Grand Canyon Rim to Rim - We got a cabin at Phantom Ranch!

Grand Canyon Rim to Rim - We got a cabin at Phantom Ranch!

The holy grail of Grand Canyon trips involves a stay at Phantom Ranch. It only took me two years of trying, but I finally got a cabin. This meant we could ditch the heavy backpacks and go with day hiking gear, while still splitting the Rim to Rim hike into two days. Not to mention having a stay at what is basically the hotel with the best views in the world. This was happening!

We decided to hike from the Grand Canyon North Rim to the South Rim to save some of the elevaton gain. We shuttled trucks from the South Rim to the North, then set up camp outside the park on the north rim so we could get an early start.

6:00AM, we were at the North Kaibab Trailhead, ready to start our long day. The North Kaibab trail descends dramatically into the Grand Canyon in the first few miles, dropping thousands of feet in elevation. After a while you come to Roaring Springs and the Manzanita Resthouse. This is where you meet up with the creek where you will be near flowing water all the way down to the Colorado.

About halfway through the hike to Phantom Ranch, you come up to Ribbon Falls. Ribbon Falls is a unique and beautiful waterfall that is not to be missed! Well, unless you're Tina and you're completely exhausted and ready to get to your cabin at Phantom Ranch. I went solo and don't regret it for a second. Ribbon Falls is amazing.

Continuing on, you drop further and further into the canyon. The walls close in on you in the infamous "Box". The Box in the Grand Canyon traps heat and can be brutally hot at times. Luckily, the creek is nearby for relief.

And then you're there. Phantom Ranch comes into sight. Whether you're day hiking rim to rim or overnighting, it's definitely worth a stop at the canteen at Phantom Ranch to grab a lemonade or other snacks and supplies.

But for us, this was our destination for day 1. We had an amazing cabin, complete with electricity, a flushing toilet, beds and even air conditioning! I'm definitely not used to that kind of luxury when I hike. There are also showers! The vibe at Phantom Ranch is not to be missed. So laid back and chill.

We woke up and hit the trail by 3AM on day 2. I'm disappointed we missed the views of the Bright Angel Trail from the Silver Bridge up to Indian Garden Campground, but it was September and the heat was oppressive. For about a mile after crossing the Silver Bridge, you are on a trail on a sheer cliff adjacent to the Colorado River. I can't imagine the views and will definitely be back to see them when it's cooler.

At Indian Garden Campgrounds, it was time for a quick refill on water and a snack. Then it was on to the relentless switchbacks of the Bright Angel Trail. The Bright Angel Trail offers great views of the canyon below, but it seems to go on forever.

And then....that's it. You're at the parking lot and your journey is over. The crowds of tourists admiring the overlooks are jarring, yet you barely notice them because....you just hiked the Grand Canyon.

Overall, it's life changing. The Grand Canyon has me hooked and I can't wait to go back. Again and again and again.

Music by Artlist:

Love of Mine - The Hunts
Something Left to Hold Onto - James Forest
Hey Hey Honey - HillTopTrio
Woodland - Laurel Violet
Honey - Sunriver

Music by Epidemic Sound:

Bo - Lo Mimieux
As Pure as Driven Snow - Across the Great Valley
The Untold - Ever So Blue