Grand Canyon Backpacking Trips

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

25-35 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4.5-6 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

4800 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3000 feet

Quality of Trails:

Well maintained

Additional:

The trails are crossed with buried logs to protect against erosion, which make for high steps up and down.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. exercise several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack

SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 2 because it follows two of the most popular trails in the Canyon (South Kaibab and Bright Angel). You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time once we're several miles into the Canyon.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

25-35 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4.5-7 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

4200 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3000 feet

Quality of Trails:

Well maintained

Additional:

The trails on the last 2 days are crossed with buried logs to protect against erosion, and make for high steps.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. exercise several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack

SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 2 because it follows the most popular route across the Canyon (North Kaibab to South Kaibab). You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time once we're several miles into the Canyon.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

25-35 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4-5 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

3000 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3000 feet

Quality of Trails:

Well maintained

Additional:

The trails are crossed with buried logs to protect against erosion, which make for high steps up and down.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. exercise several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack

SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 2 because it follows the most popular trail in the Canyon (Bright Angel). You can expect an hour of solitude at a time, primarily on day 2. We'll be around other hikers most of the time on days 1 and 3.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

30-40 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4.5-9 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

3000 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3400 feet

Quality of Trails:

Lightly maintained and rugged in places

Additional:

The longest hike is mostly flat, and the last day is 8 miles up a relatively rugged trail.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. regularly exercise vigorously
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, running, or swimming for several hours without many breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 3 because it enters the Canyon on the most popular trail in the park (Bright Angel), but then follows the sparsely populated Tonto and Hermit Trails. You can expect hours of solitude at a time and often a feeling of having the Canyon to yourself.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

25-35 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

3-7 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

2500 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

2500 feet

Quality of Trails:

Lightly maintained and rugged

Additional:

The trails are steep and rugged, particularly on our day hike off of Horseshoe Mesa.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. exercise several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack

SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 3 because the beginning of the Grandview Trail can be busy, but as we make our way deeper into the Canyon we will see fewer and fewer people. There are multiple groups allowed on Horseshoe Mesa, but the campsites are spread out.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

30-40 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

5-6 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

3500 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3500 feet

Quality of Trails:

Lightly maintained to not maintained, generally rugged

Additional:

The trail to the Colorado River is not maintained and is steep and loose in places (pictured below right). This portion of the trip is optional.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. regularly exercise vigorously
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, running, or swimming for several hours without many breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 4 because it follows primarily remote, unmaintained trails. The first 1-2 miles of the Grandview Trail attract a moderate number of hikers, but after that it tapers off quickly. Inside the Canyon, you can expect to see no more than 1 or 2 hiker groups per day.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

30-40 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4.5-7 miles with full packs

+14 mile day hike

Most Elevation Loss:

4200 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

4200 feet

Quality of Trails:

Well maintained

Additional:

The trails are crossed with logs which make for big steps up/down. Also, the North Kaibab Trail leading to the North Rim is not maintained or cleared in the winter. It may be snowy and/or icy (we provide campons on this trip for hiking on icy trails.)

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be active and healthy
2. regularly exercise vigorously
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, running, or swimming for several hours without many breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 4 because while we'll be hiking the most popular trails in the Park, winter is a very slow time in the Canyon, particularly on the North Kaibab Trail.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

30-40 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

2-5 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

2500 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3300 feet

Quality of Trails:

Lightly maintained and rugged

Additional:

These trails are loose and steep in places. Be prepared for demanding hiking on sections of steep trails.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be very active, healthy people
2. exercise vigorously several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 4 because the beginning of the Grandview Trail can be busy, but as we make our way deeper into the Canyon we will see fewer and fewer people. There are also multiple groups allowed at some of the campsites.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

30-40 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4-8 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

2600 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

3000 feet

Quality of Trails:

Maintained, rugged in places

Additional:

These trails are well-hiked and maintained, but are rugged in places.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be very active, healthy people
2. exercise vigorously several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 4 because while it enters the Canyon at a remote spot and much of the trip we won't see many other groups, we are likely to run into rafting groups as we near the Colorado River.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

40-45 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

1-7 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

3400 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

2400 feet

Quality of Trails:

Very rugged, unmaintained

Additional:

These trails are loose and steep in places. Be prepared for demanding hiking on sections of steep trails. This trip also necessitates a section of pack rafting, which requires good balance and good upper body strength.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be very active, healthy people
2. exercise vigorously several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 5
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 5. You can expect to see just a handful of other groups over the entire trip.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

30-45 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4-8 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

4650 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

4452 feet

Quality of Trails:

Maintained and not maintained, very rugged

Additional:

This trip follows trails that are very rugged and have sections of steep, loose hiking as well as short sections of hands and feet climbing. Participants must be strong and adventurous to join this trip.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be very active, healthy people
2. exercise vigorously several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 5
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 4 because it follows primarily remote trails. You can expect to see a couple groups of hikers per day once we're well inside the Canyon.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult

Backpack Weight:

35-45 pounds

Daily Hiking Distances:

4-10 miles

Most Elevation Loss:

2200 feet

Most Elevation Gain:

2400 feet

Quality of Trails:

Lightly maintained and off trail

Additional:

This trip is both on- and off-trail. We begin on a lightly maintained trail with steep sections. Once we're in the Kanab Creek drainage much of our hiking is off trail and occasionally in the creek.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Participants should:

1. be very active, healthy people
2. exercise vigorously several times per week
3. be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks

SOLITUDE LEVEL 5
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 5 because it is in an extremely remote part of the Grand Canyon. We have occasionally gone the full 7 days without seeing another group.

MORE TRIP INFORMATION
Click Here to go to the detailed trip page, which has a detailed itinerary, photos, prices, dates and more.