Saturday October 14th 2017

Everybody says you have to see the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. So this morning I was up at 5AM to catch a 5:30 shuttle bus to Mather Point on the rim of the Grand Canyon. It was a dark walk across the sleeping campground to get to the shuttle and then a dark walk out the trail from the Visitors Center to the canyon rim. There was the hint of sunrise in the eastern sky when I arrived at 5:45 for the 6:30 sunrise.

About half an hour before sunrise over the Grand Canyon.

The temperature was in the thirties. I was bundled up in layers for the morning temperature, but nothing helped the wind chill on exposed skin. The wind really howls at the canyon rim. People were dressed in all levels of appropriateness for the conditions. The ones that were rapped in blankets could be heard complaining about the cold. By the time sunrise rolled around there were several hundred people gathered around.

Minutes before Sunrise

Sunrise over the Grand Canyon

The minute or two when the sun breaks the horizon was spectacular. It was worth the wait, but maybe not the chill. The lighting on the east facing canyon walls was also pretty. I’d probably do it again on a future visit. I considered finding a spot to watch the sunset, but after a long day of activity it wasn’t in the cards.

After watching the sunrise, I took the hiking path back to the campground. It’s about a three quarter mile walk along a paved path suitable for walking and bike riding. My only problem was finding the path behind the book store. I was the only human on the path this morning. A couple of Mule deers were along the side of the path. They watched me closely as I took their picture and moved on. Later in the day while riding the shuttle bus I saw an Elk and another deer.

Mule Deer along the path to the campground.

After breakfast and an attempt at taking a nap, I walked back over to the visitors center and caught the blue shuttle to the Bright Angle Lodge area. Then I caught the red shuttle toward Hermit Rest. This area is only accessible via shuttle from March through the end of November. I stopped at the Powell Point memorial to John Wesley Powell and waked the Rim trail to Mohave Point. There are some good views of the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon along this route.

The main Grand Canyon Visitors Center

Mountain Lion statue guarding the Visitors Center.

I was back at my campsite by 5PM. Overall I was out touring for about six hours. I could use another day to see more of the park, but I could only get the two nights here in the park. Tomorrow I move on to Kingman AZ for one night then down to Lake Havasu for a few nights.

Patio table on the canyon rim in the middle of nowhere.

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The Colorado River is visible in the center of this picture more than a mile bellow the rim.