This is the Fairyland loop trail. The parking for the fairyland lookout was full, so we re-entered the park and parked our vehicle across from the visitor center. We started our hike on the rim trail and proceeded clockwise. The first set of pictures is the rim trail to the point where the fairyland lookout is located.
This is a long hike (at least 8 miles, plus the distance to your car). You must have at least three liters of water per person. Pack something to eat. Suntan lotion! There isn’t much shade, so be aware that hot days could be dangerous. It was in the upper 70’s when we hiked this trail. There is cell access at the top of the rim, but none inside the canyon.
This is the start of the fairyland trail. The entrance of the trail begins at the lookout.
At this point of the trial, we are inside the valley and there are two ascents and descents before the final climb-out. This is a very desolate location and once you’ve reached this section of the trial you are committed to the long haul. Turn around will be the same hike as going forward. Parts of this hike are on a ridge-line that has cliffs off both sides. The pictures don’t do it justice, but it’s a bit unnerving in real life.
This is the final climb-out. You must ascend over a thousand feet from this point and the climb is brutal. At the end of this climb is the rim trail. We gauged our distance to the end of the trail by the relative tiredness of trail hikers that were going the other direction.
