Rim to Rim 

The Grand Canyon Rim to Rim tour departs Flagstaff early for a beautiful drive through the Navajo Reservation & Painted Desert, across the Colorado River and along the Vermilion Cliffs and Kaibab Plateau to our starting point 8000 feet above sea level. We descend the spectacular North Kaibab Trail to Cottonwood Campground. Enjoy stunning canyon scenery as you traverse along towering cliffs and dramatic gorges, past Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Creek. The evening skies are magical as the sunset colors fade to night and an unimaginable number of stars take their place.

Drive Time: 3.5 hours

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 4160 foot descent

Light Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We rise with the sun, enjoy a tasty breakfast and head back out on the trail. Tonight’s home will be Bright Angel Campground, a short stroll from Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River. But along the way we’ll stop to admire the remarkable Ribbon Falls, tucked away in a beautiful little alcove off the main trail. Continuing on, the wide open views we’ve been enjoying give way to the sinuous narrows of The Box. This fabulous stretch of trail follows the creek closely as the black cliffs of the Vishnu Schist rise immediately beside us, a thousand feet overhead, eventually opening up as we approach camp. Enjoy a cold lemonade or frosty beer in the late afternoon at the Ranch followed by a delicious dinner prepared by your guide.

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 1600 foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we will begin our trek up to Havasupai Gardens with side hiking options and some beautiful pools to cool off in. Enjoy stunning views along the Colorado River before heading up Pipe Creek and the famous Bright Angel Trail. Late in the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely 1.5 mile hike out to Plateau Point, the finest place in Grand Canyon to watch the sunset.

Distance & Elevation: 4.5 miles, 1500 foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After packing up camp we begin our final ascent, over 4 miles and 3000-foot to the South Rim. The ever-evolving view will assure you stop regularly to take photos and catch your breath. This is also your best chance to catch a glimpse of the endangered California Condors soaring overhead. We’ll a big, tasty lunch on the rim before the shuttle drive back to Flagstaff.

Drive Time: 1.5 hours

Distance & Elevation: 4.6 miles, 3000 foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch

This is a backpacking trip. Backpacking trips are strenuous endeavors and the decision to join one of these trips should not be taken lightly. It is intended for active people who exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and do not have any chronic knee issues. You will be carrying a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, all of your personal clothing/toiletries/gear, up to 3 liters of water at a time, and a share of the group food. Every participant must be able to comfortably manage a 35-pound backpack each day while hiking for 6 to 8 hours, on steep canyon trails, descending more than 4000 feet or ascending 3000 feet. The descent into Grand Canyon is perhaps the most challenging part of the hike and the physical demands of downhill hiking is often underestimated. It is each participant’s responsibility to ensure they possess the level of physical fitness required to complete the hike. Do not take this lightly or fail to properly prepare for the hike. If you are not already a very active person in excellent health, then you are encouraged to consider a different trip style. 

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• All necessary gear: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
• All cooking/eating gear: bowls, cups, utensils (your guide will prepare all meals)
• All meals from a light breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last day + trail snacks
• Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon
• Entrance fees and backcountry permits
• 5% National Park Service Commercial Fee (a required fee that passes through to Grand Canyon National Park)

• Transportation to/from Flagstaff, AZ
• Lodging the night before/after the trip
• Clothing, raingear, and footwear
• Personal toiletries, sunscreen
• Water bottles/hydration bladder
• Guide gratuity (suggested 10-20% of trip cost)

*Upon Booking you will receive a detailed trip information packet

Most backpacking trips in Grand Canyon will accommodate 5 people plus one guide. On occasion, a group may be as large as 9 people plus 2 guides.

Children under the age of 13 are generally not permitted on backpacking trips. This restriction may be negotiable on private tours. Please contact us with any questions regarding this policy.

In order to confirm a reservation, we require an initial deposit of $250 per person, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the trip’s departure. If you book a trip within 90 days of the trip’s scheduled departure, then full payment is due at the time of booking.

Once we confirm availability, you will be provided with an online registration link. Your deposit is payable online by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or ACH transfer.

This trip will begin/end in Flagstaff, AZ and you will need to spend the night prior to your trip’s scheduled departure in Flagstaff. You will want to fly into either Phoenix (2 hour drive) or Flagstaff.

We will hold a pre-trip orientation at 4:00pm the evening prior to your trip’s departure at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff. Departure times and logistics for the following morning will be discussed at the orientation.

Most trips will depart between 4:30am and 6:30am. *This meeting is not mandatory, but highly recommended, as we will depart early the next morning. If you are unable to attend, please let us know in advance so that we can make alternate arrangements.

We will provide all transportation to/from trailheads for the duration of the trip. We will pick you up at your hotel in Flagstaff and return you there at the trip’s conclusion. Guests staying at the Little America Hotel (recommended) can leave their cars at the hotel. The hotel will often store your luggage for you, as well. If not, we are happy to store extra luggage at our warehouse for the duration of the trip. If you are staying at a different hotel, you will need to check with them as to whether you can leave your car there.

Expect to be back in Flagstaff by 5pm at the latest on the last day of the trip. Many trips will return earlier but we cannot make any guarantees. In general, it is recommended that you do not plan to fly home on the same day your trip finishes. Since each trip has slightly different logistics, feel free to contact us with specific questions related to the expected return time for your trip.