Grand Canyon-South Rim

Hiking down from the rim of the canyon to the Colorado River takes two days in the Grand Canyon. Some people ride burros down and up. If you hike, you need to follow the switchbacks on the trail because it is so steep. From the rim to the river is a one mile drop! When you get to the bottom you can camp or stay at the Phantom Ranch. You need to plan about a year in advance to get your hiking permit or reservations. Planning is important because people have died attempting to hike to the bottom. We only hiked 1 hour down and then it took us 2 hours to hike back out. The book Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry tells the real story of a burro who worked in the canyon.