Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA - South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge: Hiking with spectacular views

We descend into the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, on the South Kaibab Trail. The hike via Ooh Aah Point to Cedar Ridge and back offers spectacular views of the stunning landscape of the Grand Canyon. Back at the South Rim, we take an evening stroll along the Trail of Time and enjoy a colorful sunset.

The South Kaibab Trail is known for its magnificent views of the Grand Canyon, as it runs almost entirely along a ridge. The trail descends 1430 m (4700 ft) to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. A day hike to Cedar Ridge is a popular option for hikers who don't want or can't tackle the entire descent. The hike to Cedar Ridge is approximately 340 m (1120 ft) in elevation and 2,4 km (1,5 mi) long. There is hardly any shade on the hike, so you should remember to bring sunscreen. Temperatures are still pleasant now in April, but it can get very hot in summer. You should also bring plenty of water and food; there is no catering along the trail. And very important: always keep in mind that while the descent is relatively easy, you also have to climb back up the steep path! National Park rangers are on the trail, and we were asked several times how we were feeling and how far we wanted to hike. Apparently, they've had bad experiences with tourists who, inspired by the magnificent natural scenery, have overestimated their abilities!

We reach the starting point of our hike, the South Kaibab Trailhead, with the free shuttle bus (orange route) from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Driving there by car is not possible, as there is no parking for visitors. Before we start hiking, we walk a few meters along the Grand Canyon and enjoy the stunning view of this natural wonder.
Then we begin the descent. We quickly lose elevation along a switchback trail. The views of the Grand Canyon are wonderful! The first highlight is Ooh Aah Point, after about 230 m (760 ft) of elevation gain. The name of this viewpoint comes from the exclamations of hikers as they admire the magnificent panorama!
We continue downhill, always accompanied by beautiful views of the canyon. Finally, we reach Cedar Ridge, a plateau sparsely covered with juniper and small pines. There's a rest area and even composting toilets here. We also take a break here and enjoy the views. Birds circle majestically above us, skillfully taking advantage of the thermals in the canyon. At Cedar Ridge there are many rock squirrels, cute little animals that have become accustomed to tourists and are hoping for a treat.
We make our way back up. Now it's getting strenuous! But the views back at the Grand Canyon tempt us to take short breaks again and again. Finally, we're back up at the South Rim, where another rock squirrel greets us.

This day also ends with a wonderful sunset over the Grand Canyon. We're taking an evening stroll on the Trail of Time, a well-developed and scenic geology trail along the Grand Canyon, which ends at the Yavapai Geology Museum. The views are indescribably beautiful, the air is clear, and the play of colors of the setting sun on the mighty rock walls is a dream!

We're staying in Arizona. The next stop on our USA road trip will be Page.

You can find the GPS track for the hike at: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/tour/229...

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Visit in April 2024

Chapter:
00:00 Intro
00:44 Approach and trailhead
02:50 Start of the hike
05:00 Ooh Aah Point
06:00 Hike to Cedar Ridge
07:14 Cedar Ridge
10:10 Way back
11:30 Trail of Time along the canyon
15:42 Sunset
17:27 Outro