Widforss Trail, Grand Canyon hiking trail
Widforss Trail is a 5 mile walking path along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The route follows the edge of Transept Canyon, moves through mixed forests of pine, spruce, and aspen, and opens to several viewpoints before ending at Widforss Point, where visitors can see temples like Manu and Buddha and distant landforms.
The site was historically known as McKinnon Point, named after Colonel H. McKinnon who visited in the 1890s after a hunting trip and marked his presence with a note. The area was also home to Uncle Jim Owens, an early game warden who lived in a nearby cave.
The trail is named after Gunnar Widforss, a Swedish painter who worked at the Grand Canyon in the 1930s and captured the landscape in watercolors. Visitors today can see the same views that inspired him while observing how the environment has changed over the decades.
The path is about 9.6 kilometers long with elevation change of about 300 meters and takes four to six hours for a round trip. Visitors should carry plenty of water and snacks, wear sturdy shoes, use a hat and sun protection, and avoid hiking during the hottest hours of the day or choose cooler months.
The trail was previously known as McKinnon Point and links early human history with the natural landscape through still-visible traces of visitors from the 1800s. A steeper unmaintained scramble to the actual Widforss Point allows hikers to extend the experience and reach even more distant views.
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