A note about kids—I have kids and I have taken them hiking from their youngest years to adulthood. I know how difficult it can be sometimes to get them engaged in a long hike. Reminding them not to throw rocks at a ruin or to refrain from jumping on the cryptobiotic crust may seem like too much work on an already stressful hike. I get it. I’ve been there. But, helping them learn responsible wilderness behavior is worth it. Emphasize how much they are helping nature or Native Americans or the next visitors. If that isn’t compelling, try to make it a game: who can do this hike without going off the trail? Who can pick up the most trash (bring a baggie to put it in).

Hiking with Kids

Our kids are now in their 20’s and have developed a lifelong love and respect for nature, the outdoors and hiking. Much of this can be attributed to their early hiking experiences. Hiking with kids can seem overwhelming, but the effort is worth it if you can remember a couple of things: the first may go against much of what you’ve read about hiking with kids, but is worthwhile advice nonetheless, every hike does not have to be fun. 

When I read blogs or books that talk about how to make each hike fun for kids, I cringe. So much work and prep and then, often, everyone is just stressed. Some hikes are fun, others not so much. That’s okay! You may be thinking why hike if it isn’t fun? Well . . . first, sometimes it takes time to start having fun; second, you won’t know ahead of time whether it will be fun—even a whining kid at the start of the hike can turn into a joyful participant after they get engaged; third, it’s an incredibly healthy habit that lasts a lifetime; fourth, being in nature creates memories, develops respect for the environment, increases stamina and patience.

You will increase your enjoyment however, if you do keep the following in mind:

1. Give your family plenty of time to complete your hike (or don’t worry about completing the hike), so there is time to explore.
2. Point out bugs, flowers, lizards, caves, clouds that look like dogs, etc. as you walk. Encourage the kids to point out their finds.
3. Sing! Check out 100 Sing along songs for kids by Cedarmont Kids. It might drive adults crazy, but the songs are easy to learn.
4. Give each kid a whistle, a plastic magnifying glass, a small net (catch and release!), and a little backpack to keep their stuff in. Some kids will also enjoy working with a compass.
5. Practice using the whistle before the hike, so the kids know what it is for (if they get lost or scared), and so they don’t blow the whistle throughout the hike disturbing all the other hikers who were hoping for quiet.
6. Give out snacks throughout the hike! You might want to tie snacks to distance or time: “after one mile, you can pick a snack.”
7. Dress in layers; a light small windbreaker that fits in that backpack can be a lifesaver.
8. Buy kid hiking boots, especially if you are hiking anywhere with snakes or poison ivy or stinging nettles.
9. Let the kids lead but make sure you are clear about how far ahead they are allowed to go particularly on trails with steep drop offs or wild animals.
10. Be positive. Tell kids what they can do not what they can’t. We told our kids: “Let’s look and keep our hands behind our backs!” “Whenever you see a pot shard put your hands on your head, so everyone knows you’ve found something super special!” “If you see cryptobiotic soil, stand on one foot to alert everyone of that lifesaving soil”. We only had to spend one hike pointing out the soil before the kids recognized it for years afterwards.
11. Bring a small bag for garbage and give rewards to everyone at the end for picking up

Grand Canyon Apps

Apps

GyPSy Guide provides narrated guide tours.

Grand Canyon Just Ahead App narrates information as you drive the South Rim.

Grand Canyon Geology Tour, is a photographic tour of the geology of the Canyon with brief written explanations.

The Wave or Not the Wave

Controversy about Permit Process for Coyote Buttes North and The Wave

Getting a permit to go to the Wave, located in Coyote Buttes North, has become one of the most frustrating travel difficulties in Utah or the southwest for that matter. It can ruin your vacation if you plan it around this sought-after adventure and don’t get a permit. It is not unusual to find over 150 people queuing at 8am for the 10 spots. Imagine how many unhappy people leave there each day. It doesn’t do any good to get mad at the staff at the BLM office. They don’t make the rules or design the lottery.

The wave is an amazing rock formation. But, decide how much time, energy and psychic pain you want to go through to get there given the many, many other great places in the area. If you want to go through the process, be sure to read the website before you go (call (435) 688-3200 for questions). Times, rules, expectations change regularly. There is significant discussion going on right now about changing the process, so don’t be surprised if the lottery has changed or is no longer used by 2020.

Alternatives to the Wave

Coyote Buttes South permits tend to be much easier to get and White Pocket requires no permit. So, are they a worthy substitution? Yes! Coyote Buttes South has much more to see. Granted, you won’t see “The Wave”, but you’ll see a lot more. And, you’ll feel like you have the place to yourself. If you are pressed for time, get a tour so they can take you to all the best places. But, if you have time, it’s a beautiful place to wander. You never know what you’ll discover.

