A unique magnet that needs no introduction, the Grand Canyon attracts millions of visitors and tens of thousands of avid hikers every year. While most crowds flock to the observation decks of this six-million-year-old wonder, you get to venture deep into the canyon in the company of other daring women—spend your nights in camps and your rest time in the river! Over the course of 4 days, you’ll tread the Tonto Trail and discover the hidden beauties of the South Rim: at one point, you’ll simultaneously see down a 1,000 ft deep inner gorge, thousands of feet up to the rim and miles across the Canyon divide. Photos don’t do it justice, so the only thing that’s left to do is to pack up and read more about why the Grand Canyon offers some of the best hikes in the USA.
Move through the rugged terrain with adventurous, like-minded women
Swim in the meandering Colorado River, sleep under the starry skies
Witness the unparalleled beauty of this geologic marvel
As one of the most coveted hiking spots in the world, Grand Canyon is Arizona’s undisputed treasure. This is your chance to hike through a portion of the GC in the company of like-minded women. You’ll be backpacking through the South Rim and the Tonto Trail for four days—the terrain will be challenging, but the dips in the Colorado River, sleeping under the stars, and unbeatable views will be infinitely rewarding!
Note: Trek dates may be adjusted +/- one day until permits are finalized 4 months in advance of departure date or when Grand Canyon permits are issued.
On the evening before your Grand Canyon trek start date, you’ll meet your guide at 6 pm for a one-hour group orientation and pack-check in the main lobby of Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ. Those who have requested backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags will receive them on time. You’ll also get to know your team, preview the trail, and talk about safety. If it is expected to be very hot in the Canyon during the first day of your trip, your guides may provide an option to camp near the Rim to ensure an early morning trail start before the sunrise.
Gather at 5 am in the lobby of Little America Hotel in Flagstaff. Head out to the trail where your hike begins with a steep 3,000-foot (915 m) descent toward the Tonto Platform, an inner plateau within the Canyon roughly about 1,000 ft (305 m) above the Colorado River. This is typically the most difficult day of the trek—you’ll find narrow sections with significant exposure, steep descents over loose rock, and waist-high drops that require scooting or scrambling. Expect 8-10 hours of hiking over the distance of 7-9 miles (11-14.5 km). Keep in mind that water sources are usually unreliable until you reach the camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On day two the trail typically undulates until you drop below the Tonto’s ledge, above the gorge floor, and into one of the many side canyons and washes that lead to the Colorado River. A quick descent will bring you to the creek bed floor, which you’ll follow out to the Colorado River and camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After a leisurely evening, or morning by the river, retrace your steps and then continue up and onto the Tonto Trail. This day typically offers some of the most impressive views of the Grand Canyon. Simultaneously you’ll see a thousand feet down into the inner gorge, thousands of feet up to the Canyon’s rim and miles across the Canyon divide.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
An early start before the sunrise will move you up, and off the Tonto, and then into the multi-layered, multi-colored walls of the Grand Canyon as you climb almost 4,000 ft to exit the trail. After celebrating as a team, return to Flagstaff.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
The exact guides featured on the listing are not guaranteed to lead the tour. If unavailable at the time, they will be replaced by a guide that’s available.
The Grand Canyon Challenge has been truly an amazing experience that I’ll remember for life! This is my first backpacking trip, and I’ve never carried a 30+lbs pack ever before. Looking back, I cannot believe I completed this challenge and can’t help but feeling so proud of myself. There so many things to remember for this trip – spectacular views, remote and rugged trails, awesome Team 4 Fab 5 members who supported me all the way through, and our guide who ensured my safety all along, cheered me up when I was pushing hard, and cooked awesome meals for all of us. I can’t wait to go out with TSX Challenge again for the next adventure!
The trip was first rate from beginning to end. I hiked the Grand Canyon with a group of women from Over50Outside who were all participating in #52hikechallenge. Several had never camped or backpacked before, a couple were veteran backpackers and there was everything in between. To a person, we all had an awesome time. Great views, challenging terrain and awesome food. Hiking with a backpack that was about 32 lbs did present its challenges-especially on the downhill. The heat also provided some challenges-bring plenty of electrolytes. You really couldn’t find a better organization for a backcountry challenge!
AMAZING. EPIC. What a great time in Grand Canyon with TSX. It was my first time backpacking and camping although I run quite a bit of trails. It was difficult for sure but the team was there every step of the way. Great food, company, but most of all support to get through the hard parts. As I reached the top I was overwhelmed with tears as to my (our) accomplishment. I highly recommend TSX and plan on doing another trip in the future!
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Grand Canyon, Arizona, please refer to Arizona’s COVID-19 updates and Grand Canyon’s public health updates.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The best thing about this all-women hiking trip in the Grand Canyon is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. This tour is welcoming to all skill levels, but keep in mind that you’ll be hiking up to 9 miles (14.5 km) a day while carrying a 30-40 lbs (14-18 kg) daypack. There’s also going to be an elevation change, ranging from about 1,000 to 4,000 ft (305 to 1,210 m), depending on the day.
If you’re looking for a different itinerary, we recommend checking out our multi-day hiking tours in the Grand Canyon, hiking along the Hermit Trail, or day tours in the GC.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Make sure not to bring unnecessary items which will only make your backpacks heavier, as you’ll be carrying your backpacks for 4 days straight.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in the Grand Canyon can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Flagstaff, your starting point of the adventure, most people fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 2 hours away from Flagstaff. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. Alternatively, if you’re able to, you can fly into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, just 10 minutes away from the city.
You’ll meet your guide and your group the night prior to the trek start date at 6 pm in the main lobby of Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ. Make sure you make proper arrangements to arrive on time the day prior to your tour start and to book your accommodation.
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Secure your early bird spot with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible