Taking My 9-Year-Old Son Halfway Down the Grand Canyon
The day before our hike, Hudson and I stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon looking down at the South Kaibab Trail. Like a lot of people seeing it for the first time, he thought it looked incredibly steep and a little intimidating. Looking down from the rim, the trail seems to disappear over the edge before winding through the canyon below.
The next morning our alarm went off early, and by 4:45 a.m. we were starting down the South Kaibab Trail with one goal: hike to Skeleton Point and be back at the rim before the heat of the day set in.
As we left the trailhead, the line of mules beat us by just a few seconds. I'm assuming they were loaded with supplies and headed down to Phantom Ranch for a resupply run. It wasn't an issue, though. They quickly disappeared into the canyon, and within about 20 minutes we could no longer hear the sound of their hooves echoing off the canyon walls.
Skeleton Point is about three miles from the trailhead, making the round trip roughly six miles with about 2,000 feet of elevation gain on the climb back out. It's a challenging hike, but one that many families can accomplish if they prepare properly and are realistic about their child's abilities.
Hudson has hiked with me quite a bit over the years, so I knew he was capable of the distance. Even so, I wasn't sure what he'd think once we started down the trail.
Within the first mile, he realized something.
"The trail isn't nearly as steep or scary as it looked yesterday."
Standing on the rim, the trail looks narrow and exposed. Once you're actually hiking it, most sections are much wider than they appear from above. The footing is generally good, and there are plenty of places to comfortably pass other hikers or stop for a break.
One of the best parts of starting before sunrise was having the trail mostly to ourselves. We passed a few hikers along the way, but nothing compared to the crowds that would arrive later in the morning. Hiking in the cool morning air also made the experience much more enjoyable than it would have been just a few hours later.
When we reached Skeleton Point, we found a spot to sit down, eat some snacks, and enjoy the view. Looking down, we could see the Colorado River winding through the canyon thousands of feet below. We also spent a little time trying to capture a few landscape photos before starting the climb back to the rim.
The hike out is where the work begins. Every step down has to be climbed back up, and the elevation gain is enough to humble just about anyone. Hudson kept a steady pace the entire way and never really struggled. Before long, we were back at the trailhead at 7:45 a.m., finishing the hike just as temperatures were starting to climb.
One decision I was especially glad I made was leaving Hudson's backpack behind. I carried all of our water, snacks, and gear. The less weight he had on his back, the more he could simply enjoy the hike instead of grinding through it.
Another lesson we've learned over the years is not to buy cheap hiking shoes for kids. I know it's hard to spend good money on shoes they'll eventually outgrow, but good footwear makes a huge difference. Most adults wouldn't intentionally buy poor-quality hiking shoes for themselves before tackling a difficult trail, yet it's surprisingly common to do exactly that for kids.
We usually watch for sales or shop at stores like Sierra Trading Post to make better footwear more affordable. It's money well spent.
If you're considering this hike with your own kids, be honest about their abilities. Every child is different. Some nine-year-olds would have a miserable time, while others might surprise you. Start early, carry plenty of water and snacks, keep their pack as light as possible—or carry it yourself if you can—and remember that turning around early is always an option.
One of the goals behind Field to Ridge is helping families realize they're capable of more than they think. That doesn't mean every child should hike into the Grand Canyon. It does mean that many families sell themselves short before they ever take the first step.
For us, this hike wasn't about checking another trail off a list. It was about spending a morning together, watching Hudson gain confidence, and sharing an experience we'll both remember for a long time.
Sometimes the hardest part of an adventure is convincing yourself it's possible.