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| Hiking | 5.76 Miles |
1,936 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.76 Miles | | | |
| 1,936 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | My wife and I spent three days hanging out at the North Rim, sleeping in the back of our truck at night.
The first night was spent near Crazy Jug Point, which is not far from the Bill Hall TH. We tried to hike down Crazy Jug Canyon but turned back due to the excessive heat and not finding a good trail. We decided to take a drive over to Swamp Point and check out Powell Plateau instead. We probably didn't take the most direct route as it took us about three hours to get to Swamp Point from Crazy Jug. In that time the weather changed dramatically. It went from hot and sunny to cloudy, cool and breazy with a little rain during the drive. A nice surprise for a July day at the Canyon!
The Kaibab forest roads were in good shape and mostly passable by car until we got to the National Park Border. As soon as Swamp Point Road crosses into the Nat. Park, high clearance becomes necessary. I don't know if this is due to lack of maintenance or the changing terrain as you get closer to the rim.
We parked right on the rim at Swamp Point, arriving around 3:30p and picked up the trail that leads down to Muav Saddle, Teddy's Cabin and the North Bass Trail (I forget the official name of the trail, its probably North Bass though). We went down to the cabin, poked around for a while and then went up to Powell Plateau. Near the cabin is a trail junction: you can follow the North Bass Trail down White Creek/Muav Canyon or you can head up to Powell Plateau. The trail to PP is well used and easy to follow. Its comparable to most named trails in the canyon except the corridor trails. There was one section on the way up to the Plateau that goes through a wash for a bit. It was a little over-grown but the vegetation was not sharp and the trail was still visible. The rest of it is easy and the switchbacks help with the steepness. We made it to the rim of Powell from Swamp Point in about 2 hours at a normal pace, including the stop at Teddy's Cabin. We then followed the flat trail that leads to Dutton Point for about one mile. It was still quite a distance to DP from where we turned around. We really wanted to continue but it was getting late in the day and we were still unsure if the clouds were going to let loose again. We returned to Swamp Point the same way, making it back right at dusk.
As we were heading down to Muav saddle, we passed three Thai Buddhist Monks who were heading up. They are not allowed any contact at all with women, so my wife, who is also Thai, had to step completely off the trail so the monks could safely pass  . We spoke briefly with their handler, who was bringing up the rear. He said they started early in the morning from the TH and went all the way out to Dutton Point. They were from a San Diego monastery. They all looked exhausted!
Powell Plateau is definitely a place I would like to return to and explore more thoroughly. Its so beautiful and unspoiled. Except for the Dutton Point trail (which begins to fade the further you go), there is almost no sign of man. It really feels like being on a deserted island! ...A perfect place for some condos, maybe a 9 hole golf course  .... |
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