RIDE A MULE INTO THE CANYON

Sure, you can take just a few steps from your car and enjoy the spectacular view of the Grand Canyon from many an overlook on the Grand Canyon South Rim. This will be enough for most visitors.

But not for all. Many visitors will want to venture into the Grand Canyon to experience its depth and its interior. To do so is not for the faint of heart, or out of shape.

The steeply-carved Grand Canyon is over a mile deep. Its South Rim is situated at about 7,000 feet elevation. Its bottom, the Colorado River, is situated at about 2,000 feet elevation. And we all know that what goes down must come up. Unlike hiking in mountain towns where your first half is uphill and the easy part is the return, when exploring Grand Canyon the opposite is true.

If you're not an avid hiker or in great physical condition, no worries; it's mules to the rescue! That's right. Visitors can ride a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out.

FROM THE SOUTH RIM:
Mule Rides from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts and are extremely popular. It's necessary to book your reservation as far in advance as possible. For peak season (Summer), these often fill up 12 months in advance. Call Xanterra Parks & Resorts, at 888-297-2757 or 303-297-2757 to book your reservation, or go to their website for more information.

A one-day (7-hour) adventure is the most common. This mule ride adventure departs daily from the Stone Corral at the head of the Bright Angel Trail, a popular Grand Canyon trail that's been in use since 1891. The mules carry visitors to Plateau Point, offering a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River below. Box lunch is included and prices start at approximately $154 per day.

Overnight rides that include a stay at the Phantom Ranch at the Canyon's bottom include accommodations and meals and start at about $421 per person. Two-night rides are also available. Check Xanterra's Grand Canyon website for more information. for more information.

For mule rides on the South Rim, riders must not weigh more than 200 pounds and must be at least 4 feet, seven inches in height, and must be able to speak and understand fluent English, be in good physical condition and should not be afraid of heights, large animals, and should not be pregnant.

FROM THE NORTH RIM:
Mule trips on the North Rim are operated by Grand Canyon Trail Rides from mid-May to mid-October. There are one-hour rides that take visitors along the North Rim, or half-day trips that tour the Rim, or the depths of the Canyon.
For reservations, call 435-679-8665 or click here, or register in the lobby of the Grand Canyon Lodge at the "Grand Canyon Trail Rides" desk from 7 am – 5 pm daily.

Canyon Trail Rides is owned and operated by Pete & Keela Mangum and family. They, along with their cowboys, have been guiding riders through Grand Canyon National Parks for over 20 years. On the North Rim, visitors can sign up for a ½-day mule trip that descends the North Kaibab Trail more than 2,000 feet into the Canyon's interior to the Supai Tunnel. The full-day mule trip continues down to Roaring Springs for a picnic before returning, resulting in a descent of 4,300 feet.

For North Rim Mule Rides, prices start at about $30 per person. Mule riders must be at least seven years old. Mules can only carry persons weighing 220 pounds or less.