Route Editor
Route Scout
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DESTINATION Rim Trail - GC South Rim 39 Photosets 2024-11-08 2023-08-28 2022-10-06 2019-04-21 2018-11-08 2016-12-28 2016-01-16 2015-10-14 2015-01-01 2014-07-14 2014-06-28 2013-12-07 2013-12-04 2013-12-02 2013-07-11 2013-07-07 2013-03-29 2013-02-02 2012-11-14 2012-10-19
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| HAZ Member mt98dew's 262 Photosets 2018-12-15 2018-12-01 2018-11-24 2018-11-18 2018-11-17 2018-11-09 2018-11-08 2018-11-03 2018-10-28 2018-10-28 2018-10-14 2018-10-13 2018-10-08 2018-10-06 2018-07-14 2018-07-11 2018-07-07 2018-07-05 2018-05-13 2018-05-05
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. Bought an annual pass with the hopes of making several forays in the next year). Since I hadn't hiked any of the trails on the South side, I started off with this overview (literally) of the Canyon's southern rim trail. Started from the Visitor Center. But actually walked what was called the Village Parkway Trail. This paralleled the road and didn't offer any Canyon views. I kept expecting some sort of connector trail that would allow access to the rim. This never materialized. Though I did see several elk browsing in the woodscape. By the time I reached the Village I had made way over to the rim trail. So technically I didn't start the Rim Trail until I got to the El Tovar Hotel. As I made my way west the crowds were prevalent for the first mile until I reached Maricopa Point. And it is during that first mile from El Tovar that the greatest elevation change occurs...and it's really not that much, just a steep hill. For the most part, this is a very flat trail. The trail is paved for maybe 2 miles past El Tovar and then for the final 2 miles to Hermits Rest and these section would frequently leave the rim view as the trail went from one viewing point to another. The middle 5-6 miles is unpaved and can get rather close to the edge. The views were astounding. The trails (paved/unpaved) were in great shape and easy to follow and after Hopi point, I had them to myself for the most part. Some of the viewing points seemed congested, but I imagine they can be much worse during different times of the year. Made it to Hermits Rest and then caught one of the last shuttle back to the Visitor Center. Saw some elk while I was on the Village Parkway Trail, but otherwise no wildlife.