Grand Canyon and Sedona

Depart Flagstaff early for your scenic drive through northern Arizona. Our destination will be the South Rim of Grand Canyon for our first hike. Our trail descends into the depths of the canyon via switchbacks and longer traverses along a rocky ridgeline offering panoramic views that are hard to beat. Our goal is a promontory of limestone offering glimpses of the Colorado River as it meanders along the canyon bottom, still a few thousand feet below us. We return the way we came, all the while learning about the canyon’s geologic history, plants and animals and tales of early explorers. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the trail before returning to the rim. We then head to the Yavapai Observation Point for more incredible canyon views before checking into our hotel. You’ll have a chance to rest and get cleaned up before a delicious dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Drive Time: 1.5 hours to South Rim
Distance & Elevation: ~6 miles, 2000 foot descent/ascent
Light Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast we are off for another day of exploring. We’ll head for a quiet trail to the west of Grand Canyon Village and descend into a peaceful basin of pinyon pine and juniper. Here the trail levels out and winds its way along the head of a deep gorge towards an idyllic spring tucked away in a sandstone alcove. You’ll learn the history of the prospectors and early guides that built these trails and welcomed tourists in the late 19th century. Upon returning to the rim, we will begin our journey to Sedona, passing through the gorgeous Oak Creek Canyon on one of the most scenic roads in Arizona. We’ll check into our hotel, clean up and head out for dinner at one of Sedona’s great local restaurants.
Drive Time: 2 hours from Grand Canyon to Sedona
Distance & Elevation: 5 miles, 1680 foot descent/ascent
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For our Sedona introduction, we will tackle one of the region’s most exciting hikes. Today’s loop hike features spectacular views in one of the most scenic corners of Sedona. We follow the path of the old wagon trails, then ascend to a slickrock saddle high above Bear Wallow Canyon to the south and Oak Creek canyon to the north. Epic views unfold as we wind our way around Mitten Ridge and enjoy 360-degree panoramic vistas. A few sections of slickrock hiking with exposure to heights will add an element of excitement and our professional guides will offer support and guidance for those not used to slickrock hiking and you will learn how to “trust your hiking shoes”, build your confidence, and earn the rewards of this stunning landscape. We’ll then descend via the Cow Pies Trail, named for the unique sandstone rock formations along the way, and close the loop back to the starting trailhead. If time permits after the hike, we can stop in Uptown Sedona to spend some time browsing the shops and art galleries.
Distance & Elevation: 8.5 miles, 1100-foot ascent/descent
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On our final day, we’ll head to one of the most iconic destinations in Sedona. Our hike begins near famous Bell Rock and crosses an undulating landscape of pinyon pine and juniper forest before ascending the sandstone benches along the eastern flank of Cathedral Rock, perhaps the single most-photographed formation in Sedona. We continue north where our trail dips down to the banks of Oak Creek, where we’ll enjoy a final lunch by the water. We then retrace our steps back to Cathedral Rock and then connect with another trail back to our starting point. At the hike’s conclusion, we’ll head back to Flagstaff for farewells, arriving around 4pm.
Drive Time: 1.5 hours total
Distance & Elevation: ~7 miles, 600 foot ascent/descent
Breakfast, Lunch

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• All necessary gear: day pack, trekking poles, traction devices (for icy conditions)
• Three nights lodge accommodations in Grand Canyon and Sedona
• 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
• Park Entrance Fees
• 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
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Guide gratuity (suggested 10-15% of trip cost)

*Upon Booking you will receive a detailed trip information packet

This tour will accommodate 6 people plus one guide

Children under the age of 12 are generally not permitted on regularly scheduled 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.

Your deposit is payable over the phone by Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, or Discover. Checks by mail are fine as well, as are bank transfers ($35 transfer fee). Call our office Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Arizona time. 1-877-272-5032

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.

Your guide will pick you up at your Flagstaff hotel the morning of your trip’s scheduled departure, at a pre-determined time. Most trips depart between 6am and 8am. We strongly recommend staying at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff the night prior to departure, where we have arranged discounted rates for our guests.

You will receive an orientation email approximately 5 days pror to your trip’s departure with last-minute details and helpful information.

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 hotels 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.