#kuwtp: Day 4

Day 4 y’all – wow, just wow!

We woke to sounds of train horns along Route 66, prepared for our busy day and after a short drive on the historic route and a few prairie dog sightings; off we went toward the Grand Canyon!

36.0553° N, 112.1218° W

Our Route 66 motel

Entering the park on the south side looks rather mundane except for the occasional elk and mountain lion crossing signs. (My guy kept saying he would love to see an elk!) It’s the Kaibab National Forest but the vegetation is more shrubby than foresty. And what’s crazy is there is practically no indication as we are driving along that suddenly we are going to find, basically, the world’s largest hole in the ground!!! We discussed what it may have been like for the first person to ride through this area on horseback thinking they were just going to keep exploring along and then suddenly ride up to this massive, ginormous, giganuous, there-are-no-words-capable-of-describing-its-size canyon!

Took four pics to capture entire horizon!

Colorado River - wide view and zoom view of the same area.

We jumped on a shuttle for a bit and rode out to several viewing points – all amazing. We were able to get a glimpse of the Colorado River, which in comparison to the G-R-A-N-D canyon liked much like a brown ribbon weaving through the rock. Truly, the site is unbelievable.

The older two and I took a few minutes to walk down the Bright Angel trail, probably the most popular trail in the Grand Canyon. CJ was a little spooked by the idea of falling into the canyon so she opted to stay up top with dad! That’s okay, I was spooked as well about having the three most precious kids in the world near that bigger-than-life canyon. My palms get sweaty again just thinking about it. Of course, my teenage son thought it thrilling to get as close as possible to the edges. YIKES!

We left the main area to start driving to other side of the canyon for our stopping place for the night. This drive took us through more forest areas and also along part of the canyon that was less popular than the visitor centers areas. A wonderful drive! Eventually we saw less canyon and more Kaibab forest. And then turning a corner we see a couple of cars pulled over – we’re thinking car trouble – and I see it! I huge elk!! He was just inside the trees along the roadside. Of course, we do a U-ey and head straight back for a real live elk viewing. He was so calm – not at all spooked by us and stared straight into my camera as if saying, “Sure, go ahead, I’m and elk super model!” My guy got his wish!

Our final destination for the night was Jacob Lake, which probably in reality was about 30 miles directly north of where we stood on the south rim of the canyon; yet we had to drive all the way around the canyon. But that was sooooo worth it. It took us through Marble Canyon and was absolutely, positively hold-back-tears stunning! The colors, the vast and beautiful landscapes – amazing.

Our car climbed and climbed and finally reached the other side of the Grand Canyon to our Jacob Lake pit stop – elevation 7900+ feet!! We traveled down just a bit to get to the inn so I’m convinced we hit 8000 feet! Jacob Lake Inn was a super cute, old lodge with some cabins, a few motel rooms and a small two-story hotel. We reserved the cabin option. The temp was a COLD 60ish, well, in comparison to the south rim of the Grand Canyon it was cold!