Almost 2000 feet down into the Grand Canyon there is a strange slick rock wilderness known as the Esplanade. In the picture above, it is the flat area on the butte above the middle of the right side. Just to the left, appearing like a U-shaped short cut-off valley with cliffs on either side, is Surprise Valley. The Esplanade slick rock is sliced by shear canyons and covered with hoodoos. The rock resists any trail making and the only way to navigate the maze is to follow rock cairns set about every 50 yards or so. The rock formations in this area look like remnants of an entirely different landscape, one where the streams ran in an opposite direction to the Colorado River and the cliffs seem to be after thoughts.
Not a place to visit in July and August. I speak from experience.
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