HIKING QUESTIONS: Q: How hard is it to hike into the Grand Canyon? A: The answer is up to you. Depending on how prepared you are, your trip can be a vacation or a challenge, a revelation or an ordeal. The majority of Grand Canyon hikers are here for the first time, and although many are avid hikers, they find that hiking the Grand Canyon is very different from most other hiking experiences. They tend to react to the experience in one of two ways, either they can't wait to get back, or they swear they will never do it again. Mental attitude and adequate water and food consumption are absolutely essential to the success of any hike into the Grand Canyon, particularly in summer. The day hiker and the overnight backpacker must be equally prepared for the lack of water, extreme heat and cold, and isolation characteristic of the Grand Canyon. Hiking in the Grand Canyon is so demanding that even people in excellent condition often emerge sore and fatigued. Yet small children, senior citizens, and people with physical disabilities have successfully hiked the canyon. Backcountry rangers recommend that hikers make their first trip into the inner canyon on one of the park's Corridor trails: Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, or North Kaibab Trail. This area includes three campgrounds: Havasupai Gardens (formerly known as Indian Garden), Bright Angel, and Cottonwood each having ranger stations, water, and emergency phones.
A: Monitor the amount of time it takes you to get down to any location; it can take twice that amount of time to cover the same distance going out. This "rule of thumb" seems to work well regardless of individual fitness, age and/or length of stride. Most first-time Grand Canyon hikers walk uphill at an average speed of one mile per hour.
A: Although both trails are maintained, they are very strenuous and involve hiking numerous switchbacks. The Bright Angel Trail is roughly 2 miles longer but has water, some shade, and half-way down is Havasupai Gardens, a wonderful place for a rest stop. There you will find water, toilet facilities, a ranger station, and a place to sit in the shade. The South Kaibab Trail has no water and very little shade. If you are hiking from the South Rim to Bright Angel Campground and back, a popular option is to take the South Kaibab Trail down, and the Bright Angel Trail up, thereby completing a "loop hike". Leave your car at the Backcountry Information Center lot and take the free Hikers' Express shuttle bus to the South Kaibab trailhead.
A: The South Kaibab Trail is 6.8 miles to Bright Angel Campground and the Bright Angel Trail is 9.3 miles. It will take most hikers between 4 and 5 hours to get to the campground on either trail. Oddly enough, very few people ask how long the return hike will take. The return hike may take twice as long, though 7 to 8 hours seems to be average. Underestimating the elevation change and not eating or drinking enough can easily add a few hours to those averages.
A: The National Park Service DOES NOT RECOMMEND hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day.
A: Risks are greater for those who hike alone. There is no one to assist you if you become lost, ill, or injured. Mountain lions do inhabit the Grand Canyon. Hikers traveling alone are at greater risk of attack. Be sure to keep your group together; a good plan is to have your most skilled members at the front and rear of your group with the novices in the middle.
A: South Rim: Hikers can park at the Backcountry Information Center (parking lot D). It is a short walk over to the Bright Angel Trailhead. A free hikers' shuttle goes to the South Kaibab trailhead from the Backcountry Information Center, Bright Angel Lodge, and Yavapai Lodge. Private automobiles are not allowed to access the South Kaibab trailhead. Taxi service is available 24-hours a day, 928-638-2631. Backpackers with permits in the Boucher and Hermit areas are given the gate combination for Hermit Road. Drivers must yield to shuttle buses and observe posted speed limits. With regards to backpacking the South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop, park at the Backcountry Information Center and take the free Hikers' Express shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead or walk to the Bright Angel Trailhead. North Rim: There is a parking lot at the North Kaibab trailhead. If you have only one vehicle, it is best to park it near the trailhead where you exit the canyon. Be sure not to drive off-road, block another vehicle, or otherwise obstruct traffic when you park. Valuables should be secured out of sight (in a trunk if possible), glove compartments left open for inspection and the vehicle locked. On the South Rim, the Bright Angel Lodge offers a storage service for valuables for a fee on a space available basis.
A: The Bright Angel Lodge (South Rim) works directly with mule outfitters to provide pack animal services for a fee. The service is arranged from above the rim only. Visit the Bright Angel Lodge transportation desk after you arrive at the park.
