Trip Description
This adventure is for those hikers who want to get off the beaten path and explore the wilder side of Grand Canyon. The Kanab Creek Wilderness is 75,000 acres of deep sandstone and limestone gorges, slickrock expanses, freshwater springs, Native American relics and perfect solitude. Kanab Creek itself is the largest tributary system on the north side of Grand Canyon. This trip starts at the historic Jumpup Cabin, a remote trailhead on the North Rim, and descends into the Kanab Creek Wilderness. Your days will be spent exploring Sowats and Jumpup Canyons discovering ancient Native American relics, deep canyons and awe-inspiring views. There are many opportunities for exploration in this unparalleled wilderness. This is a moderately challenging hike involving off-trail routes and some scrambling. However, the rewards are many for those who decide to visit this incredible area.

Overview
Type: Backpacking
Days: 4 Days
Distance: 25 miles
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart Flagstaff early for the drive to the north side of the Grand Canyon and our remote trailhead at Jumpup Cabin. After final preparations, we will begin our trek into upper Jumpup Canyon. The descent is very gradual as we follow the dry creekbed. After about 4 miles, we leave the creekbed and strike out across the Esplanade, a sandstone bench of slickrock offering pleasant hiking and excellent views. As we approach the rim of Sowats Canyon, our route descends quickly to another dry creekbed which leads a final mile to camp near beautiful Mountain Sheep Spring, a watery oasis deep in our canyon wilderness. Relax while your guide sets up camp and prepares a delicious dinner.
Drive Time: ~4 hours
Hiking Distance & Elevation: 8 miles, 1730-foot descent
Light Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
After a tasty breakfast, we’ll leave camp setup and head out for a full day of exploring with just small day packs. Our route takes us down Sowats Creek to its junction with lower Jumpup Canyon, which we’ll follow downstream to the spectacular Jumpup Canyon Narrows, a deep and narrow limestone gorge with polished walls rising hundreds of feet overhead. After some time in the Narrows, we backtrack slightly to Kwagunt Hollow, another scenic canyon which we’ll ascend to the Esplanade, stopping for lunch along the way. It’s a fun but arduous scramble up Kwagunt Hollow but there are lost of little pools and waterfalls to enjoy along the way. Once back on the Esplanade, we will follow another trail that eventually drops us back into Sowats Canyon and home to our camp.
Hiking Distance & Elevation: 9 miles, 1100-foot ascent/descent
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Before breaking camp, we’ll enjoy a morning hike to explore a nearby section of canyon featuring stunning red cliffs and idyllic pools along a small creek. We then return to camp, pack up, and begin our journey back towards our trailhead. Our goal for tonight’s camp is the dry bed of Upper Jumpup Canyon, not far from a natural spring. We’ll backpack for about 4 miles before making camp for our final night in the backcountry.
Hiking Distance & Elevation: 4 miles + 3 miles of day hiking, 400-foot ascent
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
After packing up camp we begin our final trek back to the trailhead at Jumpup Cabin. It’s a gentle 4 miles of trail that we hiked on Day 1 but the early morning light offers a fresh perspective. Before the final push to the trailhead, we’ll stop to examine some ancient pictographs near a hidden spring. Upon reaching the vehicle, we’ll celebrate our experience with a big, tasty lunch before hitting the road for the journey home. Expect to arrive back in Flagstaff by 5pm at the latest.
Hiking Distance & Elevation: 4 miles, 1400-foot ascent
Breakfast, Lunch
Drive Time: ~4 hours
Details
What's Included
- 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)
What's Not Included
- 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
How Many People Are in The Group
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.
Are There Age Restrictions?
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.
How Do I Sign Up?
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.
Travel Logistics
Where does the trip begin/end?
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.
Where do meet our guides?
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.
What do we do with our car and extra stuff?
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.
What time will we get back on the last day?
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.
Trip Dates
Don’t see your dates? Custom dates may be available!
Call 1-928-525-1552 or email us for details.
2025 Trip Dates
Click on a date to request a reservation!
2026 Trip Dates
Click on a date to request a reservation! Or contact us to request custom dates.
No dates available yet for 2026.
Guest Testimonials
List of Services
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George H.George H.
“Just returned from my 3rd Four Seasons hike, this time in the Kanab Creek wilderness which connects to the Grand Canyon. Gorgeous narrow canyons, gentle streams and boulder strewn areas to navigate that show the power of canyon flash floods. Our guide Jeremy was fantastic, imparting interesting history of canyon explorers, leading us on a great day hike through Jumpup Canyon that ended with dinner watching the recent Supermoon rise, and showing a keen sense of humor.”
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Janet G.Janet G.
“Awesome trip into the Canyon. I highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see a less populated area of the canyon. Beautiful fern covered springs, idyllic pools and waterfalls and narrow canyons. This was our 13th trip with FSG. I highly recommend them.”
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Dan S.Dan S.
“I have recently completed a Kanab Creek hike which lived up to its billing of being “off the beaten path”, but as usual with FSG it was an excellent trip. Our leader, Scott, was supportive, very friendly, and always extremely professional. As a somewhat older hiker I was very appreciative of his keeping watch over me. The food on the hike, as usual, was extremely good, varied, and nutritious, everything you need during and after a hard day’s trek. We saw spectacular scenery, we worked hard, and we had unique camps in which to recharge for the next day. From beginning to end, FSG did a spectacular job, and I want to say how much I appreciate everything.”
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Sherrie H.Sherrie H.
“I put my trust in Four Season Guides. Last year I did the rim to rim hike with my girlfriends using their services. It was awesome, so I felt the pull to come back and bring my daughter for some mother/daughter bonding time. I also wanted something a little more off the grid and slightly more challenging. Dave, the boss of the company, found us the perfect hike! It was gorgeous (as he said it would be) and Scott was the most confident, prepared guide we could have asked for. Being more ‘backcountry’ gave me some concern, but Scott kept us safe and motivated. And he was a very good cook! There are other guide companies, but I would definitely go with FOUR SEASON GUIDES again!”
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Gemma F.
“My 8th time with FSG and this was the best trip!!!! The Kanab Creek area exceeded expectations. You did not over sell the area or the experience. The campsites were awesome as well. The third night on the slickrock I did not use a rainfly and the sky was spectacular.
Bob was a terrific guide, as always. The trails were a delight, the little side excursions, the cowboy artifacts were an added bonus.
The only thing missing was a fourth night.”
Gemma F.
Price: 
$1,900/person
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