Grand Canyon 2025 More Side Trips and Views...

[CapnSteve]

Last edited Wed Oct 1, 2025, 05:15 AM - Edit history (1)

When I get depressed at the state of our country under the convicted felon and his corrupt and cruel Republicans, I look back through the hundreds of photos from our epic trip to the GC this summer. So here are a few more!

1) Wide view of the Bright Angel Trail. You can see the roofline of Maswik Lodge where we stayed (upper right-ish) and the trailhead where I met Paco, the mule for our ride down the trail later in the week. Rokinon 14mm:


2) A closer shot of where the trail cut through a limestone formation. Geology geekiness activate! Nikkor AF 70-300mm:


3) Here is a shot of Glen Canyon Dam. On the other side is Lake Powell, or as the locals call it: The Cess Pool. Rocks! Rokinon 14mm:


4) Rock (sandstone) at Glen Canyon Dam. Rocks! Nikkor AF 70-300mm:


5) Looking the other way (downstream) from Glen Canyon dam. From here, the Colorado River cuts through Marble Canyon before reaching The Grand Canyon. The most green we saw on our trip! Rokinon 14mm:


6) About 25 miles from the South Rim is Desert View, on the way to the East park entrance. Here is a view of the Desert View Tower from Navajo Point. Nikkor AF 70-300mm:


7) Same view, wider. Rokinon 14mm:


8) Rapids on the mighty Colorado River. Rokinon 14mm:


9) Self potrait at El Tovar. The TACO hat was a hit! Rokinon 14mm:


Thank you!

[riverbendviewgal]

1. Thankyou for sharing.

Beautiful photos that brought back memories of my trip this beautiful grand canyon.

[CapnSteve]

4. Thank you for the kind words...

...after the trip my wife was looking into how to move there permanently! I am an elementary school teacher....maybe teach at the school in the park?

[Bayard]

2. Spectacular!

Thank you.

[CapnSteve]

3. Thanks Bayard!

Such a great trip!

[3Hotdogs]

5. #7, Just above the horizon - is that a satellite carrying a Jewish space laser?

You thought you were gonna sneak that one past us didn'tja?

[CapnSteve]

7. Bwahahahaha!

You spotted it!

[fargone]

6. I like how the photos show real depth

[CapnSteve]

8. Thank you!

It is a challenge to record how immense the GC is. I always try and put something in the foreground…

[GiqueCee]

9. Beautiful shots!

I backpacked the Canyon 50 years ago in the week between Christmas and New Years with a friend who was a geology major at UCSB. He's retired professor now. We lugged 50-odd pounds of winter gear and freeze-dried rations, with little Svea stoves; no fires allowed in the Canyon.
We started out on the Kaibab Plateau and hiked until we hit the Bright Angel Trail, and banged a left down to Phantom Ranch* on the other side of the river over that swinging bridge, where we celebrated New Year's Eve. I wore my sneakers like slippers all the way up Bright Angel to the South Rim, having burned my well-seasoned hiking boots. There were signs that told you that you could hire a mule to take you back to the top, but it would cost you beaucoup bucks. I walked.
We hit some hot springs in the middle of the night on the way back to Santa Barbara. Toughest backpacking I'd ever done, before or since.

* Interesting note: Everything at Phantom Ranch came down there by mule or burro, and later by helicopter. The big-ass Garland range in the little restaurant kitchen came down in the smallest pieces possible to be reassembled when the last mule got there.
I remember reading that they started mapping the Canyon in 1911, and they weren't done yet. Satellites may have hurried things along since '75, I don't know. But damn! your beautiful photography brought back some great memories! Thanks.

[CapnSteve]

10. Thanks for sharing that story! So cool...

About a year ago I caught an infection in my left foot and had to have all five toes taken off. I am just now getting back to being able to ride my bike and hike a bit. So, Paco (my mule) was the only option I had at seeing the bottom...

We are looking forward to maybe hitting Yellostone next summer andf this time i will do some hiking!

[Deuxcents]

11. Taking in all that beauty and reminiscing about your adventures is certainly soothing for us, too! Thanks for sharing

[CapnSteve]

12. My pleasure 2-cents!

[George McGovern]

13. Outstanding photography CapnSteve! Like your self shot with its Grand Surroundings!

I'm glad you have adapted to your left foot. Hard to keep a good man down.

[CapnSteve]

14. Thanks George!

My new theme song is ‘Get on the Good Foot’ by James Brown!