A: A good place to start would be the Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore. It is fair to say that most of our backpackers would like to visit the canyon without seeing other people on the trails and in the campsites. Most of the canyon offers visitors the chance to have a very remote wilderness experience. However, if you have never hiked the Grand Canyon you should consider the Corridor trails for your first visit. The Corridor has been very popular for over a century because it offers the most dramatic views of the most familiar monuments. Here a hiker can enter the deepest exposed rock layers of the Inner Gorge and cross the Colorado River to the north side.
A: There are very few. Not all campsites have toilet facilities. Be prepared to provide your own toilet paper. Where toilets are available, you must use them. Only human waste and toilet paper should be deposited in the toilets. Where toilets are not available you must carry out your used toilet paper (a plastic ziplock bag works well) and bury feces in a small hole about 6 in / 15 cm deep. Be sure you are at least 200 ft / 60 m from trails, campsites, and water sources. Along the Colorado River, urinate directly into the wet sand at the river's edge.
A: For the safety of your service dog, the mules, and the riders on those mules, we recommend you check in with the Backcountry Information Center prior to your hike to learn how you can mitigate specific hazards posed by hiking in the Corridor. EQUIPMENT QUESTIONS: Q: Do I need a map? A: A map is essential for planning a trip and staying oriented during your hike. Overnight hikers on the Corridor trails will be able to hike safely with the general map they will get with their permit but topographic maps are needed anywhere else. Grand Canyon topographic maps are available for purchase from the Grand Canyon Conservancy.
A: When hiking the Grand Canyon, it is desirable to travel as light as is reasonable. Even though it is a desert, it does rain occasionally in the canyon. Rain is most likely to occur in July and August and during the winter months. A tent can offer protection from rain. During summer consider taking a lighter sleeping bag (or even a sheet) to save weight if you decide to carry a tent. Another option is to take only the rain fly or a bivy sack as shelter. During winter, tents are desirable equipment.
A: You need to balance the weight of a stove and fuel against your desire for hot meals. During the heat of summer, cold meals are often more attractive. During cold weather, a stove may be important for survival. Fires are prohibited throughout the backcountry. FOOD AND WATER QUESTIONS: Q: How much water do I need? A: In warm months each hiker should carry and drink about a gallon (4 liters) of water per day. Watch your "ins and outs". Drink enough so that urine frequency, clarity, and volume are normal. You are not drinking enough water if your urine is dark, small in quantity, or non-existent in the course of a day's hiking. In addition, eating adequate amounts of food will help you replace the electrolytes (salts) that you are sweating. During the summer months, your fluid/electrolyte loss can exceed two quarts per hour if you hike uphill in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. Because the inner canyon air is so dry and hot, sweat evaporates instantly making its loss almost imperceptible. Do not wait until you start feeling thirsty to start replacing lost fluid. By the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! Your body can absorb only about one quart of fluid per hour. Drink one-half to one full quart of water or sports drink each and every hour you are hiking in the heat. Carry your water bottle in your hand and drink small amounts often.
A: Purified drinking water is only available at a few locations in the canyon along the Corridor trails. NOTE: all pipelines in the canyon are subject to breaks at any time of year, cutting off water supplies. Always carry water with you. Water availability along the Corridor trails:
Visit the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on the availability of drinking water along the Corridor trails. For other locations, water may be obtained directly from the Colorado River, creeks, and potholes, but must be treated before drinking. Be aware that many water sources in the canyon are intermittent and unreliable.
A: There are three common methods for treating water: boiling, iodine tablets, and filters. Because of occasional pipeline failures, it is a good idea to be prepared with one of these methods even when hiking Corridor trails. Hikers should also be prepared to let high sediment loads from the Colorado River settle out overnight during spring floods.
A: Plenty. Eating is equally important to both day hikers and overnight backpackers. Carry high-energy, salty snacks as well as meals. The hike out is much easier when you provide your body with enough calories to support the extreme physical activity you are engaged in. When you make camp, or any time you leave your pack unattended, be sure to hang your food and trash in nylon stuff sacks or place in food storage containers when provided. There are many small animals that will damage your pack and eat your supplies if not secured properly. Do not feed wildlife! Improper food storage and feeding harms wildlife. Violators will be cited. SAFETY QUESTIONS: Q: What should I tell family/friends/employer about my overnight hiking trip? A: Someone should know your hiking itinerary (include name of the trip leader/ permit holder if not you), your rim destination after the hike, and the date of your return home. If you indicate you will contact them once you are out of the canyon, BE SURE YOU DO SO! You are accountable for costs associated with search and rescue efforts on your behalf, and while the National Park Service has your life and safety as its highest priority, it is irresponsible to initiate such efforts frivolously.
