Grand Canyon Backpacking Tours

All Grand Canyon backpacking trips require a backcountry permit and the process for obtaining these permits can be tough to navigate. Fortunately, we handle the permitting process on your behalf so you don’t need to worry about it.

All permits for overnight hiking trips in Grand Canyon are awarded via a random lottery that takes place 4 months prior to the month you want to hike. For example, the lottery for backcountry permits for a trip in October takes place in June and all lottery entries must be submitted by June 1. Results from the lottery drawing can sometimes take up to 3 weeks to be announced, especially for the most popular months of the year.

The Grand Canyon backcountry permit lottery is an extremely competitive process and being awarded a permit is not guaranteed in any way. In order to improve your chances of successfully obtaining a permit, it is encouraged to have as much flexibility in your travel dates as possible. It is also highly encouraged to consider alternate hikes as backup options should your first choice of hike not be available. We can assist you in making an appropriate determination as to backup options.

There are several factors to consider when deciding upon an appropriate Grand Canyon backpacking trip. How fit are you to begin with? Do you have previous backpacking experience? What is the difficulty rating of the trip you are considering? How much weight do you feel comfortable carrying? How many days would you like to be hiking? What time of year are you interested in? Are you looking to check Rim to Rim off your Bucket List or do seek quiet, remote backcountry with few other people around?

If rugged wilderness and serious physical demands are your goal, then we have a handful of itineraries worth consideration. The Deer Creek/Thunder River Loop is a stunning, yet challenging 5-day backpacking adventure that will surely satisfy the desire for remote wilderness, physical challenge, and unbeatable scenery. Many other options exist for remote adventure and our team is happy to put together the perfect Grand Canyon Backpacking itinerary for your group through one of our Custom Backpacking trips.

Time of Year

Grand Canyon National Park is land of extremes, and the climate is no exception. The weather can vary significantly depending on the time of year and the specific location within the canyon. Generally, spring (March to May) and fall (September to mid-November) tend to be the most popular and favorable times for backpacking due to milder temperatures.

Summer (June to August) tends to be extremely hot, especially at the lower elevations. Daytime temperatures can soar well above 100°F (38°C), making hiking in the inner canyon potentially dangerous and certainly not that much fun.

Winter (December to February) can bring cold temperatures and snow to the Grand Canyon, especially at higher elevations. But winter backpacking can be very rewarding due to the absence of other visitors and quite often some very mild daytime temperatures. Snow is not particularly common in the inner canyon.

We can help you decide

Even after considering all of the above factors, it can still be tough to determine which trip is best for you. Therefore, we encourage you to give us a call and speak with one of our trip specialists. We can help you identify which trip might be most appropriate based upon your fitness level, experience, and when you’re hoping to embark on your Grand Adventure.

When you join one of our guided backpacking trips, we provide just about all the gear required to participate: backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, group cooking gear, first-aid supplies, and emergency communication devices. All of the gear is high-quality, tried and true, brand name equipment that we have been putting to the test for over two decades. Here’s a sampling of the equipment you are likely to see on your trip.

Guests are welcome to bring their own gear, as long as we deem it appropriate for the specific trip and expected weather conditions. Personal backpacks must be a minimum of 60-liter capacity. Sleeping bags must be backpacking-specific and appropriate for the expected low temperatures for the trip. And if you plan to bring your own tent, it must be free-standing (i.e., it doesn’t require being staked-out). If you are hoping to bring any of your own gear, please contact us well in advance of your trip to discuss this.

What’s the most popular Grand Canyon backpacking trip?

Rim to Rim is undoubtedly the most popular Grand Canyon backpacking trip. This iconic trek involves hiking from one rim of the Grand Canyon to the other, typically from the North Rim to the South Rim or vice versa. And while it can be completed in two or three days, we offer a 4-day itinerary which allows plenty of time to really enjoy the trip and embark on a number of interesting side hikes along the way. You can spend one night in each of the Corridor Campgrounds (Cottonwood Camp, Bright Angel Camp, and Havasupai Gardens Camp).

Is Grand Canyon hiking dangerous?
Though just about any outdoor pursuit involves some element of risk and potential danger, Grand Canyon is a particularly challenging due to several factors. First of all, just about every hike in Grand Canyon starts by going downhill, which can seem pretty easy for a casual day hike. But as the views get better and better and the lure of what might be around the next corner pulls you farther and farther below the rim, the ill-prepared hiker can soon find themselves in too deep (literally and figuratively). As soon as you turn around and start going back uphill, you realize how demanding the never-ending ascent can be. For some people, it will take at least twice as long to hike out than it did to hike down.

On the other hand, those planning a hike all the way to the bottom of Grand Canyon are often completely surprised at how challenging the non-stop downhill hiking can prove. While many hikers get nervous about the hike out, it’s often the hike down that proves overwhelming. The seemingly unending descent is punishing on knees and can rapidly fatigue leg muscles.

Finally, the climate and environmental challenges of Grand Canyon can be incredibly challenging. A summer morning on the South Rim can present cool temperatures seemingly perfect for hiking. Unwitting hikers start trotting down the South Kaibab Trail and before they know it, they’re 4 miles down the trail, the temperatures are pushing 90 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:00am and there’s no shade and no water anywhere. The hiker starts heading back uphill and quickly finds that the sun exposure, heat, and strenuous hiking combine to overwhelm them completely. They rapidly run out of drinking water and discover they didn’t bring nearly enough food keep them energized. Every year, at least a few hikers become so overwhelmed that they require an emergency rescue and some never make it back out.

In short, Grand Canyon is a land of extremes. Whether it’s the heat, the brutal cold of winter, or the challenging hiking terrain, ill-prepared hikers can easily become overwhelmed and find themselves in a dangerous situation. On the other hand, those who do their homework, plan accordingly, and physically prepare can have a perfectly safe and extremely rewarding experience while hiking Grand Canyon.