Grand Canyon Backpack

Grand Canyon Backpack Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.  Meet your guides and the other group members at Mather Campground, inside Grand Canyon National Park by 6:00pm. We have an evening trip orientation, a wonderful dinner and a brief gear check before resting for an early start in the morning.  Dinner included.

• Day 2

  After breakfast, we drive to our nearby trailhead at Yaki Point. The Kaibab Trail is popular among day hikers for a few miles, but as we descend to the Tonto Trail and head east, the character of the canyon’s wilderness begins to emerge.  Ten miles and over 3,400 vertical feet of descent through layer after layer of white, yellow, tan, and rust-red limestone, sandstone and shale brings us to our first primitive campsite tonight deep in the canyon and far from the pack stock and popular sites of the South Rim.  The stunning views and starry night at our site will prove the journey worthwhile.  Backpacking: 10 miles; Elevation Start: 7,175 ft; Elevation End: 3,700 ft. Breakfast and Dinner included. Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten as lunch and grazed on constantly throughout the day each day. Energy bars and drinks as well as trail mix, bagels, salami, etc. are all good choices.

• Day 3

  After breakfast, we break camp and continue heading east along the Tonto Trail. The Tonto Trail is the longest continuous stretch of trail in the Grand Canyon.  Carving its way along the contour of the Tonto Platform, magnificent views of the canyon and the Colorado River unfold to the north as we hike 8 miles to Grapevine Canyon, the largest side canyon to intersect the Tonto Trail.  Along the way, the rolling terrain will gain up to 300 feet in places and then descend again to 3,750 feet as we arrive in Grapevine camp, so while our mileage today is still substantial, the elevation gain and loss is far less than our previous day of hiking.  Views of Grapevine rapid on the Colorado River are superb from here and a full night in our next primitive backcountry campsite once again offers up all the wonders of the canyon’s wilderness.  Backpacking: 8 miles; Elevation Start: 3,700 ft; Elevation End: 3,750 ft.  Breakfast and Dinner provided. Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten as lunch and grazed on constantly throughout the day each day. Energy bars and drinks as well as trail mix, bagels, salami, etc. are all good choices.

• Day 4

  Today we hike the remaining 10 miles to the canyon rim, exiting at Grandview Point.  We’ll ascend around 3,700 feet today, and will maintain a slow and steady pace as we climb.  It is commonly reported that our exit route, the Grandview Trail, was originally discovered and traveled by indigenous people of the southwest.  In the late 1800’s this native footpath was rebuilt by miners to provide access to mineral resources at Horseshoe Mesa, and historic sites from the canyon’s mining era (along with more breathtaking views) abound on the mesa’s broad, open and sparsely wooded landscape.  We continue our ascent up Grandview trail to arrive at Grandview point to end our loop hike.  We’ll be shuttled back to our vehicles and say our goodbyes from there, and may not arrive until late in the day.  See detailed travel information below to plan your trip home. Backpacking: 10 miles; Elevation Start: 3,700 ft; Elevation End: 7,400 ft; breakfast included. Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten as lunch and grazed on constantly throughout the day each day. Energy bars and drinks as well as trail mix, bagels, salami, etc. are all good choices.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Professional instruction and guiding; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; 2-person tents; group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filter; campsite and backcountry permit fees.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees ($25 per private vehicle or present your National Parks pass); insurance of any kind; 3 lunches; snacks and energy food; energy drinks; alcoholic beverages (please do not bring); soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Strenuous [5].  Participants will be carrying their own backpacks with weights of 30-45 lbs over steep and rocky terrain with constant and dramatic elevation gain and/or loss exceeding 3,700 feet per day on most days of this trip.  Day hiking with 30-45 lbs in the pack you intend to hike with on the trip and making sure your hiking boots are broken in before your trip is key.  This is not a beginning backpacking trip.  Previous experience is highly recommended and a physician’s release is required prior to participating in this course.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 60^o - 90^o F but can sometime climb even higher.  Evening temperatures drop into the 40s - 50s or even lower.  While rain in general is rare, there is always the possibility of rain, so adequate raingear is important, even in this arid landscape. The Grand Canyon is a very unique environment, and it is important to note that the temperature on the rim of the Grand Canyon is significantly colder than at the bottom of the canyon, due to a difference in elevation of over 4,000 vertical feet.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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