James Metcalfe
Fall and winter in the canyon are ideal because the weather cools off to much more manageable temps, and the crowds die down a bit from the summer rush. The other true gem about this hike is it’s from the north rim of the canyon, most hikers start on the south rim at Grand Canyon Village and hike the Bright Angel Trail, so this option tends to see fewer people. This is a long hike, 27 miles, and hard, so not many people attempt it, but those that do are treated with a hike you’ll never forget. Also, there’s an option to camp at the bottom at Bright Angel Campground, which is at Phantom Ranch, the only lodging and NPS outpost at river level within the canyon.
You can get a meal there or snacks before the return trip up to the rim. Staying at the lodge is tough, with a permit and lottery system, but with planning, it can be done. Phantom Ranch is so spectacular, it’s part of the reason the canyon was incorporated into the national park system after Teddy Roosevelt traveled down in the early 1900s.
Contributor: Paul Ronto from runrepeat.com
