Started in: Lee's Ferry Marble Canyon, AZ
Ended in: North Rim, AZ
Total Distance: Hiking: 4.7 miles, Driving: 89 miles
Though our first view of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was at sunset in a sparsely populated park, the view upon our return was much more crowded. But here at the North Rim, things are much emptier but no less spectacular. In my wildest dreams, I never pictured the Grand Canyon to be so wooded. Indeed, we are surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest and this whole affair looks like something out of Michigan or Maine. I expected desert, but that is not this.
We hiked a short loop that had a beautiful overlook of the canyon. This is the kind of trail you can hike on foot or on muleback. I always knew mules were part horse, but I was impressed by how grand these mammals were. We opted to go by foot, but word to the wise… be comfortable with mule droppings if you want to go on a trail like this.
We got to the overlook and just stood there. We marveled at the trail that runs through the canyon itself. The plan for the rest of the evening is a little bit of hiking to the restaurant in the park and then turn in early to head out for Zion early tomorrow morning, continuing our journey back north.