Off Roading Camping at the Grand Canyon, Mem. weekend

[bgwhtjp33]

We got up there Sat. and the wind was blowing so hard they shut down part of the park because of falling trees. Going to the camp site had to wait for forest rangers to cut a tree out of the way, then farther in I had to tug 3 trees out of the way. Sun. on the way to get fuel we had to wait 1. 5 hours for the rangers to come and cut up a tree too big to be pulled out of the way (time to by my own chainsaw... hehe) but after that it turned out to be a great time. Camped about 50ft from the edge (quite scarry the first night with the wind blowing the tent around). Anyway here are the pics.



http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=550917988&security=LdHBYi



I think it is the only 4wd trail in the park, plenty of trails outside the park. BTW it was on the north rim.

 

[JBlock]

I never been to the Grand Canyon, but those photo make we want to visit, thanks for posting the pictures. Joe Washougal Washington/ Saudi Arabia too.

 

[EricBu12]

Boy! you are a picture taking fool!... . I'm proud of ya!!



That is an interresting side of grand canyon I haven't seen, went there last year and there was a fire on the north side so some of the canyon was smokey... . great shots from fire point and I love your sunset pics... .

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Nice! You got some good pics. Looks like you do my style of "car camping", i. e. go light and fast Plus, you brought the furry friend along too.

 

[bgwhtjp33]

Had a blast up there, didn't make it to everything I wanted to see. The drive to Toroweap was long from where we were camped it was about 50 miles of pavement each way then 65 miles of washboard dirt road each way... Yikes, but the view was great!! Almost 1400 miles on the odo and close to 18mpg combined hiway and 4lo.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Yep, washboard, I camped out at Toroweap when we were down there spring of 2005

 

[bjonesAZ]

Tuweep is also one of my favorite areas to visit and it's great looking at those really neat pics; it's changed a lot in the last 25 years. Glad y'all had fun at the overlook. IM000831 is a picture of Lava Falls and has the most river drop for those who raft the Colorado R. The black rock is the magma that the river has cut thru over eons of time from the Vulcan's Throne, which is the red cinder volcanic dome next to the campground. For those in really buff shape, is a hiking trail on the other side of Vulcan's Throne that leads to the Colorado River.



On the road to Tuweep is a sign designating the Hack Canyon turn off that leads into an exquisitely beautiful canyon and ultimately ends at Kanab Canyon in a tri-canyon configuration. From the fence line are a couple of very scenic hiking trails into the Park by way of Kanab Canyon. If you have a locking rear end, there's only a few spots that need 4x4. This is a very remote area and inexperience in the back country travel can lead to some serious problems.



Upon leaving Tuweep, there's a fork in the road with one road heading over Mt. Trumble which is also very scenic and cooler than the Rim in warmer months. From Mt Trumble is another junction that leads to either the Hurricane Cliffs into Hurricane, Utah or the Arizona Strip to River Road in St. George, Utah.



This is big country and there's really no way to describe the colors as they change with the angle of the sun and seasons. The colors at Tuweep are quite different comparing them in February or July for instance. Wildflowers are abundant when there's enough precip and the countryside becomes a contrast in colors.



BTW, if it's safe to do so, the washboard roads are best handled at speeds over 45mph; four wheel disc ABS comes in handy for those off-camber sharp bends in the road.



Thanks for posting the pics, they turned out very well and this is an exciting area to explore. Did you get to see the swallows diving off the rim and then coming up like they were shot out of a cannon?



Bob