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The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s natural wonders and is on pretty much everyone’s bucket list. Because it is just so GRAND, I’ll need more than one post to cover all that we saw while there. This post covers the Bright Angel section of the park. Bright Angel trail is perhaps the most popular trail from the Southern Rim to the canyon floor. You can find lodging in this section of the park at either Bright Angel Lodge or El Tovar. Both are historic lodges.
We had our first glimpse of the canyon as we turned west toward the park. It began to rain as we passed through the entrance, but by the time we got to our lodge, it had stopped.
We checked into our cabin at The Bright Angel Lodge, just steps away from the rim of the canyon and the Bright Angel Trailhead. Since it had just rained, everything was shrouded in fog and we couldn’t actually SEE the canyon, but when the fog started lifting out of the canyon, it was incredible.
We loved our cabin at Bright Angel Lodge. We rented two rooms which comprised the entire cabin. We lucked out and had a connecting door (which they couldn’t guarantee at time of booking.) Amenities included a mini fridge, tv, and dispensers with a heavenly lemongrass scented body wash, shampoo and conditioner. we were a few steps away from the the Grand Canyon and the Bright Angel Trail. Both rooms had a ceiling fan which was plenty…no need for AC while we were there. It got down into the 50s at night.
We had thunderstorms each afternoon that forced us inside for an hour or two so we were grateful for our homey cabin.
I reserved our rooms a year in advance…there are 5 million visitors a year and not many rooms in the park. I see on the website that the lodge will close for renovation this year from September -December 2018.
The rim trail runs behind the Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar (THE historic lodge in the park) and is level with guardrails so you can’t just fall over the side in the dark. I got up before dawn and walked the path behind our cabin to El Tovar where I watched the sun come up over the ridge with about a dozen other people.
There are some historic buildings in this area. Lookout Studio was constructed by the Santa Fe Railway in 1914 and used as a photography studio. It is now a gift shop with stone terraces from which to view the canyon.
Hopi House, along with Lookout Studio, Bright Angel Lodge and several other buildings in the park, was designed by female architect Mary Colter in 1904. It was built to be a living museum where Native American craftsmen worked and sold souvenirs.
In the afternoon of our second day in the park, we had some time to kill before our reservations at El Tovar so we took a hike on the Rim Trail. It started to rain again and then stopped almost as soon as we’d donned our rain ponchos. As it cleared, rainbows began to appear in the canyon. Amazing!
El Tovar was worth the splurge! It’s the priciest place to eat in the canyon and is a fine dining experience so you can’t walk in with your dirty hikers and shorts (though it’s not THAT dressy…no one was wearing ties or jackets except the waiters…polo and khaki pants are ok)
We were seated by the window for a great view of the setting sun. The lodge and dining room are lovely and full of history. The staff was great…our waiter opened a bottle of wine for us and noticed the cork was bad so he immediately got us another bottle.
Our food was delicious …basic continental fare with some inventive touches. Like my husband’s ny strip steak that had a crumbled feta and some sort of delicious sauce. Everything was very well prepared. Oh and they let my daughter order a half portion from the regular menu instead of making her choose from the standard chicken finger kids menu.
Location: Arizona
Designation: National Park
Date designation declared: 1/11/1908
Date of my visit: 8/19/2014
So great you were able to get such good rainbow shots.
Yes we lucked out…thunderstorms every afternoon yielded great clouds and rainbows
Your photographs are outstanding although with the quality of your narrative, you wouldn’t need them to still make this an excellent read.
That’s so kind of you…thanks!
Wow great post as usual! Love to read your visits as they inspire me to add more places to my travel wish list 🙂
Thanks so much and happy travels! There will be more Grand Canyon posts in the coming weeks.
I really enjoyed your post and photographs. I thought the photo looking into the canyon was a painting when I first saw it.
Thanks so much, Rachel! I really appreciate that. I think the mist/fog after a storm in the canyon diffuses the light and gives photos that painting feel.
This is awesome!! My husband and I took the South Kaibab Trail down to the bottom of the canyon, and came up the Bright Angel Trail. The Grand Canyon is one of those unique landscapes that everyone must experience. What a beauty!
Wow! That is quite the hike! In the coming weeks, there will be more Grand Canyon posts, one of which is about our much less ambitious trek down part of the South Kaibob trail.
Looking forward to it!
Those rainbow photos are absolutely stunning!
Thanks so much! We were so thrilled to have seen it, and from a spot where there weren’t many people around🌈
Yes that is very lucky! I just love rainbows too. Well done.
The Grand Canyon definitely is a sight to behold. Especially after a rainstorm with a rainbow! Lucky!
Thanks for visiting! Yes, we lucked out!🌈
Thank you for taking me where I didn’t have time to see. Beautiful pictures.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed them!
Wow, really beautiful photography! Enjoying your site very much!
Thanks so much, Matt! Glad you like it!
Pictures are fantastic!
Thanks so much!
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My husband and I also hiked the Bright Angel Trail and it is still one of our most memorable experiences.
Awesome!
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Great post with beautiful pictures! The picture capturing the rainbow is outstanding! To experience the sunrise over the Grand Canyon is truly a special event. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed my post!
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