Lately, a little voice kept tugging at me, and I couldn’t shake it. I tried to ignore it, but it only grew louder: the Grand Canyon was calling. “It’s time. You’ve stayed away too long. I miss you. Come see me.” Well, who can argue with the Grand Canyon? We booked a campsite, loaded up Romin, and set off for five days of wide-open skies, red rock beauty, and pure bliss with Mother Nature
The Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, sits practically in my backyard. Every visit reminds me how lucky I am. As a nature lover, I find sanctuary there when the world starts feeling a little too loud. The canyon offers no politics, no news chatter, no electronics, and no pressure. Just quiet beauty, deep breaths, wide-open sky, and breathtaking layers of rock that seem to shift with every passing cloud. No photo or description can capture its depth, scale, color, or ever-changing moods. You have to stand at the rim, feel the stillness, and let the view stop you in your tracks. If you haven’t visited this incredible park yet, please add it to your bucket list. I promise, the Grand Canyon will leave an impression you won’t forget.
Tall lodgepole pines shaded our campsite and gave us the perfect place to settle in. When we pulled in, a female elk claimed the site first, calmly grazing as if she had booked it herself. She took her time, munching the grass without a care in the world, while we waited and laughed at our unexpected welcome committee.
Once our elk hostess finished her leisurely grazing and wandered off, we claimed our campsite and got busy settling in.
We finished earlier than expected, so we pointed Romin toward Mather Point for a look at the Canyon. This overlook draws plenty of visitors for good reason. So we walked the Rim Trail, where the afternoon crowd stayed light, giving us room to linger. We took in the sweeping view and enjoyed the canyon without feeling rushed.
Ooh-Aah Point
I last tackled this trail when I hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim. (Grand Canyon Rim to Rim blog) This time, we set our sights on Ooh-Aah Point—yes, that really is its name, and yes, people absolutely feel compelled to say “Oooooh, Aaaaah” when they get there…LOL. The hike covers about 2 steep miles round trip, so beginners should think twice before heading down. Nine switchbacks greet you almost immediately as you descend along the cliff face and drop about 300 feet into the canyon. Those sheer edges can rattle anyone with a fear of heights. I once felt that way too, but after enough hikes where I practically hugged the canyon wall and shuffled forward one careful step at a time—Canyon Overlook in Zion comes to mind—this trail now feels like a piece of cake.
Once you push past the switchbacks, the trail settles into a gentler descent. My biggest gripe? The endless stair parade the park built into the path. Some steps barely rise at all, while others seem designed for much longer legs than mine, and my short legs do not appreciate the challenge. They turn a beautiful hike into a serious workout. Still, difficulty and cranky knees aside, I really do love this trail. We reached Ooh-Aah Point in about an hour, then spent nearly two hours climbing back out. The day warmed up quickly, but our early start, plenty of water, and shady rest stops helped us make the return without too much suffering.
Time for lunch
By lunchtime, El Tovar called our name. Honestly, can you even visit the Grand Canyon without sitting down for at least one meal inside this classic hotel? Built in 1905 for $250,000, El Tovar still claims one of the best dining-room views anywhere, with canyon scenery filling the windows while you relax over your meal. Talk about location, location, location! I can’t visit without ordering the French onion soup, and this bowl still ranks as the best I’ve ever had. A small cup cost $10.50, but every spoonful earned its keep. My stomach growls just thinking about it!
Bright Angel Trail
Pete’s knees needed a break after the South Kaibab hike, so I tackled the Bright Angel Trail on my own. I missed his company, but the trail kept calling, and I didn’t want to leave the canyon without giving it a try. I started later than I should have, and the canyon walls wasted no time turning up the heat as I descended.
From Trailview Overlook, the trail looks intimidating, but once I got moving, it felt more manageable than South Kaibab. Bright Angel still delivered plenty of stairs, along with busy mule traffic, so I spent part of the hike stepping carefully, dodging mule droppings, and trying not to laugh at the fact that the mules seemed to dislike the stairs as much as I did. Along the way, bighorn sheep wandered into view, and several shameless squirrels begged for snacks like tiny park professionals. In the end, the hike stayed fairly uneventful, but the canyon views made every dusty, sweaty step worthwhile.
The heat started catching up with me fast, and I knew I needed to turn around before I reached the first rest station. I hated making that call, but without knowing how much trail still stretched ahead, I chose the smart option and headed back. From Trailview Overlook, Pete tracked my progress and later told me I had stopped less than a hundred yards from the rest stop. I should have texted him before I turned around! Even with that near-miss, the hike still gave me plenty to love. Maybe someday I’ll push all the way to the river, but that adventure would demand a 16-mile round trip—and a much cooler day.
As Pete was hanging out at the Trailview Overlook, he spotted a California Condor soaring over the trail. This is an extraordinarily rare catch as there are less than 500 condors remaining in the wild and captivity. Efforts to save the species have brought their numbers up from 23 in 1983. They are not yet safe from extinction, but hopefully, ongoing efforts will successfully save the species. This incredible bird has a wingspan of over 10 feet and weighs up to 33 pounds.
Desert View
Lastly, we headed out to the Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower, a scenic 23-mile drive to the canyon’s eastern entrance. This viewpoint delivers one of the best looks at the Colorado River, giving you a rare chance to see a long stretch of it cutting through the canyon far below.In the past, visitors could wander inside the tower and climb through each level to the top. Now, you need both a reservation and a ticket, and the park limits each visit to 20 minutes, so we missed our chance to go inside this time. Once again, thanks, Covid, for rearranging the world.
All in all, it was a great trip and went by too fast. I could easily spend weeks up there. I never tire of the beauty that is the Grand Canyon and am looking forward to next time. In the meantime, I’ll be training for another Rim to Rim hike in October of 2028!
Until next time
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