Grand Canyon Adventures - Clear Creek
So while the vast majority of my adventures are in my home state of California, every so often I travel outside the golden state. And when I do one of my favorite places to explore is
the Grand Canyon!!
On this trip I was joined by my mom (@doverland) and my brother (@darenrichardson) who both live in central Arizona. I met with them and we drove up to the South Rim of the canyon. We got our packs on and started down the trail into the canyon for a 5 day backpacking trip! We started at the South Kaibab trailhead and headed down the well worn, highly trafficked trail passed O'Neill Butte and down to the Tonto plateau where we stopped for a lunch break. The views from the upper trail and from the plateau were breathtaking. There are lots of HUGE views on the South Kaibab trail!
Views from the South Rim
Descending from the South Rim
Descending the South Kaibab trail
Hiking by O'Neill Butte
Blooming Cacti
@darenrichardson taking a break on the Tonto Plateau
@doverland on the Tonto Plateau
After the break we dropped off the Tonto Plateau switchbacking down through the redwall limestone. Here we got our first views of the Colorado river in the bottom of the canyon! Upon reaching the bottom, the trail goes through a tunnel in the rock and across the river on a big suspension bridge! On the far side of the river we passed some old indian ruins and then headed up Bright Angel creek to the Bright Angel Campground at Phantom Ranch.
Our first views of the Colorado river
Descending to the bottom
Entering the tunnel to the bridge
Looking back at the Suspention bridge from the indian ruins
Bright Angel creek
We setup our camp by the creek and then headed out to explore the Phantom ranch area a bit and go do some hiking along the river. Then we got back had some dinner and drinks and enjoyed our first night in the canyon.
Camping by Bright Angel creek
Hiking around Phantom Ranch
Mule stables at Phantom Ranch
The Colorado river
Phantom Ranch
The next morning we packed up camp and found the Clear creek trail. On this trail we left the Corridor trails (and all the crowds) and climbed high up above Phantom Ranch and around Sumner Butte. We climbed up through the cliffs back onto the Tonto Plateau (but now on the north side of the canyon) and across the plateau to Clear creek canyon. The trail headed up canyon for awhile staying high above the bottom, then dropped steeply down to the creek where we found another great spot to camp!
Early morning at Bright Angel creek
Climbing up the Clear Creek trail
Hiking around the base of Sumner Butte
Views along the trail
Views from the Tonto Plateau
Sandstone puddles... the only water on the plateau
Taking a break on the plateau
@darenrichardson overlooking Clear Creek canyon
Me posing above clear creek
@doverland arriving at Clear Creek
Evening time at our camp
The next morning we left camp setup and spent the day exploring up Clear creek canyon with the goal of finding Cheyava falls. Clear creek is a big beautiful canyon filled with lots of nice Cottonwood trees. We worked our way up canyon and although we did find Cheyava falls unfortunately it was almost completely dried up. But it was a great hike none the less and on our way back to camp I followed a small side path over to some cliffs and was treated to finding some amazing ruins from Indian cliff dwellings there. Tools, grinding stones, pieces of pottery, and even old corn cobs still littered the area, it was really amazing to get to see!! Then we continued back down canyon to our camp where we stayed another night there by the creek.
Clear Creek canyon
Cottonwoods in Clear Creek canyon
Inside a small cave in Clear Creek canyon
@darenrichardson in upper Clear Creek canyon near the dried up Cheyava falls
Indian ruins
Indian artifacts
More blooming Cacti
Getting back to camp
Evening views from camp
That night the winds picked up. And they just got worse throughout the night. Making for one of the windiest nights I've ever camped in! @darenrichardson woke up with his tent flattened! The next day we headed back up the Clear creek trail and across the Tonto plateau and then dropped back down to the Bright Angel campground where we setup camp again and spent our last night in the Grand canyon.
Views from the Tonto Plateau
@doverland hiking across the Tonto Plateau
Views of the Colorado river from the Clear creek trail
Overlooking Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel creek
Arriving back at Phantom Ranch
The next day was our last day in the canyon and we packed up our stuff and headed up the Bright Angel trail where we climbed from the canyon bottom all the way up to the South Rim 4,380' above!! The Bright Angel trail is a well worn, fairly grated, highly popular trail. So the hike out really wasn't all that difficult for me, but leaving such an amazing place is always hard for me, and I took my time hiking up the trail. Reflecting on all the amazing things I had seen. Making me the last to arrive at the rim, finishing up an incredible adventure in one of the most amazing geological wonders of the world!
Arriving back on the South Rim
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I LOVE that area of America. Those pictures are so amazing :)
Another amazing adventures from you and stunning photos. Thank you for sharing. Must have taken you lots of time on the photos.
GORGEOUS images!
And the tunnel to the bridge? I give you credit for going through there; not sure I could have... I'd have an anxiety attack for sure!
Thanks @goldendawne. Haha! The tunnel wasn't that bad. It was probably only 30-40 ft long. And It was really cool how it led right onto the suspension bridge across the river.
So, it combines fear of depths with fear of heights for the perfect adrenaline rush! Brilliant hehe
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wow what a great adventure! i definitely need to get to the Grand Canyon and really explore like you guys did. Your shirt blends in so well in the Clear Creek pose!
You gotta do it! The Grand Canyon is so incredible. The massiveness of it all is so awe inspiring yet also so humbling. Ya, I definitely wore the wrong clothes to be seen in the photo... lol. But I still really like that one.
Me too. And the one with the giant ball of sun! What an awesome shot.
wow what a great adventure! i definitely need to get to the Grand Canyon and really explore like you guys did. Your shirt blends in so well in the Clear Creek pose!
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The photos are mad, I wish was was also with you on the journey. Looks like an adventure I'd one to embark on. The perfect travel photography 😍
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