Trail, we were ready for an easy hike. We opted to check out the Rim Trail. It's a 2 or 3 mile hike along the rim (how apt). It was a lot of fun! It's paved and there are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way. We even stopped in a gift shop and picked up some postcards. However, I think my favorite part was the views!

All in all, it was a nice, easy hike with stunning views. I would highly recommend this if you are looking for an easy trail or have young (or old) members of your party. It was nice to hike with my friends and just enjoy being in nature.

If you'd like some help planning your next adventure, check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Bright Angel Trail

Our first hike at the Grand Canyon was the bright angel trail! It was so fun and SO exhausting! It is inadvisable to try to hike from the trailhead all the way down to the river and back up in one day. With that in mind we decided to hike down to Indian Gardens or Plateau Point and back up. We were staying at Mather campground so we caught the free shuttle to the trailhead and started our adventure.

It's 4.5 miles from the trailhead down to Indian Gardens (which is lush and beautiful!), so it's a 9-mile round-trip hike if you choose that route. Also, side note, Indian Garden is the perfect place to relax, eat some lunch and get some water. There is also a ranger's station there, which is always good to know.

We were feeling pretty good, so we decided to go the extra mile and a half out to plateau point, adding another 3 miles onto our hike. It was so worth it! We got to see the river and really take in the views. Unfortunately, there were some people messing around on the rocks and not being very respectful. I would highly recommend being a little cautious and staying on the trail if you do decide to venture out to the point. It's really windy, and it only takes one huge gust to blow you off. Be careful! Honestly it was a really great experience.

For me, this trail was an absolute must-do. I highly recommend it! Just be safe, pack lots of water and snacks and bring a trail guide. I suggest you check out this trail guide: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/BrightAngelTrail.pdf
It was tremendously helpful!

As always, if you'd like help planning your next adventure, visit MilesintoMemoriesTravel.com.