Grandview Trail - Grand Canyon
N 35° 59.886 W 111° 59.268
12S E 410968 N 3984188
One of many trails leading down into the canyon from the south side.
Waymark Code: WMCDQ7
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2011
Views: 20
A link to the NPS day hike PDF:
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The Grandview Trail was originally constructed by a prospector by the name of Peter Berry. Berry operated a copper mine called the "Last Chance Mine" at the end of the trail, out on Horseshoe Mesa. Berry later used some of the profits from the mine to build the Grandview Hotel out on Grandview Point. He operated this for some years and being the only lodging available in the area it proved to be a most successful venture. That is until the Santa Fe Railroad extended its reach up into the Canyon which sparked construction of what is now Grand Canyon Village. That pretty much put an end to Berry's operation.
The trailhead for the Grandview Trail is located out at Grandview Point on the Desert View Drive.
Mileages are as follows (one-way):
Horseshoe Mesa - 3 miles
Cottonwood Creek - 5 miles
Elevations:
Rim - 7400'
Horseshoe Mesa - 4800', 2600' below rim
Miners' Spring - 4400', 3000' below rim
Cottonwood Creek - 3600', 3800' below rim
The Grandview Trail is one of the best of the non-maintained trails. The upper sections are still held together by logs and steel rods dating back to the days of the Last Chance Mine. Some sections are filled in with cobbles which keep the trail level during some descents. The engineering and skill that went into building these Canyon trails is remarkable. These same cobbles, however, can create problems in the winter when they ice up and travelling over them will require the use of instep crampons. Aside from that, and a couple of sections that you might not like if you have a fear of heights, the trail does not have any really difficult sections and is a very easy hike down to Horseshoe Mesa.
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visit link)