Only 1% out of 6 million people visiting the Grand Canyon venture below the rim. And out of that 1%, only the most fearless ones dare to undertake the Deer Creek and Thunder River loop. This arduous, 29-mile journey isn’t for the faint of heart—it involves steep switchbacks, nimble scrambling, and wildly varying weather conditions. But the gems you’ll come across on this 6-day backpacking journey are well worth it. Picture the archetypal amber-tinted rocks and walls of Grand Canyon, but with a high-powered flow from the Thunder River rushing through surreal Deer Creek narrows, gushing waterfalls, and refreshing pools. If you want to witness the remoteness of the GC with far less people than on other trails, this one’s for you.
On this 6-day guided hiking tour, you’ll get to journey deep into remote areas of the Grand Canyon—but you’ll have to work for it. To complete the Deer Creek and Thunder River Loop, be prepared for almost 30 miles with more than 12,000 feet of vertical change, all the while coping with dramatic temperature changes and demanding traverses. Don’t get discouraged, though, because here’s our offer: in the middle of red rocks, you’ll find towering waterfalls, cool swimming holes, lush mossy walls, and sinuous creeks. We’ll also add in three nights spent under the starry skies. Up for a challenge? Sign up for this trip—but only if you’re a truly seasoned, energetic hiker.
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 Indian Hollow and start the backpacking trip! After lunch on the trailhead, continue the descent down to the Esplanade. Establish camp for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camp
Hiking: ~8 miles / ~13 km
Day 3 and 4 will be similar—after waking up in the Canyon, have breakfast and pack up your gear. Both days will include 8 to 10 miles of hiking, visiting Deer Creek, Tapeats Creek, Thunder River, and the Colorado River. Campsite selection and precise itinerary are flexible based on permit allocations.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Camp
Hiking: ~8-10 miles a day / ~13-16 km a day
This is the last day you’re waking up in the Canyon. After breakfast, hike out to Indian Hollow. In the afternoon, you’ll get picked up and transferred back to Kanab. Check into your hotel and attend the celebratory dinner. After 4 days of challenging hiking, enjoy your well-deserved rest!
you deserved it!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Hiking: ~8 miles / ~13 km
Elevation gain: 1,000 ft / 305 m
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
Nicholas gave a great tour! Was an amazing experience! Definite must do if in area! He’s super knowledgeable of the area and history! The sights were spectacular!
Sunny and Paul run a professional and customer oriented business and that’s so hard to find these days. They provided an overnight stay for our group that turned a rugged camping event into a lovely experience for us. Brett cooked dinner and breakfast for us that was amazing! Anna Belle and Brett drove us to the site safely and comfortably. They were charming, educational (provided great information about the area), and took great care of our group. We loved the experience and will use them again!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The Grand Canyon backpacking tour is suitable for backpackers with prior experience only. You must be in excellent cardio shape and able to carry +35 lbs (+15 kg) for four trail days with 8-12 miles (13 to 19 km) and up to 5,000 ft (1,524 m) of vertical ascent each day.
If you’re new to hiking, check out our beginner-friendly, day-long hiking tours in the Grand Canyon. If you want to give backpacking a go, check out these multi-day hiking tours in Grand Canyon ideal for intermediate and expert hikers. Another fantastic choice is the beginner-friendly and all-women hiking tour in the GC. If you’re looking for a short hike and a cruise through the Canyon in your comfy SUV, these luxury Grand Canyon tours are a top choice.
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:
Hiking the Deer Creek & Thunder River 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.
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, whether that’s at the guide shop, the hotel you’re staying at, or a predetermined location.
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 Arizona and Utah, please refer to Arizona’s COVID-19 information for travelers and Utah’s COVID-19 traveler information.
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!
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 30% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure. Should your guides be unsuccessful in obtaining permits for your trip, you are entitled to a full refund of your deposit minus the booking fees. If the client cancels the booking…
Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.
Once in a lifetime experience. Mike is the most incredible tour guide you can wish for. Great energy, accommodating spirit, very knowledgeable and super enthusiastic. I highly recommend his services.