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Trip Itinerary and Details: Grand Canyon Classic
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Day 1
Shuttle to the South Rim: 1.5-hour drive from Flagstaff
Mileage: 7.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 4,800 feet
This Grand Canyon backpacking trip begins on the South Kaibab Trail, a deservedly popular trail that offers spectacular views both up and down the Canyon. It’s 7.5 miles of well-maintained hiking trail to the Bright Angel Campground, our destination and camp for the first night. This camp is one of the most charming in the Park as it’s situated at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near the Colorado River and adjacent to Bright Angel Creek. Campsites are shaded by tall, spreading cottonwoods, piped drinking water is available, and nearby Phantom Ranch offers a snack bar and ranger-led evening interpretive programs.
Day 2
Mileage: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
After a hearty breakfast we’ll pack up and make an early departure to take advantage of the cool hiking hours of the morning. Hiking on the Bright Angel Trail along the Colorado, then climbing 1,000 feet, we’ll arrive at Garden Creek. From here we’ll hike along the creek upstream past its junction with Pipe Creek to Indian Garden - a spring site that watered seasonal Havasupai garden plots for centuries. From here it’s a short distance to our camp for the night - Indian Garden Campground - another enchanting camp with shade and water.
Day 3
Mileage: 4.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
Shuttle to Flagstaff: 1.5-hour drive from the South Rim
A casual morning and delicious breakfast will precede a beautiful hike out as we continue our trip back to the rim via the Bright Angel Trail. It’s a 4.8 mile hike from camp to the South Rim, where we’ll look back over our route and reflect on the beauty of the Grand Canyon and our accomplishment in achieving something that few have had the privilege of experiencing.
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- We provide roundtrip transportation from Flagstaff, Arizona to the Grand Canyon and back.
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Grand Canyon hiking guide
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day.
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical multi-day backpack.
- Use of trekking poles
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you and your family to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
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Unless we tell you otherwise, you will meet your guide and group at our office in Flagstaff, Arizona for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead. For Private Grand Canyon Tours your guide will meet you at your hotel in Flagstaff at an agreed upon time.
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All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, cous cous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried).
In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, energy bars, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
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What we Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter and Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs or Mountain Hardware tents
- Sierra Designs sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Mountain Safety Research cooking stoves
- Mountain Safety Research cookware
What Gear to Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. Theses items are three 1-liter waterbottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
What Clothes to Bring
For clothing please refer to your trip packet for a recommended list based on the time of year (if you don't have one yet, please contact us and we'll email you one). All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots (reliable brands include Montrail, Lowa, Merrell, Vasque, and Salomon), rain gear, and non-cotton and cotton clothing layers. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
NOTE:
For hiking gear and clothing we recommend Tents and Trails. They'll happily ship to you, and as a Wildland Trekking guest you receive a 10% discount!
What Not to Bring
Please do not bring:
- Cell phones - It is unlikely you will get a signal anyway. On many tours we make other provisions for emergency communications (satellite phone).
- Stereos or radios
- Perfumes or colognes
- Large knives or hatchets
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Weather in the Grand Canyon
The weather in the Grand Canyon varies tremendously from the rim to the canyon floor, with as much as a 30 degree Fahrenheit difference. For this reason, the Canyon is truly a year round hiking destination. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet). Read below for average high and low temperatures at the South Rim and the Canyon bottom:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) |
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Month |
South Rim
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Canyon Bottom
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hi |
low |
hi |
low |
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Dec-Feb |
41° |
18° |
60° |
38° |
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March |
51° |
25° |
71° |
48° |
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April |
60° |
32° |
82° |
56° |
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May |
70° |
39° |
92° |
63° |
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Jun-Aug |
82° |
53° |
108° |
75° |
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September |
76° |
47° |
97° |
69° |
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October |
65° |
36° |
84° |
58° |
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November |
52° |
27° |
68° |
46° |
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Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT's, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We've developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-4453 (HIKE) for more information. |
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Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our About Our Team page for staff bios.
Group Size
The standard group size on our scheduled hiking tours is five guests and one guide. On occasion our trips will have more than five guests, in which case we'll staff two guides for a consistent 5:1 ratio. Our custom and family trips often run with as many as ten guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 800-715-4453 and we'll answer all your questions. |
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MH Ross Travel Insurance Services
Travel insurance protects the investment you've made in your travel plans, and it protects you while your'e traveling. MH Ross has been in business for nearly 50 years and is one of the most respected companies in the industry. With a choice of plans that cover a broad range of potential circumstances, responsive and reliable service, and affordable rates, they're a great choice. Please read more on our Trip Insurance page. |
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To register for a hiking tour or guided backpacking trip, please complete our Request a Reservation form or call us at 800-715-4453. We'll email you a detailed trip packet and .pdf registration document and ask you to complete the document and return it via email, fax or regular mail with a $250 per person deposit (check out Terms and Conditions for information on our refund policy). The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the first day of your trip. Feel free to call us with any questions! |
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