Winter Rim to Rim 

Depart Flagstaff early for the drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and the South Kaibab Trailhead. After final preparations, we will begin our trek down into the Canyon, stopping regularly for breaks, snacks and photo opportunities. Upon reaching the Colorado River, we cross the impressive Black Bridge just a few minutes from our home for the night at Bright Angel Campground. Relax by the creek while your guide sets up camp and prepares a delicious dinner. You will also have a chance to visit Phantom Ranch and take in a ranger-led program while the night sky fills with an unimaginable number of stars.

Drive Time: 1.5 hours

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 4800 foot descent

Light Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we will begin our hike up to Cottonwood Campground. Highlights of today’s walk include The Box, a narrow section of winding canyon along the banks of Bright Angel Creek, and Ribbon Falls, a spectacular waterfall tucked away in an idyllic grotto just off the main trail. As you near Cottonwood Camp, the massive cliffs of the North Rim tower overhead. Tonight’s camp is the ideal place to stargaze, with lots of open sky to catch shooting stars and passing satellites.

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 1600 foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a few hot cups of coffee and a hearty breakfast, we will strike out on a mission towards the North Rim. Traveling with just our day packs and essentials, we will make our way up the trail, past Roaring Springs and through the seemingly endless layers of colorful rocks laid down over millennia. The towering cliffs are nothing short of spectacular and the wilderness solitude is a rare treat. After a delicious lunch, we will head back down to camp for some well-deserved rest & relaxation. *A summit of the North Rim is not a guarantee, nor is it a primary the goal of this trip. We cannot guarantee that weather conditions or the ability of all participants will facilitate such a goal.

Distance & Elevation: 8 to 14 miles, 2000 to 4500 foot ascent/descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we’ll pack up and head back to Bright Angel Campground, enjoying lunch at Phantom Ranch. Spend the afternoon relaxing…you’ve been working hard!

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 1600 foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll be up early again to have breakfast, breakdown camp and pack up for the final leg of the journey. But today we’ll lighten our loads by packing out tents, sleeping bags and a few other items on the mules. We head up the famous Bright Angel Trail, featuring a stunning stretch along the Colorado River, the Granite Narrows of Pipe Creek and nice rest at Havasupai Gardens. We’ll top out in the early to midafternoon and celebrate a great accomplishment before heading back to Flagstaff.

Distance & Elevation: 9.5 miles, 4400 foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch

Drive Time: 1.5 hours

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 to 40-pound backpack each day while hiking for 6 to 8 hours, on steep canyon trails, descending or ascending 4800 feet  in a single day. 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, microspikes
• 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% NPS 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
• Headlamp or flashlight
• 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.