Book excerpt: Find everything you need to know about the Grand Canyon’s one best hike, from the rim to the river—and back again. The Grand Canyon’s striking geology and overwhelming scale inspires the millions who stand on its South Rim each year. Let expert author Elizabeth Wenk lead you into the canyon’s depths on the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails to the mighty Colorado River, and spend the night at Indian Garden or Bright Angel campgrounds, or Phantom Ranch. While tremendously rewarding, this 16.1-mile loop hike demands much, even of experienced trekkers. Hikers need to prepare for the hot temperatures, lack of shade, long distance, elevation change, and other potential dangers. One Best Hike: Grand Canyon is a step-by-step guide that helps you tackle this trip with confidence. Inside you’ll find: Trail-tested details on how to choose hiking partners and an appropriate pace, what to pack, when to go, how to get a permit, and what side trips to consider Advice on proper physical conditioning, including acclimating to the desert heat, staying hydrated, and preventing illness Details about the area’s human history and the geologic features, plants, and animals you’ll see One Best Hike: Grand Canyon, with its can-do approach, nuts-and-bolts advice, and practical tips, will leave you wondering why you waited so long to embark on this truly special hiking adventure.