Grand Canyon Hiking - South Rim

Welcome to Arizona! Your adventure begins bright and early with a meeting in Flagstaff at 6 am to make the most of the day. Get to know your trip leader and fellow hikers, chat about the trip then head off to the Grand Canyon. You’re getting right into the action today with a hike on Bright Angel Trail. Fuel up on breakfast then wind your way down below the canyon’s rim and while you descend, your leader will fill you in on all the geological and ecological phenomena that make up the landscapes here – and the cultural history of the trail itself. For the Havasupai people, Bright Angel was once a lifeline that provided access to essential resources, and pictographs drawn onto the trail’s walls tell their stories and preserve ancestral narratives. Stop and fuel up on lunch with views better than any 5-star restaurant could deliver, then start your return hike back to the rim, this time staring up at the towering cliffs above you until you’re standing back on top of them. Gaze down in amazement at what you just accomplished and when the day winds down, head to a restaurant near the canyon with you group before getting some well-deserved rest for the next part of your adventure.

Today, you’ll tackle the South Kaibab Trail. Descending from the spine of Cedar Ridge, you’re in for a day of big Grand Canyon views as the ridge drops off on both sides. This is the trail to do if you’re looking for some of the best panoramas in the park. These constant, dramatic views and the easy-going nature of the hike make this one of the most photographed in the country. Along the way, you may spot some of California condors, learn about the fascinating geologic history and feel the scale of the landscape around you. Your trip leader can also share the stories of the Native peoples whose deep connection to this land stretches back thousands of years, including the 11 tribal communities who still call the Grand Canyon home. Expect quiet moments of awe, spontaneous photo ops, and a powerful sense that you’re moving through a natural masterpiece shaped, safeguarded and culturally enriched by Indigenous peoples for generations.

After breakfast, you’ll set out together for the Hermit Trail – one of the Grand Canyon’s lesser-traveled routes. Starting at Hermit’s Rest on the South Rim, you’ll drop into the canyon through a series of well-defined switchbacks carved into the Kaibab Formation and Coconino Sandstone. You'll walk among layers of ancient rock, wide-open sky and if you’re paying close attention, fossilized lizard-like tracks reminding you just how old this landscape truly is. About 1.5 mi in, you’ll hit the Dripping Springs Junction and hike westward along a mostly level path, winding through wide U-shaped ravines and dramatic canyon views. Roughly 3 mi from the trailhead, tucked beneath 200-ft cliffs, you’ll arrive at Dripping Springs – a small hanging spring where water drips from maidenhair ferns into a shaded alcove. The journey back will be the most challenging part of today’s hike as you climb up 1400 ft to the rim, but you’ll make your way upward together with your new community of adventurers cheering each other on. It may be a challenge, but in a satisfying way that reminds you why you love doing this.

Say a fond farewell to the Grand Canyon today as you make your way back to Flagstaff, but not before stopping at a few spots along the way. Take a scenic drive out of the East Entrance, stopping at the historic Desert View Watchtower for one last sweeping look at the canyon from a totally new angle. From there, explore two of Northern Arizona’s gems that are connected to the Grand Canyon both culturally and geographically – Wupatki and Sunset Crater national monuments. Short, easy hikes will lead you through remarkably preserved 900-year-old remains of an ancient civilization. As you explore, you can try to imagine the lives of the ancestral Puebloan people who once called this rugged land home, including ancestors of the Hopi and Havasupai. Then, take in the views of the youngest cinder cone volcano in the southwest. You’ll arrive back in Flagstaff around 4 or 5 pm, wrapping up your adventure. Want to stick around longer? Just chat with your booking agent beforehand to extend your stay.