Here is the scoop: It only takes 3 days, which is a nice long weekend for many. The distance is 23 miles total, which isn’t bad considering it is broken out into those three days. With this adventure, you will have the opportunity to experience the most famous hike in the world and stay at a notoriously remote lodge, Phantom Ranch.
Here is the low-down:
First, you arrive in Flagstaff, Arizona the afternoon before the trip, ready for an early departure the next morning. Four Season Guides will provide all of the necessary gear you will need for the hike, including a backpack, trekking poles, and all your meals and trail snacks!
Transportation from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon and park entrance fees are also covered in your trip package. The evening before the departure to the Grand Canyon, there will be a pre-trip orientation at 4:30 p.m. where you will meet your guide. Departure times and logistics will be discussed and last-minute questions answered. This is when you’ll really start to get excited for your adventure. Most trips depart between 4:30am and 7:00am. You will be picked up at your hotel and returned there at approximately 5pm on the last day of the trip.
The hike starts at the famous South Kaibab Trail. After a light breakfast, all will start down the trail. The views from this trail are amazing and stopping to take photos or just take it in, is common. The Kaibab trail is the shortest possible route to the Colorado River (bottom of the Grand Canyon). On the way down, you will get to enjoy plenty of breaks, photo opportunities and lunch with an incredible view. Scenery from this trail include Pipe Creek Canyon, Cremation Canyon, the North Rim and Inner Gorge. The distance from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch is seven miles and a 4,800 foot decent.
Once at the bottom, it’s time to check into the Phantom Ranch lodge. Once settled in at your home for the next two nights, you can enjoy a nice shower and relax after a day’s hike. After a delicious feast for dinner, you can take in a ranger-led talk or enjoy a cold beer or hot chocolate in the Canteen, while making new friends with fellow hikers from around the world.
Day 2 Phantom Ranch
After getting a good night’s sleep, there will be a delicious breakfast and then a venture out to explore some of the amazing side canyons and trails that extend off of the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Enjoy a hike up the Clear Creek Trail and take in the stunning view of the Colorado River. Expect to explore the narrows of Phantom Canyon and its delightful waterfalls. Here your group can relax by the creek, rest and eat lunch. Day 2 will end back at the lodge with another fantastic dinner.
