Switchbacks
Down the wall.
Grand Canyon National Park — Public domain · Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it! — CC BY-SA 2.0 · cogdogblog — CC BY 2.0 · Hermann Luyken — CC0 · Michael Quinn, National Park Service — Public domain · Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it! — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Thatcher Clay — CC BY 2.0 · brewbooks from near Seattle, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0
The best-known hiking trail in the Grand Canyon starts in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim and descends about 1,335 metres to the Colorado River at the bottom, at an average grade of 10%, with two-thirds of the drop in the first 7.9 kilometres to Havasupai Gardens. The trail zigzags down the canyon wall in tight switchbacks with rest houses along the way, passing successive rock layers, so hikers see the colours and plants change as they descend. With the River Trail, it is the most used route to Phantom Ranch at the bottom. Most visitors do not need to go far: a short walk down from the trailhead is enough to feel what it is like to descend into the canyon and see it from inside, before climbing back up. Park entry is $35 per vehicle or $20 per person for seven days, and non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person, per the National Park Service. Going down is easy but the climb back is tiring and takes twice as long, so do not try to reach the river and return in one day; carry plenty of water and food, and avoid hiking in the midday heat in summer.
Down the wall.
One after another.
From inside the canyon.
Grand Canyon Village, South Rim
It is not advised, as the climb back is tiring and takes twice as long; a short walk down and back is better.