A: There is no formal check in or check out service we provide to the public. We encourage hikers to notify a friend or family member of their hiking itinerary.
A: Ranger stations are located at Havasupai Gardens (staffed year-round) and Phantom Ranch (staffed year-round). There are emergency phones at the ranger stations, at the Bright Angel Trail rest houses, and at the junction of the South Kaibab and Tonto trails. These phones are connected to the park's 24-hour dispatch center and do not require coins. There may be times when these phones do not function; be prepared to send a member of your group up or down the trail to request emergency assistance. It is recommended to send two people for help in case of injury of those seeking help. Fatigue is not an emergency.
A: The National Park Service coordinates all emergency rescue operations within the park, which is a discretionary function of the agency. The costs of an inner canyon rescue are covered by the tax payer, however ground ambulance transport and supporting commercial aeromedical transportation is the financial responsibility of the patient.
A: 928-638-7805. Tell your contact person your hiking itinerary (including name of trip leader/permit holder if not you), your rim destination after the hike, and the date of your return home. If you indicate you will contact them once you are out of the canyon, BE SURE YOU DO SO!
A: The canyon is home to a variety of snakes and scorpions, some of which are venomous. A good rule to follow is to always be aware of where you place your hands and feet. Snakebites are rare and occur mostly when people attempt to handle snakes. Do not attempt to capture or otherwise molest any wildlife. If bitten, contact a ranger by signaling or sending someone for help. Although snakes often do not inject venom when they bite, any animal bite should be examined by a physician and monitored for signs of infection. Scorpions are common in the canyon and stings occur with regularity. While scorpion stings are painful, they rarely cause serious health problems. The elderly and very young children are most susceptible to their venom. If stung, apply cool compresses to the sting site (for pain relief) and monitor the victim. It is rare for an evacuation to be necessary. Scorpions are small and their tan color makes them difficult to see. Avoid stings by shaking out your boots and clothing before dressing, wear shoes (even in camp), and shake out your bedding before climbing into it. PERMIT QUESTIONS: Q: Do I need a permit? A: A backcountry permit is required for all overnight use of the backcountry including overnight horseback riding, overnight cross-country ski trips, off-river overnight hikes by river trip members, and overnight camping at rim sites other than developed campgrounds. A backcountry permit is not required for overnight stays at the dormitories or cabins at Phantom Ranch. A permit is not required for day hiking or day horseback riding in the canyon.
A: Since hiking the canyon is a challenge you are ready to try, consider a day hike. Often a day hike can be a safer and more enjoyable choice than an overnight trip into a difficult area that is beyond the capabilities of an single member of your group. Or you could try to obtain a permit by adding your name to the waiting list for last-minute space at the Backcountry Information Center. Participation is limited to WALK-IN VISITORS ONLY and obtaining a same-day permit is unlikely (anticipate a 1 to 3 day - or longer - wait). You may participate in the waiting list for as many consecutive days as you like. However, those on the waiting list must be present at the Backcountry Information Center at 8am (Mountain Standard Time) each day to maintain their position on the waiting list. Be aware that permits are very difficult to obtain during the popular season.
A: No. You are required to follow the itinerary authorized on your backcountry permit. Itineraries are controlled by use limits designed to protect the fragile environment of the inner canyon against the damaging effects of overuse. Additionally, your itinerary gives the National Park Service an indication of where you can be found in the event you are reported overdue.
A: Yes. Regulations regarding backcountry use are enforced by park rangers. Violations may result in fines and/or court appearances. Review all regulations listed on your permit and feel free to ask a ranger for clarification, if needed, before beginning your trip. Each individual hiker on your trip is as accountable as the trip leader for abiding by rules and regulations.
