The park’s grandiose steep-walled canyons rising above the carving Colorado river truly are a sight to behold. But do you have what it takes to join the 1% of the bold ones that actually set out on a 23-mile journey below the rim? Embark on a 5-day Rim to Rim backpacking tour with a group of likeminded women looking for a new challenge in the great outdoors and discover the remoteness of trails meandering through the deep canyon. With the guidance of experienced guides and the camaraderie of your fellow hikers, you will push the limits of your comfort zone, all while creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Rim-to-Rim trek is a 23-mile journey through the heart of Grand Canyon—and who better to accompany you on this adventure than a team of like-minded women. This backpacking trail makes you work hard for its endless riches, such as ombre-hued rock formations and colorful walls, so be prepared to push the limits of your comfort zone. Over the course of several days, you’ll trek from North to South Rim, and with the guidance of experienced guides and the camaraderie of your fellow hikers, you’ll create memories for a lifetime.
Check into your hotel in Kanab after 5 pm. You’ll then have a trip briefing and a gear check with your guide. Meet your trip buddies over a welcome dinner at 7 pm.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kanab
Meet your guide and your group at 9 am at the Dreamland Safari Tours office at 406 East 300 South, Kanab, Utah 84741. You can leave cars or extra bags there. Get transferred to the North Rim and start the backpacking trip! After lunch on the trailhead, continue the descent into the canyon. Establish camp for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camp
Today you’re doing inner canyon explorations. This includes The Box, Bright Angel Creek, and Phantom Ranch. Campsite selection and precise itinerary are dependent on permit allocations.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camp
On the last day in the Canyon, you’ll be ascending to the South Rim. Expect up to 4,400 ft (1,341 m) of vertical gain. You’ll get picked up at the trailhead and returned to Kanab. Check into your hotel for a well-deserved rest. Meet with your team and your guide one last time for a celebratory dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kanab
After breakfast, it’s time to leave. If you’d like to spend more time in the area, just ask your guides for recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast
The itinerary might change slightly based on weather conditions. The guides will monitor the weather forecast and communicate any changes well in advance.
Overnight permits for Grand Canyon backpacking adventures become available three months prior to departure and are competitive in nature. Your guides take care of all permitting requirements on your behalf and will reconfirm the details of your departure as soon as they have permits in hand. In the event that they are unsuccessful in obtaining permits for your scheduled dates and itinerary, they will work with you to establish an alternative and/or provide a refund for any fees already paid.
Please note that commercial guides are not permitted to organize one-day rim-to-rim hikes in the Grand Canyon due to safety concerns. There is a minimum of two days/one night to cross the Canyon, and we would be happy to organize a private trip that meets these regulations, just reach out to us!
Wow! Just wow! Everything I was hoping for and more. The geology was jaw dropping, the trip organization was stellar, and Sunny’s intimate knowledge of the canyon allowed us to see the little secrets that other will miss. But the best part was Sunny’s competency in not only leading the trip, but invoking a camaraderie and chemistry amongst a group of strangers that will inevitably lead to long term friendships. That is is a gift to all of us!
First class organization that cares about getting women into the wilderness with other women. From communication leading up to the trip to the actual in the mountains personal experience, AWExpeditions over the top delivers. I will work with this phenomenal expedition company again and gain.
Included:
Not included:
This five-day rim-to-rim traversal might pose a challenge even to avid adventurers. In general, good physical fitness is required, previous hiking experience is required. Previous backpacking experience is helpful.
As you’ll be hiking for 8-12 miles (13 to 19 km) per day for several days in a row, you must be in great shape. Keep in mind that you’ll also be carrying a +35 lbs (+15 kg) backpack, doing up to 5,000 ft (1,524 m) of vertical ascent per day. The terrain can be rough and very steep at times, so good physical fitness is paramount. Due to the significant elevation changes, you should also prepare for extreme temperature swings and wildly varying conditions on the trail.
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.
Group sizes and prices:
This Grand Canyon backpacking tours 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.
Private trips are possible to arrange! Even if the displayed dates don’t work for you, please contact us—we’ll work with you to arrange a trip for you and your group (even co-ed is possible in this case).
For the safety of your pet, visitors, and wildlife, pets are not allowed on trails below the rim. For more details on regulations and pet-friendly areas, visit the National Park Service website.
There are multiple options to reach Kanab, the city where you’ll stay a day prior to and after the backpacking trip. Most people fly into one of these three major airports: Harry Read International Airport (LAS) near Las Vegas, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). From there, the best option would be renting a car—depending on the chosen airport, it will take you anywhere between 3 and 5.5 hours to get to Kanab.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, which will usually be at your hotel at 5 pm.
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, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Grand Canyon please refer to Grand Canyon National Park Operations Update.
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!
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.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Though unlikely, an expedition may be canceled for any reason prior to departure. In that event, the deposit and expedition fees paid by the participants will be refunded.
In the event of cancellation of a program and upon refund to participants of all program fee payments, the expedition organizer shall be released from any further liability to participants, including but not limited to liability for additional costs participants may have incurred, pre- departure expenses, non-refundable advance purchase air tickets, visa fees, equipment purchases and medical expenses.
Participants agree that beginning on the first date of the program itinerary, there will be no refunds of program fees for any reason whatsoever. Expedition participants agree the cost of any search and rescue undertaken on their behalf will be their financial responsibility. Including costs incurred by the expedition leader, other expeditions, government, and/or other entities.
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
