Wildlife at the North Rim

We didn't hike very much at the North Rim since most of the hikes at the Grand Canyon involve going down into the canyon varying distances. First, however far you go down you're going to have to drag your kids back out. And second, it's over 2,000 feet from the top of the canyon to the river at the bottom. I don't think Holly would have dealt very well with the girls walking on a trail with 800 foot drop offs to either side.

We did hike down the Bright Angel Trail after 30 minute ranger talk about the California Condors that have been reintroduced into the wild here. I always learn somthing when I take the time to sit through one of the ranger talks. For instance, did you know that the California Condor does not make a nest? Me either! They lay their eggs on a cliff or ledge or any old flat place they can find. They also mate for life with one partner. Interesting stuff.

Avery and Erin did the Junior Ranger program here, too. They each have worksheets with different things they have to find during their visit to the park. They answer questions about the park and draw pictures of things they might have seen. When they complete the worksheet, they turn it in to the ranger station and get a badge. It's a cool way to get your kids to really pay attention to what's going on in the park they're visiting.

I posted these pictures just to show you how close you can get to some of the animals in the park. This lizard was on a rock right beside the trail, and the chipmunk (or chiCKmunk, as Erin calls them) was on the sidewalk in front of the Lodge.