Preparing to travel to the Grand Canyon South Rim During Summer

Planning on visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim this summer? Good call, but do it after you've followed a few of these precautions...

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is an excellent place to arrive at throughout the summer. Elevation at this Northern Arizona landmark is approximately 7,000 feet above sea level, which helps to ensure that temperatures throughout the day will be comfortable. The Inner Gorge, on the other hand, is a different story, and one where you ought to take precautions against the heat.

May through September are the Canyon's summer season. May, the coolest month, averages 70 degrees during the day and 39 at night. July, the hottest month, reaches a high of 84 degrees and a low of 54.

The Park's most famous lookouts are at the top of the Rim, and include Yavapai Observation Station, Mather Point, Hermit's Rest, and Yaki Point,as well as Grand Canyon Village. Summer is also a fantastic time to go camping at Mather Campground.

There's also a number of trails that go into the Canyon, the most popular of which are South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail. Both lead to the Colorado River at the bottom. If you consider going to the River, you should definitely spend the night. It's strongly discouraged to hike up and back in a day.

If you decide to hike into the gorge, bear this fact in mind: Temperatures in the Canyon are 20 degrees or more hotter than they are on the Rim. In July, for example, it will be 84 degrees at the top and 106 at the bottom.

If you hike into the canyon, follow these recommendations:

1. Bring water. As much as you can. During the middle of the day, the human body may use up to one gallon an hour. Many people use hydration packs.

2. Get an early morning or late evening start. It's cooler, and, if you plan it right, hike back up during these more temperate times.

3. Bring salty foods. It sounds counter-intuitive, but as you perspire, you lose salts. Plenty of people swear by salty trail mix and bottled water.

4. Dress appropriately. Wear clothes that fits loosely. Hats with full brims are recommended. Tennis shoes and boots (avoid flip flops or casual sandals).

5. Sunscreen. Up to SPF 50. Use it often. The sun's rays are strong.

You should never hike to the River and back to the Rim in a day. The length is deceptive. It's nearly a 5,000-foot vertical drop to the bottom. Hiking up that in 106-degree weather has led to heatstroke for many uninformed hikers (heatstroke is a condition when the body struggles to produce enough sweat to cool itself).

Rainfall on the South Rim is minimal. However, there is a "sub-season" called the Monsoon, which goes from July to August. It's characterized by thunderstorms and torrential downpours: One second it's raining buckets and the next it's sunny. In the Gorge, there are flash floods; your best defense is to seek higher ground or not hike the smaller bottom-lying Canyons during storms.

Top of the Rim temperatures are very nice and are conducive to exploration. The Inner Gore is where the heat picks up, especially in July, where temps can be 20 degrees or more higher than at the top. Don't underestimate the amount of energy it takes to hike up from inside the Canyon back to the top of the South Rim. Bring plenty of water, use sunscreen, and dress for hot weather. Getting yourself ready for the heat can make your Grand Canyon trip safe and enjoyable.

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