South Rim
"The Village"
The
Village
Grand Canyon Village is a good starting point. A rim trail extends from Mather
Point east of the Village west to Hermits Rest and has exceptional canyon views. Popular
Bright Angel Trail, which accesses the inner canyon, begins just to the west of Bright
Angel Lodge. Concessioner Fred Harvey Company built several lodges and gift shops in the
Village, beginning in 1907 with El Tovar Hotel, one of the first hotels to be built in a
national park.
El Tovar
Talented architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter designed many buildings here, including the 1905 curio shop Hopi House, Bright Angel Lodge (1935), Lookout Studio (1914), Hermits Rest on West Rim Drive (1914), Phantom Ranch at Bright Angel Creek (1922), and the Desert View Watchtower (1932). Verkamp's Curios, the Canyon's oldest continuously operated store, was constructed in 1906.
Bright Angel Lodge-The Geologic Fireplace |
Lookout Studio 1914 |
Hermit's Rest fireplace |
Hopi House 1905 |
Phantom Ranch 1922 |
Watch Tower |
 Nampaeo in Hopi House |
Mary Colter at 23 |
 Colter making a bowl |
Kolb Studio, built by photographers Ellsworth and Emery Kolb in 1904, has changing exhibits about the Kolbs. Ellsworth and Emery Kolb were the first to film a Grand Canyon river run. They opened their photographic studio at the head of Bright Angel Trail in 1904. Emery Kolb continued selling curios and photos of mule riders descending Bright Angel Trail until his death in 1976. Also revived is the historic, steam-powered Grand Canyon Railway, which puffs into the Village daily in summer.
Bright Angel
Trail-- Devil's Corkscrew View
The Inner Canyon
The inner canyon can be reached from the rim only by a strenuous,
minimum-two-day hike (backcountry permit required) or mule trip (reserve well ahead). The Bright
Angel and South Kaibab trails intersect with several other trails for a variety
of hiking options. Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground are popular
overnight stops and are open all year. All overnight backcountry camping trips require a
permit, except for Phantom Ranch.
Within the Canyon, the Colorado River drops 2,215 feet while being channeled into ever-narrower paths. It makes for a raging river that only a hearty and experienced few can negotiate. A few whitewater river trips (generally offered April to October) start at Phantom Ranch, although Lees Ferry is the most frequent starting point. A 5-hour river float and picnic is offered as part of a 12-hour tour leaving from Grand Canyon Village.
The
Silver Bridge across the Colorado to the North Rim.
 Map of Arizona
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 Map of the reservations and Four Corners
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