Tuesday, August 9, 2022
HomeAsia TravelUSA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Path to Skeleton Level...

USA – Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Path to Skeleton Level – Chris Journey Weblog


I prefer to make a hike at times but it surely needs to be one thing distinctive. It’s not my factor to make hikes of a number of days having almost the identical view day after day. Throughout my west coast USA street journey via California and a little bit of Nevada and Arizona I stayed two days on the Grand Canyon. The Vacation Inn Specific Grand Canyon was my house for these days whereas I explored this UNESCO World Heritage Website. Someday I hiked the South Kaibab Path to Skeleton Level and again. My daughter of 11 travelled with me and I’m very pleased with her she accomplished the 6-mile (10 kilometers) hike down and again up once more with none drawback. I’ll share you the gorgeous panorama’s I noticed and will provide you with some issues to remember whereas mountain climbing. It’s one of the best day hike into the Grand Canyon which you are able to do on the south facet.

Good to know when mountain climbing on the Grand Canyon

The South Kaibab Path is a hike that’s rated as tough by the Grand Canyon Nationwide Park. It’s not suggested to make the entire path to the Colorado River and again in sooner or later as this WILL take you 10-12 hours. It comes with the chance of dehydration (in summer season particularly), exhaustion and the implications of that. Skeleton Level is midway the South Kaibab Path and provides a primary view on the Colorado River and that is “simple” to hike inside a day. I did this hike with my daughter of 11 in simply over 5 hours with a lunch cease and many photograph stops.

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

I’ll summarize some issues to remember when you plan to hike the South Kaibab Path down into the Grand Canyon.

  • It was excessive summer season with 30+ levels Celsius once I hiked the path. I had 5 liters of water for myself and one other 5 liters of water for my daughter. We had simply half a liter left after we arrived again on the high. Till Skeleton Level you will notice extra hikers so we didn’t take further water in case we might get stranded. There may be nothing accessible on the path. I do counsel mountain climbing throughout morning or afternoon however I need to say I began at about 10:30 AM and hiked through the warmth of the day.
  • I don’t like these mountain climbing boots and usually hike on sport sneakers. The South Kaibab Path is a properly maintained path and regular sneakers are nice. Relying on the climate take some layers. On the way in which up a small thunder-storm made it fairly windy and the rain bought us chilly.
  • If there’s a thunder-storm don’t stand on the sting of the canyon on the high. That’s the place the lightning will hit first. Search shelter and when climate is cleared proceed mountain climbing.
  • Remember the fact that all that you simply stroll down it’s a must to stroll up once more too. The half going up is (after all) a lot more durable and takes about 50% as much as 100% extra time as taking place.

Personally I believe the hike needs to be labelled moderate-difficult not less than the day hike to Skeleton Level. This a part of the South Kaibab Path wasn’t essentially the most tough hike I’ve carried out with others being rated reasonable. I liked the hike; it was an excellent train. My daughter additionally loved it and I made her decide the pace we walked in order that she wouldn’t get to drained.

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

Grand Canyon Historical past

The Grand Canyon is, because the identify says, an enormous canyon situated in Arizona. It’s shaped within the final 40 million years by the Colorado River. It’s properly over 400 kilometers lengthy, nearly 30 kilometers on the widest level and the deepest level is simply over 1800 meters deep. It’s not the deepest canyon on this planet but it surely’s dimension makes it distinctive. The Colorado River shaped the canyon and you’ll see layers of rock going again two billion years of earth’s historical past. The Colorado River cuts its method via the rock as a result of the encompassing rock was uplifted giving the river extra pace.

Though it rains very often, as I skilled myself, the Grand Canyon may be very dry. The water all flows to the Colorado River or down the plateau. There may be nevertheless all kinds of wildlife of which I’ve seen the California Condor, elks, squirrels and another widespread wildlife. For hundreds of years native People have inhabited the Grand Canyon and left their traces. At this time, the Grand Canyon is a protected Nationwide Park within the USA and sees tens of millions of holiday makers a 12 months. Since 1979 it’s declared a UNESCO World Heritage Website; so I wanted to go to to finish my quest to see all of them.

