> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Grand Canyon - URL: https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/photos/grand-canyon/ - Published: 2014-06-06T19:12:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-05T14:05:10.000Z - Description: The Grand Canyon is one of those places where it's hard to stop taking photos. - Author: Ivar Hagendoorn - Tags: Photography For as long as I can remember I've wanted to visit the Grand Canyon. I don't understand why I waited so long to actually do so. In 2007 I booked a helicopter tour from Las Vegas to the West rim of the Grand Canyon. What's interesting about the approach by helicopter is that you descend about 1 km to the canyon floor and in so doing you get a good idea of how high the canyon walls are. In 2014 I stayed two days at the South rim, from where I hiked part of the South Kaibab trail and the Grandview trail. I'd love to visit the North Rim and to do a rim to rim hike someday. ![Grand Canyon. View from the South Kaibab trail.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-1.jpg) The view from the South Kaibab trail. There are three trails that lead from the South Rim to the canyon floor: The Bright Angel trail, the South Kaibab trail and the Grandview Trail. Most photos are from the South Kaibab trail. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-2.jpg) The Grand Canyon is one of those places where it's hard to stop taking photos. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-6.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-4.jpg) I hiked the South Kaibab trail until Skeleton point (at the start of the switch backs in the photo to the right). I now wish I'd descended one more plateau, but I didn't want to take any chances. ![Grand Canyon, Skeleton Point](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-5.jpg) The park guide strongly advises not to hike any further than Skeleton Point on a day hike. Although I felt I could have gone further, I didn't want to take any chances, so this is where I had a brief snack before making my way back to the rim again. The round trip distance is around 6 miles (approximately 10 km). If you start early you can walk in the shade for about a mile or so. After that you are fully exposed to the sun. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-3.jpg) The Grand Canyon is absolutely stunning, but difficult to photograph due to the haze ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-7.jpg) This is what the Grand Canyon looks like from up close. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-8.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-9.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-10.jpg) This is what the wall of the Grand Canyon looks like from up close. I didn't recall seeing any close-ups of the canyon wall, which is why I took these photos. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-13.jpg) The wall of the Grand Canyon once more ![Grand Canyon, Start of the South Kaibab Trail](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-12.jpg) The start of the South Kaibab trail consists of a series of switchbacks, easy on the way down, brutal on the way up. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-11.jpg) Looking down into the canyon ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-15.jpg) On my first visit to the Grand Canyon I'd booked a helicopter tour from Las Vegas to the West Rim ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/c4/f7c4338c-1a69-4369-8416-8d74c9880bb6/content/images/2019/09/grand-canyon-14.jpg) The wall of the Grand Canyon as seen from the helicopter ### Related Posts **More canyons!** [Bryce Canyon](https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/photos/bryce-canyon/). [Canyonlands National Park](https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/photos/canyonlands-national-park/). [Little Wild Horse Canyon](https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/photos/little-wild-horse-canyon/). [Antelope Canyon](https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/photos/antelope-canyon/).