#7 Rim Trail, Grand Canyon

#7 Rim Trail, Grand Canyon

Distance - 4.8 Miles
Ascent - 50m

After an hours rest and a packet of jelly beans I decided I might as well have a wander along the Rim trail.  With a frequent free bus and shorts sections (mile or so) it meant I could walk as far as I felt with no pressure to reach the end or push past my sore calf.

 



Starting from Hermits rest the trail is a mix of dual use (cycletrack and path) and rough trails along the edge.  As expected it hugs the rim tightly and in places comes pretty close to the edge!  The views are great and the Colarado river seems so far away.

#6 1.5 Mile Rest House, Grand Canyon.

#6 1.5 Mile Rest House, Grand Canyon, USA.

Distance - 3.0 Miles
Ascent - 342m

What can you say about the Grand Canyon?  It is big, deep, vast, and mightily impressive.  It's hard to appreciate just how big it is.  It is also a dangerous place due to the temperature range and the fact it is easy to get very deep without realising.  Visiting in October reduced any issues with the temps, in fact it was very pleasant/warm most of the day.

View from the top

The Bright Angel trail drops from the rim can be taken and the way to the North Rim.  Some really strange people do this in one day, and some really really strange people go from Rim to Rim to Rim!  For most walkers a good day hike drops down the trail all the way to Plateau Point (approx. 13 miles round trip).  This is a tough walk due to the heat, lack of shade and height climbed.  I decided to walk to either the 1.5 mile rest house or the 3 mile rest house, depending on how I felt.  My calf was still sore after arches and this is not a good place to tear a calf muscle.