Yang Lu Photography - Grand Canyon National Park

2022 Revisit

Although we had visited the Grand Canyon multiple times over the past 15 years, it wasn't until May 2022 that we dedicated a substantial amount of time to exploring this natural wonder. Our itinerary included a 3-night stay at the North Rim and a 4-night stay at the South Rim, allowing us to appreciate the breathtaking scenery at a leisurely pace. During our visit, we completed a hike from South Kaibab to Bright Angel on the South Rim, covering a distance of approximately 19 miles. While the extreme heat at the canyon's bottom was a challenge, the overall hike was less demanding than anticipated, and the vistas were, of course, awe-inspiring.

We made a point to visit numerous overlooks throughout the park and identified the following locations as particularly noteworthy: Cape Royal and Point Imperial on the North Rim, and Yaki Point and Pima Point on the South Rim.

2015 Rim-to-Rim

We tackled the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim hike on May 24, 2015, and here's the lowdown. We went from south to north and booked the Trans Canyon Shuttle from North Rim to South Rim – their staff were super knowledgeable, and I'd definitely use them again.

We stayed in Las Vegas the night before and drove to North Rim early the next morning, parking at the North Kaibab trailhead around 12pm (overnight parking was allowed then, but check current rules). The shuttle picked us up at 1:45pm, and we rolled into South Rim around 6:30pm, where we crashed at Bright Angel Lodge (booked ahead of time).

The next morning, we caught the first Hiker Express shuttle at 5am – right outside the lodge, which was a plus. Check park schedules, though, as times vary by month. We hit the South Kaibab trailhead around 5:30am, and let me tell you, it was chilly – bring thin gloves!