We have begun our exploration of the National Parks system. We have enjoyed exploring the National Forests, National Grasslands, National Recreation Areas, National Conservation Areas, National Wilderness Areas, etc but this week marks the beginning of our exploration into the National Parks. (Technically on Day 17, we visited the Petrified Forest National Park and that was our first national park.)

We awoke on Day 23 with a purpose: To explore the GRAND CANYON! We drove the 80+ miles from the Kaibab National Forest west of Flagstaff north through scenic portions of two national forests to the South Gate of the Grand Canyon. We were pleased to find only three cars in front of us in Lane #5: Prepaid and Parks Passes as we purchased an annual parks pass last week. We made it through the gate, got checked in at the campground, set up the tent and ate lunch before heading out on foot to catch the shuttle bus to explore the Grandest of Canyons. We had been in the park over an hour before sneaking our first peaks of this mammoth canyon. We rode the blue shuttle through the village and connected with the Hermits Rest shuttle to head west. We then hiked along the rim part and soaked in the views. Wow! Amazing! Huge! - what can you really say?

We had hiked in the 2nd largest canyon in the US a few states back - Palo Duro Canyon - south of Amarillo. We enjoyed that hike and the views in Texas but were in NO WAY prepared for the views at the Grand Canyon. They were spectacular. We lucked out and had a very blue sky. We were also careful to not get into the mix of people as my grandfather explained to me before we left that the buildings and people can really ruin the experience. It was perfect - just perfect.

I was a little unsure about hiking along the rim as there were some pretty sketchy places along the way and I could just image the horror on my grandmother’s face if she saw some of the cliffs/edges that we were walking along. But we made it just fine and had a fabulous day.

The two highlights for me were probably walking the rim at sunset and seeing the shadows cast over the canyon as the sun faded into the west and taking a stroll in the light of the full moon and being amazed at how well lit the canyon was.

It was a fun two half-days at the Grand Canyon. Definitely not something that we will forget anytime soon.

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