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All-Women Grand Canyon Hiking Challenge

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.

Adventure highlights

  • 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

Itinerary

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.

    Flagstaff, Arizona.
  • 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

    Two hikers in the Grand Canyon.
  • 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

    Backpacking through the Grand Canyon.
  • 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

    Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.
  • 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

    All-women hiking tour in the Grand Canyon.
  • 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.

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Meet your guides

Alyssa Whoa
5.00
Alyssa Whoa
Originally from NYC, Alyssa graduated from college and moved to Maui to experience a change of scenery and culture. When she hiked through the Pacific Crest Trail, she fell in love with backpacking. Ever since then, Alyssa’s been spending a lot of time in Antarctica, working for a research station at the South Pole. When she’s not in Antarctica, Alyssa tries to spend her time outdoors with other adventurous souls to experience some of the most pristine backcountry areas on Earth.
Kate Hill
5.00
Kate Hill
Kate's love for being on trail stems from a childhood spent in the Sierra as well as her history as a runner. Through she has recently dipped her toes in the world of ultra running, Kate’s primary focus is backpacking. She considers backpacking the John Muir Trail as a life-changing experience, as she then decided to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and many other multi-week trails around the West. Kate finds herself drawn to guiding because she can fuse her main career, teaching, with her love for backpacking, and helping people experience the beauty of the Sierras is a dream come true.
Dara Kelly
5.00
Dara Kelly
Having grown up in suburbia, Dara escaped to Vermont’s Green Mountains at age 19. After spending several summers leading backpacking, canoeing, and rock climbing trips in New England, Dara moved out to California to work as a river guide. Since then she’s spent over a decade working in remote wilderness areas in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Alaska, and the Southwest. She’s passionate about breaking down barriers to the outdoors and providing transformative experiences that feel both inclusive and supportive for all.
TSX
5.00
TSX
TSX has been guiding people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels ever since 2010. Among several other locations, they trek across Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Mt. Whitney, and the Grand Canyon. TSX’s goal is to create an experience where individuals with limited or no backpacking skills can safely and confidently venture into the rugged beauty and tranquility of the US backcountry.
5.00 (3 reviews)
Isabella S. Ye (source: Guide’s web)

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!

Monica Calhoun (source: Guide’s web)

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!

Jill Lau (source: Guide’s web)

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!

Things to know

  • 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:

      • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • 4 days of hiking through the Grand Canyon
      • Accommodations for 3 nights in camp
      • Roundtrip transportation between Flagstaff and the trailhead
      • Pack-check the night prior to your departure
      • Group camping gear and equipment
      • All meals and snacks while in the backcountry
      • Backpack, tent, sleeping bag & pad (if needed)

    What’s not included:

      • Transportation to Arizona
      • Meals before and after the tour
      • Accommodation pre- or post-trek
      • Guide gratuities — optional
  • 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:

      • Backpack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 30-40L bag)
      • Tent, sleeping bag & pad (will be provided upon request)
      • Hiking poles — optional
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
      • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Waterproof rain jacket
      • Sunhat
      • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
      • Headlamp or flashlight
      • Sunglasses
      • Camera — optional (but recommended)

    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:

      • For this all-women tour in the Grand Canyon, the maximum group size is 9 people with 2 professional hiking guides.
      • It takes a minimum of 2 persons for this tour to run.
      • The cost does not decrease as the group grows. 

    Hiking in the Grand Canyon can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

    Min. age requirements:

      • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
      • Women younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

    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!

      • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure anytime in case the dates don’t suit you.
      • Once the dates are set, you can confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total amount.
      • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.

    Cancellations

    Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

    Basic

      • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
      • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

    Flexible

      • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
      • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.

    Super Flexible

      • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
      • For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
      • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  • 57hours partners with Redpoint Travel Protection, offering you a fully integrated program with a single point of contact for all your needs, from emergency services to travel assistance and protection claims. We highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive protection policy from Redpoint, which will protect you both before and during your travels. Before your departure, your investment is protected by the trip cancellation benefit. Once you depart, your policy provides coverage for trip interruption, medical assistance and rescue, baggage loss, trip delay, and more. Once you complete booking with 57hours, we'll create bespoke quote for you (and your group), making sure you're fully protected for the adventure ahead.
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