Maps & Map Software
Grand Canyon Trail Map
Kent Schulte
Detailed topographic & trail map of 308,000 acres in central Grand Canyon. 1:40,000 scale covers 8 USGS quads. 291 miles of trails shown with trail ratings, descriptions and statistics. Most complete and accurate map of the area. Includes contours, shaded relief, UTM grid, hydrography with springs & drinking water, backcountry use zones for permit planning, and other trip information. Printed on waterproof, tear-tough paper. A better map than the Trails Illustrated map for the majority of trails in Grand Canyon.
Arizona Atlas & Gazetteer
Delorme
This isn't something for your backpack but actually for your home and vehicle. I use this when planning the larger strategy on where to hike and laying out the trip. This atlas includes topo maps of the entire state and shows the back roads and differentiates between public lands, shows trails and jeep roads, fishing areas and launch sites. It highlights Grand Canyon's South Rim Scenic Route and includes a lot more useful information on Arizona recreational and historical sites. A great resource! Also available for Utah
DVD Hiking Guide - Grand Canyon National Park
Jonathan Shannon
Unlike many other offerings in hiking DVDs, this hiking guide offers information on each of the Corridor Trails (Bright Angel Trail and the North and South Kaibab Trails) as well as other trail trails at the canyon. It is divided into three sections: 1) South Rim Trails, 2) North Rim Trails, and 3) Grand Canyon Facilities. There is a guide to the DVD explaining whether each hike can be done as a day hike or a backpack trip, and then rates each on a 1 - 5 scale of difficulty. While no single book or DVD can completely prepare a person for hiking the Grand Canyon, this DVD does a great job in helping someone even plan which rim and trail they should consider doing. Nicely narrated with accurate and useful information with a backdrop of beautiful photography.
Hiking the Grand Canyon - The Corridor Trails
Most first-time hikers to the Grand Canyon begin hiking on the Corridor trails. These trails include the Bright Angel and South Kaibab from the South Rim and the North Kaibab from the North Rim. There is no such thing as an easy trail in the canyon, but these are definitely the first ones you should consider hiking before attempting ANY of the others. The video includes computer graphics and maps to show you what to expect on the trails, and includes tips and advice on making your journey fun and safe. The narrator's voice gets on my nerves a little bit, and I've had others say the same, but the wealth of information provided makes it worth watching. Available in DVD.
