Grand Canyon National Park

Jan. 21, 2025

I have seen the Grand Canyon from the air many times, but not on the ground until today. The benefit of going in the winter is less people and you can drive on some roads that only allow shuttles the rest of the year. The drawback is less daylight to hike and only the south rim area is open. I was not prepared for a rim to canyon hike, so I did a large chunk of the rim trail. There were crowds around the visitor center, but as soon as I started walking the trail they thinned out. The canyon is magnificent and awe inspiring. There were spots from the rim that I could see the Colorado River far below. A lone elk was right by the main restrooms determined to get the higher up leaves from a specific tree. The rest of the herd was munching grass next to the road on the drive out of the park. I do wonder how many people fall off the rim each year. I saw so many getting super close to dangerous areas taking selfies or to get a little bit closer to the edge.

Total cost: $167.83