Grand Canyon Rim to Rim - Day 3.5

Take a side hike from Indian Gardens to The Plateau - if you're up to it. It will be 1.5 miles there and 1.5 miles back -- but it's worth it. Find one relatively small rocky perch high above the Colorado River. Backpacking adventure in Grand Canyon National Park begins at North Rim and ends at South Rim with stops at Cottonwood, Bright Angel (Phantom Ranch), and Indian Gardens. Kevin and Lorrie Cesarz made the trip in September (7-10) of 2010. It was Lorrie's first Grand Canyon experience, Kevin's second.

Music - Lucas Gonze's Slightly on the Mash, Juba Breakdown and Ghost Solos - http://soupgreens.com/category/mymusic/

Day 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glDFryGtg4c - (North Rim to Cottonwood)
Day 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uIDyTr2O2c - (Cottonwood to Bright Angel)
Day 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6iHWOwQ_W8 - (Bright Angel to Indian Gardens)
Day 3.5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTzfB7-qMYA - (Tonto Trail to The Plateau)
Day 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuZe1DdiAMY - (Indian Gardens to South Rim)

Planning a Grand Canyon trip? Hope this helps.

• Grand Canyon National Park - http://www.nps.gov/grca

• Backcountry Camping Permits: There is a non-refundable fee of $10 per permit plus $5 per person per night camped below the rim. - http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit...

• Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim: 1-928-638-7875 (main number); 1-928-638-2611 (dinner reservations); Dining room has about 120 seats, beautiful, delicious food.

• Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim (Xanterra Resorts) - 1-877-386-4383; We stayed in a Pioneer Cabin (about $120); we also stayed in a Motel (about $110) - http://foreverlodging.com/lodging.cfm...

• Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim has a reservation calendar that you can track a year in advance - https://reservations.foreverresorts.c...

• Phantom Ranch dinner reservations (Xanterra Resorts) 1-928-638-2631; they offer dinner (steak or veggie chili) and breakfast (bacon, eggs and pancakes); Dinners about $35-$40 each, Breakfast about the same price. Expensive but that's what it costs to haul food down into the canyon on mules.

• Grand Canyon Shuttle North Rim - 1-928-638-2820 Mailing address (Trans Canyon Shuttle, PO Box 348, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023); $80 per person. Trans Canyon takes cash or check and asks for half in advance. I have used them twice. They are safe, efficient and pleasant.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Grand Canyon
• Grand Canyon National Park
• GCNP
• rim to rim
• rim-to-rim
• Ribbon Falls
• Grand Canyon map
• Phantom Ranch
• The Plateau
• Phantom Creek
• North Rim
• South Rim
• hiking ethics
• Cottonwood
• Bright Angel
• Indian Gardens
• North Kaibab Trail
• Bright Angel Trail
• Grand Canyon weather
• Grand Canyon lodging
• Grand Canyon campgrounds
• Grand Canyon mules
• backcountry permit
• Colorado River
• Silver Bridge
• Plateau Point
• Kevin Cesarz
• Lucas Gonze
• Plateau Point Trail

[MrElshMedia]

Thanks for the comments landrysg and gurdonark. 

[landrysg]

Great video. The high def was amazing!  Thanks for sharing.

[MrElshMedia]

@landrysg Looked cold when you went (Nov.). Both times I was in the canyon temps averaged 85-100,

[landrysg]

When Joe and I were there, the high temps were in the 60's, and the low our last night at Indian Garden was down into the 30's. It was good hiking weather, but neither of us took a dip in "Victor's Oasis" at Indian Garden. Joe did take a dip in the Colorado River at Boat Beach, but the water was too cold for me.

[gurdonark]

Great video. I've never gotten to hike the Grand Canyon. I love the Lucas Gonze music, too!