3 months ago
Unless you get a spot at Phantom Ranch, it’s not like you have other camping options in this area. This is the best location out of all the campgrounds along the rim trail due to accessibility to PR, the river, ranger’s station, first aid, etc. I’d highly recommend booking a few meals at PR, even if you’re camping here. It’s easy to walk over for breakfast and dinner and it’s a nice treat when you’re otherwise roughing it. I stayed here in the beginning of June and it was HOT. Now, I knew it would be hot, duh, but like unsurvivable heat. The campsites are in the sun and too hot to enjoy being at by 8-9 AM and remain in the sun until 6-7 PM. I thought the site would be enjoyable once the sun went down, but unfortunately, being situated between two canyon walls means the heat permeates off the walls and into the sites for hours after sunset. It doesn’t get cool enough to be comfortable until at least 11 PM, which was frustrating when you’re exhausted and just want to relax. I would lay in my tent, completely still, and have sweat pouring off my legs and face. Then a “breeze” would come through (which actually just felt like someone is blasting a hair dryer on you) and it would blow the desert dust in through my tent screen and stick to me, forming a clay like substance from head to toe while I lay there in my underwear and bra for the world to see…so…not super fun…but again, all part of the experience I suppose? Overall, I wouldn’t recommend staying here in the summer unless you’re prepared to be in this condition. The only way it was bearable to be alive was to be submerged in the water or wearing drenched clothes from the creek. On the plus side, you are right along the creek and you can watch the mules make their daily trek in and out of PR right from your site. Also, the squirrels are horrible and I thought my pack would be safe on the pack rack, but the crows got into it, despite having no food in it. They opened my zippers, even my hip pouches, and tore out my bandaids and headphones and clothes, so you can’t really let anything unattended.
