4 Aug 2023 - Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Mather Point, Rim Trail, Pink Jeep Sunset Tour

 

Another full day here at the Grand Canyon.  We started the chilly morning turning on the fireplace for a little while!  46.9F this morning but that would not last.  We were in the 90's this afternoon.

Out first stop this morning was the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.  Got a chuckle out of the parking area with the long line of mostly rental RV's.  I wonder what hoops the foreigners have to jump through to rent and drive one of these rental RV's?  We have met a lot of them from all over the world, and they are sure having fun! 

We stopped in the Visitor Center and spoke with a park ranger about how best to see the Grand Canyon.  They gave us a map and some great suggestions.  

Even though we saw the IMAX, we went ahead and watched the Grand Canyon movie here at the visitor center. 

From there we followed the suggestion of hiking the Rim Trail to Mather Point and then west to Yavapai Point.  There are view points all along the 1.4 mile hike.  What an awesome hike and view along the way!!

Busy areas!

This squirrel is catching some rays  on the rocks!

We turned around and headed back to the parking lot.  The hike is shaded quite a bit which makes it nice!

Back at the parking area we drove through the Market area before heading back the our campground.  There are about 2000 fulltime residents here and they have essential services to include fire, EMS, law enforcement, schools (K-12), etc.  The park operates year round.

We spent the early afternoon cleaning up here, resting a bit and getting ready to head out on our sunset Pink Jeep tour.  I was disappointed to receive the phone call yesterday advising their certified hiker was unavailable, so instead of the Hermit Point Sunset Tour/Hike we would be going east back on Hwy 64. Well, it is what it is, so at 1630 we reported to the Pink Jeep Tour desk and waited for our tour.

Promptly at 1700 we departed on our sunset tour with our guide.  There was a family of five plus Doreen and I.  The front passenger's seat was available, so I claimed it and the others rode in the back. 

We were not very far down the road and viewed others at a stop looking at something in the weeds.  There were several elk taking a break in the shade!

Our first stop was 'Duck on a Rock'.  The rock is a matter of interpretation but we will go with it LOL!  

We took over 200 pictures today, but I will try to keep this brief!  New stop was 'Twin Overlooks'.  

Next stop was Desert View Watch Tower. This is a 70-foot-high stone building located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  It's also known as the Indian Watchtower at Desert View. 

The Watchtower was constructed in 1932 and is a National Historic Landmark. It was designed by Mary Colter, who is often called the architect of the southwest. Colter modeled the Watchtower after the architecture of the ancestral Puebloan people of the Colorado Plateau. 

Inside, the timbers were from the old lodge building.    We arrived after the tower was closed, but earlier in the day you can climb the tower.

Inside there is a gift shop

Out from the tower is the site of an aircraft crash back in 1956 and a memorial for the lives lost.

Petroglyphs on the tower base.

At the point !  What a view!

Next stop was Lipan Point.  The overcast was degrading our view.

Lastly our sunset stop which was Moran Point. We had about 10 minutes as the sun continued to set.  The color changes on the rocks was amazing!  There were probably 100 people there to enjoy the sunset!

Smoke in the distance.

 We had a great night with our guide Brian.  Tomorrow and Sunday we will continue to explore the Grand Canyon south rim before we depart Monday morning..