A: The majority of people visiting the canyon's backcountry are seeking a quality wilderness experience. Solitude is often a big part of this experience. When a large group splits into two smaller groups and camps in the same area on the same night, they are in effect circumventing the large group limits put in place to help protect the canyon and provide for a quality experience of other visitors. A large group split into two smaller groups, but camping in the same area on the same night, still typically acts like one large group. A large group split into multiple smaller groups can effectively monopolize campsite space. NOTE: Regulations stipulate that all permits are void when a group obtains multiple permits for the same campground or use area for the same night.
April 2024 and later: $10 per permit or lottery application plus a nightly charge of $15 per person for all below rim areas and $4 per person for all above rim areas.
A: Grand Canyon National Park began charging for overnight backcountry permits in 1997. Backcountry charges were modified in 2015, in February 2022, and most recently in October 2023. For more info on the 2023 increase, see Grand Canyon National Park announces backcountry camping fee increase effective April 2024. The most common backcountry permit is for two people for two nights. For comparison purposes, as of February 2022, the inflation adjusted 1997 charge for a two person/two night permit would be $64.81, the inflation adjusted 2015 charge would be $50, and the 2022 charge (after July 1) is $58. 1997: $20/permit + $4/person/night (with inflation: $35/permit + $7/person/night)
A: The backcountry permit charge is designed to recover the costs of running the backcountry permit operation of Grand Canyon National Park – this operation focuses on overnight backcountry canyon use. Backcountry rangers use education, permits, and advice to promote enjoyment and safe hiking practices that maximize hiker safety and minimize negative effects on the canyon environment.
A: Tax dollars and entrance fee money pay most inner canyon ranger costs, Preventative Search and Rescue operation costs, and costs for maintaining and repairing inner-canyon trails. All these are considered items which benefit the general park visitor. The focus of backcountry permit operations is specifically on providing services to overnight backcountry canyon users, and law and policy require these costs to be paid by the user of the service. The backcountry permit charge is designed specifically to recover backcountry permit operations costs alone.
A: No and yes. Both the sewage treatment plant project at Bright Angel Campground and the transcanyon pipeline project benefit the general park visitor and are therefore being paid for through other funding sources. Backcountry permit charges do NOT pay these costs. However, during this time there will be significant impacts to inner canyon users as campgrounds are temporarily closed to allow necessary work to take place. This will mean fewer backcountry permits can be issued and therefore fewer users will be paying backcountry permit operations recovery costs during this time. Visit the following web pages for more info
OTHER QUESTIONS: Q: What do I do with my trash? A: You are required to carry out all of your trash, including toilet paper, to rim disposal facilities. To do otherwise is littering. When in camp, be sure to hang your trash with your food sack to prevent wildlife from getting into it. Enclose all plastic and aluminum in nylon stuff sacks. Wildlife will eat plastic and aluminum that smells of food, and may die as a result. You are required to carry out all toilet paper and hygiene products in areas that do not have toilet facilities.
A: Probably not. Cell phone service throughout much of Northern Arizona is difficult to maintain. It is nearly impossible to get and keep a signal at Grand Canyon, Marble Canyon, Arizona Strip, and area tribal lands. Satellite phones are being tested with some success in places outside of the narrowest portions of the canyon.
A: South Rim: Mule rides are offered through Xanterra Parks & Resorts, 888-297-2757. There is a two-day round-trip ride to the Colorado River at the canyon floor. Overnight riders stay and eat at Phantom Ranch. If you wish to make a trip into the canyon on mule, plan ahead! A waiting list is maintained for cancellations, after arriving at the park contact the Bright Angel Lodge transportation desk for further information at 928-638-2631. (more info) North Rim: Between May 15, and October 15, Mule rides are offered through Grand Canyon Trail Rides, 435-679-8665. One-hour rides along the rim and half-day rim or inner canyon trips are usually available on a daily basis. Full-day trips into the canyon include lunch. (more info)
A: Reservations are made through Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (Xanterra Parks and Resorts) via an on-line lottery 15 months in advance. Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, is a popular destination for both hikers and mule riders. Overnight dormitories and cabins can be reserved and meals are available for purchase. Advance reservations for meals and lodging at Phantom Ranch are required. The Backcountry Information Center does not make reservations for Phantom Ranch lodging or meals. Overnight guests of Phantom Ranch who have advance reservations do not need backcountry permits.
A: Backcountry use statistics (from overnight backcountry permits). The statistics include:
|
 |
|
Additional backcountry info can be found on the following webpages. |
Last updated: April 17, 2024