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

The South Kaibab Path

Yaki Level Street offers entry to the South Kaibab Trailhead. Remember the fact that this street is closed for vehicles. You must both park on the principle street and stroll for about 10 minutes or take the shuttle bus. The primary descend is fairly steep however don’t fear as this is only one of three steep elements. You’ll descend via the primary layers of rock and observe the trail alongside the jap facet of Pipe Creek Canyon. After three thirds of a mile you’ll be amazed by the view and assume by your self “ooh ahh”. That’s precisely the identify of this level: Ooh Ahh Level. Be sure that to make panorama photos like those on this article right here (for these I made these out of greater than 80 single images attaining resolutions of as much as 150 mega pixels).

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

From Ooh Ahh Level the South Kaibab Path continues deeper into the canyon. Just a few switchbacks and many worn steps by mules take you to Cedar Level. A bathroom is offered there however take into account that no water is offered alongside the path. Cedar Level is a flat open area and an ideal place to have some salty snacks. Don’t feed the squirrels; they’ll get aggressive. You are actually midway the descend to Skeleton Level and this could have taken simply over an hour. As a rule of thumb the way in which again takes you as much as double in time. The trail to Skeleton Level is comparable in problem; possibly barely harder attributable to poorer situation. Suppose twice now if you’re as much as the second half and if in case you have doubts or not sufficient water then do return.

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

Skeleton Level

Earlier than I continued to Skeleton Level I made positive that my daughter was additionally as much as it. She was and she or he needed to proceed so off we went north descending on the east facet of O’Neill Butte. The primary half is a fairly steep descend after which the second half to Skeleton Level is sort of flat. On the way in which I noticed Californian Condors, squirrels and wonderful views of the Grand Canyon. One recommendation of mine is that if climate is nice do your pictures on the way in which down as climate can flip shortly into rain making it tough to {photograph} on the way in which again.

About midway to Skeleton Level we got here throughout a French hiker who was on the way in which again. He informed us he tried to get to the Tip Off Level (previous Skeleton Level) however realized half method he didn’t have sufficient water. He returned early which was the wisest alternative he might make. Every year many individuals want rescue and a few even have deadly accidents. I observed that round Skeleton Level there was rather more vegetation. Just under you, you will notice a fairly inexperienced flat space the place one other path goes from west to east.

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

At Skeleton Level I had my first view of the Colorado River. This view makes this an ideal day hike as you received’t get to the river on a day however a view is rewarding. I made a small decide nick with my daughter which primarily consisted of (salty) energy snacks. Each of us completed nearly 2 liters of water after we left; which was after three hours. My daughter was carrying a lot of the water and she or he was completely satisfied that it bought lighter; I alternatively had a 12 kilo backpack with the digicam gear I take advantage of. I made some photos of my daughter on the cliff (see above); she liked the view. It was now three hours after the beginning of the hike together with the lunch time. Time to return, which was one other 5 kilometers up.

In case you are as much as it, you may hike all the way in which down but it surely’s extremely advisable to camp in a single day on the backside of the Grand Canyon. Remember the fact that a allow is required. Skeleton Level is the purpose to return from on a day hike. It was one other 5 kilometers up which took me three hours. The final half was although as rain, thunder and exhausting wind made the ascend go sluggish. A thunderstorm additionally offers an ideal alternative for images as you may see within the one beneath.

USA - Grand Canyon day hike: South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

Again on the high it was a small stroll again to the automobile. I drove again to the Vacation Inn Specific Grand Canyon to recent up earlier than heading for dinner. It was an extended day however each my daughter and I weren’t that drained. We had an ideal day collectively. The subsequent day it was time to drive to Las Vegas, the final cease of this West coast street journey via California, Nevada and Arizona. I had a good time seeing the Grand Canyon however the truth that my daughter was with me made it much more memorable.

Keep tuned for extra tales and subscribe to the e-newsletter or observe CTB on social media (Fb, Twitter, Instagram together with Instagram tales; on all social media yow will discover CTB @christravelblog) to get up to date data.

Did you go to the Grand Canyon too or do you’ve gotten questions? Please go away a remark on the backside of the web page. Love to listen to from you!

Gallery South Kaibab Path (Grand Canyon)

Click on a picture for a full display gallery of extra images taken throughout this journey. If you happen to like to make use of any photograph for industrial, non-public or editorial use please contact first for permission and/or pricing.





Supply hyperlink

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments