What are the Grand Canyon hikes?

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Hiking is a wonderful experience but exploring the immense size and natural beauty of Grand Canyon through hiking is a different experience compared to other hikings. Grand Canyon is the World Heritage site and is located on the Colorado Plateau in the North western Arizona. The Grand Canyon hike will test your physical and mental endurance. Adequate water and food are essential things while hiking Grand Canyon. Hiking the Grand Canyon is a challenging task as even the person in good condition will become sore and tired. The terrain is steep, dry and rugged. The most popular hiking seasons are spring, summer and fall.

What is the history of Grand Canyon?

There are different theories that the Grand Canyon was cut by the Colorado River into rock layers about 250 million and 2 billion years ago. It was believed that humans lived in and around the Grand Canyon for atleast 4000 to 10000 years. The natives were Havasupai, Anasazi and Hualapai. But today the only natives residing in the Grand Canyon are the Havasupai near Havasu falls and the Hualapai at Grand Canyon West.

What are the different Grand Canyon hikes?

The Rim trial is 3 ¾ mile paved section that runs from Pipe Creek Vista west through the Grand Canyon village. This is the easiest way to walk. As you head west from Hermit Road Interchange the trail becomes steeper. The next stop is Hopi point, here the trail becomes more difficult and no pavement will be seen. From here the trial heads to Hermits rest. The next three trails are corridor trails. These trails go down the Colorado River from the rim. The total length of the trail is around 12 miles. The rim trail is very strenuous. It takes twice as much time to hike than to come down.

Bright Angel trail is to the west and is very famous trail head. It goes down 4 ½ miles to Indian gardens and another 4 ½ miles down to Phantom Ranch. The 1 ½ mile rest house and 3 mile rest house offer water during the part of the year. The South Kabib trail is steeper than the Bright Angel trail. This is the most scenic and good day hikes for 3to 6 miles. The trail begins by Yaki point, which is east to the Grand Canyon village. It is about 7 miles to Phantom Ranch.

North Kabib trail goes down to Phantom Ranch which is 14 ½ miles and is very challenging trail. The north rim is higher in elevation than the south rim. You have to stay atleast one night in the canyon and there are very famous trails in and out the Grand Canyon. If you want to hike leisurely it will take 4 days to hike.

Roaring springs is a water fall is the water pouring out from the Muav cave and goes into the Bright Angel Creek. You can’t hike the Roaring spring in one day. Roaring Springs is 25 miles and the elevation is 5200’.

Widforss trail follows the north rim about 1000 feet higher than the heavy south rim. You can come across Ponderosa pine trees. There are no roads as north rim is only 18 miles across the south rim. It takes 5 hours to reach north rim from south rim. The Wildfross is around 10 miles trip and you can experience the forest hiking with the canyon scenery.

What are the top Grand Canyon vacation tours?

• Canyon river adventure

• Grand Kingdom helicopter tours

• Colorado River float trip

• The Inner Canyon Jeep tour

• The Grand Discovery air tour

• One day white water rafting adventure

• The Imperial helicopter tour

• Grand Canyon sunset jeep tour

• The Grand Canyon railway

• The National Geographic visitor’s center

What are the top 7 hiking food ideas to stay energized?

• Try soy nuts, dried fruits, carob, sunflower seeds, yogurt-curd-raisins, so that you can add healthy nutrients to your food.
• Get a good dose of protein, fat and salt like turkey jerky, salmon jerky or red meat. Jerky is nothing but cut the meat into thin slices and whip up marinade and bake on low heat for few hours to dehydrate.
• Carry sandwiches made of flat bread or pita and roll it in aluminum foil. But do not stuff with tomatoes or cucumber as they are watery.
• Camping and backpacking food such as Lasagna with meat sauce, Jamaican style chicken and rice, good old Mac and cheese etc.
• Homemade dehydrated meals such as you can use quick cooking dry grains or pastas like cous-cous or bulgar wheat. Add spices, raisins, dried bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, salt. You can also use dehydrated items        like shrimps, mushrooms, chilli peppers etc.
• Energy bars are chock full of nutrients in one compact package.
• Chocolate is a perfect energy food, the caffeine in the chocolate will kill the fatigue and fat in cocoa butter will help you in active hiking.

What should you plan on a Hiking trip to Grand Canyon?

Things to consider while hiking in the grand canyon is the terrain itself.  With a combination of rocky and steep terrain, Hot summer  like temperatures and a quick changing weather pattern it is always good to have a plan B in place. The altitude changes as well combined with  very little shade as there are hardly trees around so you are exposed to the hot sun which can cause dehydration if you are not well prepared to deal with it. There are not many water resources available like springs etc. so carrying water is very important. Here are a few tips you might want to think before you plan your hiking trip,

• Plan well ahead.

• Bad planning and preparation can cost you badly and an expensive helicopter ride or worse your life.

• Carry your own water as you require one gallon per day.

• Carry high energy snacks, preferably salty to retain water.

• Back country hiking permit is essential.

• Know your limits as hiking the Grand Canyon is not easy.

• Day hiking is safer than the night hiking trip.

• Know about the back country seasonal updates.

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