White Pocket offers stunning rock formations as well, many with the swirling color formations that resemble the wave as well as a variety of diverse formations. The drive is long and can be incredibly sandy and is really not recommended for those who are not comfortable with driving a 4X4 in extreme sand, but half of it is over paved road. The hiking around White Pockets is generally easy. Camping is allowed. The popularity of White Pocket is also rising, so get there fast!

Virgin River Gorge

For those travelers who are coming from Vegas and into Utah on I15, heads up! The Arizona Department of Transportation has announced around the clock restrictions through April 2020! Make sure you give yourself enough time to get through what could be long waits.
https://www.azdot.gov/projects/northcentral-district-projects/i-15-virgin-river-bridge-rehabilitation/traffic-alerts

Grand Canyon Geology

Geology of the Grand Canyon

The history that can be read through these layers is astounding but also complex given the age of the rock layers, which date over one billion years. Briefly, the uppermost layers of the Grand Canyon are Paleozoic rocks including the Kaibab formation, the Hermit formation, Supai group and Redwall limestone, all easily seen from canyon views. These tend to be the red rocks we think of when we think of canyonlands. This is also the layer in which fossils are found. The next Proterozoic layer is the Grand Canyon supergroup which is very difficult to see. Most of these sedimentary rocks with some igneous have been worn away. But the Chuar group and the Unkar group are viewable from the rim. The bottom and oldest Proterozoic layer are the Vishnu basement rocks a mix of Schists and granite. The canyon itself was uplifted and thus ripe for the continual wearing of the Colorado River.

For a geology map of the Grand Canyon see this USGS pdf and this accompanying key to the symbols.

This USGS website is a great resource. The Map below is courtesy of USGS.

Grand Canyon with kids?

For Kids?

1. Pack the book, Welcome to Grand Canyon National Park, Bob Teri, 2014 for reference about the Grand Canyon as you explore.
2. Become a Junior Ranger, ask at the visitor center for a Junior Ranger brochure and read Grand Canyon National Park Field Guide, Katie parker, 2019.
3. Ride the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon and back again. On the train you’ll get to experience a real train robbery. Bring along Great Grand Canyon Time Trail by Susan Lowell, 2011 and, if you can find it, Case of the Great Train Robbery, Rae Bains, 1982. And when the kids get restless, get out the Puzzlers Guide to the Great Canyon Kristy McGowan, 2002 and Grand Canyon Plants and Animals Coloring Book, Dot Barlowe, 2010.
4. Take a ride on a mule along the canyon rim and read Mule Train Mail, Craig Brown, 2009.
5. Walk the 2.8m Trail of Time where each marker represents a million years. It’s a good visual and physical way to learn about geology. Read Grand Canyon by Jason Chin, 2017 for an introduction to the canyon including the geology.
6. Visit the Tusayan Ruin to learn about human history in the Canyon. Read Life Among the Anasazi by Rachel Stuckey, 2016.

National park pass

Support the National Parks by purchasing a National park pass. If you are planning on visiting a few national parks over the course of the year, the pass may even save you money.

For example, the Grand Canyon, Arches and Rocky Mountain National Park entrance fees are $35 each. A pass is $80 and is good at all National Parks and Monuments. See a list of costs here.

Avoid the crowds at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

The best way to avoid the crowds at the South Rim is to go to the North Rim, but if that's not on your agenda, try some of these hints:

Tips for the crowds: busiest times are spring break, summer and over holiday weekends. 5.5 million people visit the park each year, 90% of them at the south rim. That’s over 15,000 a day, if they were evenly divided. But, obviously, they aren’t. Most of those people come from May-Sept. and at spring break.

1. The single most important tip is to go early!
2. Do the Hermit’s Rest shuttle early in the day. Or rent bikes and ride the Hermit Road. The Bike and Shuttle package by bikegrandcanyon is a great option.
3. Walk whenever possible.
4. Enter at the Desert View area if possible. The east side is less crowded overall.
5. If you are spending the night in the park, arrive after 4pm, park the car and walk or shuttle.
6. Come between Dec-Feb. but not at Christmas.
7. Picnic and avoid the lunch crowds in the restaurants. Or eat early.

The Hiking Project

This site has got to be one of the best curated hiking sites on the web. I love the detail they provide for trails. I've only used them for the southwest, but the website suggests trails are included from everywhere. Highly recommend.
https://www.outdoorproject.com/

North Rim Country Store

Grand Canyon North Rim is opening soon. This is a great place to stop along the way.
https://www.northrimcountrystore.com/

Today I'm working on the Kaibab Plateau section of the Colorado Plateau book. Amazing place. Off the beaten path with unparalleled beauty. Ideal for getting away from the crowds.