Day 1

Shuttle to the North Rim: 4.5-hour drive from Flagstaff
Mileage: 3.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 2,200 feet

This adventurous Grand Canyon backpacking trip starts from Sowats Point, where we hike rapidly downhill to the esplanade, a broad terrace at approx. 5,000’ of elevation. An enjoyable 2-mile hike along the esplanade brings us to Sowats Canyon. The canyon is shallow and dry for ¾ mile until we get to Mountain Sheep Spring, a gushing spring of fantastic drinking water. We’ll make camp near the spring in a beautiful alcove beneath scarlet overhangs. Also nearby are a series of remarkable pictographs left by Native Americans.


Day 2

Mileage: 9.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 1,300 feet

A hearty breakfast will precede our hike down Sowats Canyon. After a mile of hiking adjacent to Sowats Creek we’ll arrive at Jump-up Canyon. At this point Jump-up is more of a broad valley than a canyon, allowing views of the rim of the Grand Canyon above. However, after hiking a bit further we’ll encounter the first layers of the redwall limestone; a layer of rock hard enough to promote formation of the Jump-up slot canyon. Soon we’ll find ourselves hundreds of feet deep in a narrow swath of polished stone. Several miles further the canyon widens and intersects Kanab Creek. Now the canyon is wide and deep, with brilliant red walls rising high overhead. Another couple of hours of hiking brings us to the hanging garden of Showerbath Spring. Just beyond the spring is a campsite protected by more overhangs. This is a long day consisting of 8 miles of rugged canyon hiking and will likely take 10-11 hours to complete.


Day 3

Mileage: 4.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 400 feet

Another hearty breakfast will precede a shorter hike downstream. The canyon grows ever deeper and presents a show of features including massive overhangs, enchanting springs, exquisite lighting and a myriad of colors. We'll make camp adjacent to a narrow and beautiful side canyon containing Whispering Falls, a rivulet of water that “whispers” its way down a polished incline, and makes for a wonderful afternoon hike.


Day 4

Mileage: 8.0 miles optional round-trip day hike
Elevation Loss/Gain: 200 feet

Today is a much needed layover day. Willing members of the party have the option of a day hike to the Colorado River and back (no backpacks). The mouth of Kanab Creek creates a thundering set of rapids on the Colorado. We’ll eat lunch while appreciating the grandeur of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon and then hike back to camp.


Day 5

Mileage: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 feet

On Day 5 we turn around and begin our hike out of the Grand Canyon. We'll hike up Kanab Creek to our camp near Showerbath Spring, where we'll again enjoy the beauty of this majestic camp.


Day 6

Mileage: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet

Today’s hike will re-trace our steps through Jump-up canyon, however once we’ve hiked through the slot canyon we’ll immediately turn east into Kwagunt Hollow. Kwagunt is more dramatic than Sowats and presents a variety of terraces and overhangs. We'll make camp this evening in Kwagunt Hollow near small seeps that we’ll use for our drinking water.


Day 7

Mileage: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
Shuttle to Flagstaff: 4.5-hour drive from the North Rim

After a lazy morning we’ll hike out Kwagunt and re-join the Sowats trail near the bottom of the switchbacks. Hiking up the switchbacks to Sowats Point will complete this classic Grand Canyon backpacking trip. From the top of Sowats Point we’ll be able to look out over each canyon we hiked all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.