Trip Report: Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the eight wonders of the world. But it’s something that you just have to see for yourself in person.

I’m not going to lie, I was someone who knew it was cool, but never really bought into the wonder of the world thing.

But this year we made it the focal point of our road trip, which included stops in Denver and Tucson. And getting to see this incredible landscape in person changed everything.

From getting up before sunrise and having the sun itself reveal the canyon below to exploring along the south rim of the canyon, it truly was an amazing experience that became the highlight of the entire trip. And it featured some of my favorite photos from the summer.

Here’s how it all happened.

Getting to the Grand Canyon

The first part of seeing the Grand Canyon is getting to the canyon itself.

We started the day in Denver and drove through Glenwood Canyon and into Utah on I-70 before dropping south on U.S. Route 191 in Utah. 

All in all, it was a 13-hour total trip from Denver to get to the Grand Canyon. And of course, it was completely dark when we finally got to our destination, Yavapai Lodge on the south rim.

But what we couldn’t see of the canyon that night was made up for with the stars we could see above us. It was simply incredible for this city dweller to be able to look up after getting out of the car to see thousands upon thousands of stars plus the Milky Way right overhead.

After we got our stuff into the room, I went back out and spent 20 minutes trying my best to get a usable photo of the stars. While I still have a long way to go to be good at star photography, I think this was a really good starting point.

And that was just a taste of what was to come the following day.

Getting Up for Sunrise at the Canyon

Naturally, after a 13-hour day on the road we got up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning to be at the canyon for sunrise.

Thankfully, Yavapai Lodge is only a couple minute drive to the rim of the canyon.

We found a spot at Yavapai Point that allowed us to shoot photos both to the east to get the sun coming up over the north rim of the canyon and west to get the morning light bouncing off the canyon wall. It turned out to be the perfect spot for us that day.

With the camera on the tripod and settings all set up, we waited for the sun to come up. And when it did, it was go time.

It was really cool to literally be able to see the sun move upwards as it rose over the flat part of the north rim. That’s something I’ve never seen before. I’m not going to lie, the “Circle of Life” was definitely playing in my head as the sun rose.

As for the photography, we played our cards perfectly. I was able to get great photos of the sun rising and slowly revealing the canyon beneath us that had previously been hidden in a purple-shaded mist.

Swinging the canyon back to the west, the colors bouncing off the rocks were simply immaculate. The reds, oranges and yellows of the different layers of the canyon walls shone vibrantly as ever. And it provided the perfect contrast for the dark blue and white of the sky above.

Plus, the stillness of the air and the cool temperatures created the perfect morning and reveal of this amazing landscape.

It was definitely something worth getting up at 4:30 a.m. for.

Exploring Along the South Rim During the Day

After about an hour of taking photos, we went back to the lodge to shower, eat breakfast and pack up. Then it was time to head back to the Grand Canyon.

The difference of just a couple of hours was pretty stark. While we could now see the entire canyon (and just how wide it is) with the sun higher in the air, a lot of the amazing colors we saw were now washed out by the light.

Still, it was an impressive sight to see.

We hopped aboard the shuttle bus that runs along the western side of the park, hitting up various points and vistas on the way. At the Trail View Overlook, we could see the Bright Angel Trail as it starts out at the top of the canyon and dives down the face of the canyon via several switchbacks.

On the one hand, from this point of view, it looked like a pretty easy trail. On the other hand, I knew of the stories of people who thought that and didn’t make it out. So on the rim of the canyon we would stay.

The other points provided incredible views of the canyon and Colorado River below. The whole time I just could not comprehend how a simple river like the Colorado was able to carve out this magnificent landscape, even over the millions of years it took to form.

Even though we just stayed on the rim of the canyon, it was well worth the long drive to be able to see this magnificent wonder of the world.

But before long it was time to head out to our next stop on the road trip.

Tips for Photographing the Grand Canyon

If you’re thinking about or planning to go to the Grand Canyon, here are some tips for your visit based on my experience.

Be There for Sunrise or Sunset

If you want the absolute best photos of the Grand Canyon, you’re going to want to be there for either sunrise or sunset.

Unfortunately, the midday sun can really wash out the spectacular colors of the canyon pretty easily. In fact, you can see that in the two photos below. The first photo is from shortly after sunrise while the second is from when we made it back out to the canyon after breakfast.

Both images have been processed in Lightroom, but it still is a stark contrast between the two photos.

Also, if you’re going out to the canyon in the summer, sunrise will give you the coolest temperatures of the day. Plus, the stillness of the early morning can’t be beat, even by an amazing sunset.

So if you’re going to see and/or capture the best the canyon has to offer, make sure you plan to be there for sunrise or sunset (or both).

Stay at the Grand Canyon

Along those lines, the best way to make sure you can be at the Grand Canyon for the sunrise is to stay at the Grand Canyon itself.

If you’re not a fan of camping, don’t worry. You won’t have to camp to stay out there.

There are a number of different hotels and lodges along both the north and south rims of the canyon.

We stayed at the Yavapai Lodge on the south rim, and we had a great experience there. It was just a few minutes drive to the rim of the canyon, which was a big plus. But you can’t go wrong with any of the other lodges.

It’s really the only sure fire way you can make sure you see the sunrise at the canyon (or alternatively, stay later to see the sunset).

Bring Water, Lot’s and Lot’s of Water

Whether you are going to the Grand Canyon in the summer or not, make sure that you bring lots and lots of water.

While the south rim has shuttles you can take to various points along the canyon, you’re still going to be doing quite a bit of walking, especially if you’re looking for shots that no one else is taking.

And you can quickly find yourself needing a lot of water.

Plus, if you’re going in the summer, that sun will make you drink a ton of water or else.

So make sure you bring a water jug for your visit. There are various places on the south rim where you can fill up your water jug. And if you decide to hit one of the trails, make sure you’re topped off before you start.

Know Your Physical Limits

Also, please make sure that you know your physical limits when you get to the Grand Canyon.

Every year there are stories after stories about people who died in the canyon because they thought it would be an easy hike and it turns out to not be the case.

Admittedly, the canyon can seem deceiving. I remember looking at the Bright Angel Trail from one of the overlooks, and it didn’t seem that difficult … going down.

But the reality is that you’re at a canyon. While it seems pretty easy going down, you have to remember that you need to walk up that same distance to get out of the canyon. And that’s where people have the most trouble.

So just know what you’re capable of and don’t go past your physical and mental limits.

Don’t be another tragic story at the canyon.

Take It All In

Finally, just remember to take it all in.

The Grand Canyon is one of the eight wonders of the world, and there’s no doubt why it is. It’s an amazing place with a pretty cool landscape.

If you’re focused on taking spectacular photos of the canyon, it can be pretty easy to not take time to just enjoy the sights with your own two eyes. And sometimes that can be more important than the photos that you take.

For me, I made sure that there were times where I put the camera down or walked away from the tripod and just took in the sights for myself, looking around at the different colors and layers of the canyon, watching birds fly up and down the canyon and listening to the different sounds. 

That gave me a much better experience and appreciation of the canyon than if I just looked at everything through my camera’s viewfinder.

So just remember to put the camera down sometimes and take it all in. It’s the Grand Canyon; everywhere you look is amazing!