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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.

  • Journey through the heart of the canyon

    1.8 billion years old display of geological marvel and colorful landscapes

  • Trek across the canyon’s vast expanse

    Treat yourself to profound solitude an otherworldly sights with support of other women

  • Excellent foray into remote backcountry travel

    Set up your camp in one of the 7 natural wonders and sleep under the twinkling stars

Itinerary

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 KanabKanab city, Utah

  • 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: CampGrand Canyon hiking, 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: CampHiker on the rim of Grand Canyon

  • 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 KanabA hiker on a cliffside trail in the Grand Canyon

  • 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

Get free trip brochure
Download All-Women Rim-to-Rim Backpacking Adventure in the Grand Canyon Brochure
The brochure contains:
Adventure and location overview, itinerary, available dates, what's included, how to prepare, and much more.
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Talk with us and let one of our adventure experts help you plan your perfect adventure.

Meet your guides

Sunny Stroeer
5.00
Sunny Stroeer
Lead guide and the owner of AWExpeditions
Lead guide and the owner of AWExpeditions
Sunny led a career-oriented life as an international strategy consultant with a Harvard MBA until a formative adventure on Aconcagua made her drop everything and take on the outdoors full-time. Before long, her exploits on high-altitude hiking and climbing routes saw her breaking speed records worldwide. When she’s not traveling and setting FKTs left and right, Sunny organizes guided adventures, celebrates the sporting life and promotes female empowerment through her writing and photography.
AWExpeditions
5.00
AWExpeditions
AWExpeditions organizes mountaineering, high altitude and backcountry adventures for women, by women. AWE decreases barriers of entry to the world of big mountain adventures for women from all walks of life by providing a platform for women and organization adventures in all-female or predominantly-female environments. Today, AWE runs all-women's (and a few co-ed) trips across five continents, with more destinations in the works. The Paria Canyon Backpack is a collaboration between AWExpeditions and Kanab, UT-based Dreamland Safari Tours and the Shasta glacier course is produced in partnership with Shasta Mountain Guides.
Dreamland Safari Tours
5.00
Dreamland Safari Tours
Dreamland Safari Tours
Dreamland Safari Tours have been guiding outdoor enthusiasts along Utah’s most spectacular trails since 2001. Through the last 20 years, Dreamland received customer accolades and grew to become the largest and most comprehensive tour company in the Kanab Area. Paul and Sunny, current owners of Dreamland, are lifelong backcountry adventurers with a long history of exploring the Southwest. They are excited to introduce you to the secrets of the spectacular desert landscapes in Dreamland’s backyard.
5.00 (2 reviews)
Tina Q (source: Trip Advisor)

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!

Andrea L (source: Trip Advisor)

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.

Things to know

  • What you get on this adventure:

      • Experienced, medically-trained, Wilderness First Responder hiking guides with extensive knowledge of the area
      • 5 days of backpacking through the Grand Canyon
      • Hotel accommodation in Kanab or Tusayan pre and post trip (double occupancy—inquire about single occupancy)
      • Trailhead transport from and to Kanab or Tusayan
      • Lightweight backpacking tents (unless you prefer to bring your own)
      • Team cooking, camping, and first-aid equipment
      • Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trail (possible to accommodate dietary restrictions)
      • Water purification and/or water resupply
      • Satellite messenger communication in case of emergency
      • Human waste bags (where required)
      • Pre-trip gear & training advice (as desired)
      • Campsite fees and overnight permits
      • Trekking poles

    What’s not included:

      • Transportation to Arizona
      • Guide gratuities — optional
  • This five-day rim-to-rim traversal might pose a challenge even to avid adventurers. 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:

      • Backpack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 55-60L bag)
      • Sleeping bag (rated to 20 degrees or warmer)
      • Sleeping pad
      • Personal snacks
      • Personal bowl, cup, and spoon
      • Water bottle or hydration bladder (4L capacity)
      • Hiking attire
      • Hiking boots
      • Spare clothes for layering
      • Down jacket
      • 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.

  • Group sizes and prices:

      • For this backpacking tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1. The maximum group size is 9 guests.
      • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.
      • The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

    This Grand Canyon backpacking tours 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.
      • Minors 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.

  • Secure your spot for next year with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you can pick preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out.

    For regular dates, a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your place is due booking. The balance of the program fee is due 90 days prior to the starting date of the program. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the following cancellation policy applies:

      • If the Client cancels the trip more than ninety (90) calendar days prior to departure, Client is entitled to a full refund of the trip price less the non-refundable $500 deposit. The deposit remains transferable to another AWE departure within 24 months of your original trip departure date.
      • If the Client cancels the trip sixty-one to eighty-nine (61-89) calendar days prior to departure, Client is entitled to a 25% refund on payments made above deposit. The deposit remains transferable to another AWE departure.
      • If the Client cancels the trip zero to sixty (0-60) calendar days prior to departure, Client is not entitled to a refund. The deposit is not transferable to another AWE departure.

    In some cases payments may be transferable; if you are required to forfeit your spot, you may find an acceptable replacement in which case your deposit and fees would transfer to your replacement without penalty.

    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.

  • 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!

Have more questions? Read our FAQ, or Talk with us
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