October 22-26, 2024
Grand Canyon, AZ
 
Mandy Lea Photo is an authorized permittee of the National Park Service.
Kendrick Callaway is Wilderness First Responder,  Adult/Child CPR, AED & Airway Management, and Epinephrine Auto-Injector certified.
Mandy Lea is Basic First Aid and Adult CPR certified
 
PLEASE NOTE: From October 21, 2024 to May 14, 2025 trail and/or campground closures will slightly affect this itinerary. Our last campsite at Havasupai Garden Campground and a large portion of the Bright Angel Trail will be closed. As a result, we'll hike out to the South Rim via the South Kaibab Trail in one day. So, the trip is one day/one night  shorter (3-nights/4-days). We will send all gear unnecessary for day hiking out to the South Rim via mules to lighten our loads for the longer hike. 
 
So, you’ve joined us on one of our shorter Havasupai Garden or Rim-to-River hiking trips and want to see even more breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon? That, or you consider yourself to be in pretty good hiking shape and want to skip straight to a more difficult hike? Either way, our Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim backpacking adventure will show you just how “grand” the Grand Canyon really is by hiking across it! The average distance between the north and south rims of the Canyon may only be about 10 miles, but we’ll have to hike a lot farther than that on our journey from one side to the other—over 29 miles to be exact (including two optional hikes)! Those 29 miles include 7,100 vertical feet of descent and 5,700 vertical feet of ascent! Join Kendrick and Mandy on a guided backpacking and camping trip to the depths of (and across!) the Grand Canyon where we’ll spend five days and four nights surrounded by a natural beauty that most tourists can only dream of seeing!
 
Our route will take us across the width of the Grand Canyon via two of the main Corridor Trails—the North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails. First, we’ll spend a night about halfway down the North Kaibab Trail at Cottonwood Campground where we’ll take an optional hike to a gorgeous waterfall. Next, we’ll stop at the iconic Phantom Ranch nestled at the bottom of the Canyon, where we’ll have two nights in the nearby Bright Angel Campground and a full rest day to explore. On our way back to the South Rim, we’ll spend our last night at Havasupai Garden Campground and enjoy our last sunset with a side-trip to one of the best inner canyon views there is!
 
This backpacking and camping trip gives us the chance to share the often-neglected, yet breathtakingly scenic, North Rim of the Grand Canyon in addition to the more popular South Rim. Backpacking across the Grand Canyon will test your limits and is intended for those in good physical condition. Including all optional hikes, we’ll descend nearly 7,100 vertical feet and ascend nearly 5,700 vertical feet while hiking about 29 miles over five days. This may sound daunting, but with the right preparation most people can do this.
 
If you’re worried about this itinerary being too much then check out our shorter itineraries like our “Havasupai Garden and Plateau Point” or “Rim-to-River” trips!
 
On this trip we will provide more services than your typical guided backpacking and camping experience. Our goal is to take people to a place they might not be able to reach on their own and share our knowledge and love of backpacking, hiking, and camping.
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What’s Included:
Guiding services from a company operating legally within Grand Canyon National Park since 2019. We have all required Commercial Use Authorizations and backcountry camping permits.
Pre-trip review of each individual’s backpack and all the gear they intend to bring.
Transportation from the South Rim to the North Rim via shuttle
4 nights of backcountry camping reservations below the rim of the Canyon
5 days of hiking below the rim of the Canyon
All meals while backpacking
Including at least one meal at historic Phantom Ranch Canteen
We will cook all meals for clients outside of Phantom Ranch meals
All necessary camping/hiking gear, including:
Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping bags
Inflatable sleeping pads
Inflatable camp pillows
Trekking poles
Dinnerware kits (collapsible plate, collapsible coffee mug, long-handles spork)
 
What We Include that Other Guide Companies Typically DON'T Include:
1 night shared accommodation at the North Rim
Dinner at the North Rim
Breakfast at the North Rim 
Meals at historic Phantom Ranch Canteen (bottom of Grand Canyon)
We will set up and take down camp every time for clients using our gear. We will take the time to teach anyone how to do this, if interested.
Optional portering of tent camping gear (see below)
Celebratory drinks at the bottom of the Canyon (beer, wine, and/or whiskey)! 
 
What’s Optional (Available for an Extra Fee)—If you decide later that you’d like to use our portering services we can arrange payment or you can reserve at the time of reserving your spot:
 
+$200— Portering (your guides will carry these items) of tent camping gear throughout the trip on a first come, first served basis (depending on space/weight constraints in guides backpacks). This includes:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Inflatable sleeping pad
Inflatable camp pillow
Note: If a client insists on using their own gear and having it portered we reserve the right to refuse carrying it based on size and weight. Our gear is REALLY lightweight and packs down small, which allows for us to offer portering services.
 
What’s NOT included:
National Park entry fees
Transportation to/from Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)
Any transportation within the park that is not on the shuttle bus
Accommodation on/near the South Rim of the Canyon before/after backpacking trip
Personal snacks for during the hike
Any food/drinks purchased before entering or after exiting the Canyon (even if we meet as a group for these meals), excluding the dinner and breakfast provided at the North Rim
Any items for sale at Phantom Ranch not included in the provided meals (snacks, beverages, souvenirs, beer, wine, etc.)
Portering services of all non-camping gear (personal clothing items, water, snacks, cameras, miscellaneous gear, etc.)
Gratuity for your guides (optional)
 
Group Size Limit: 4-5 clients plus 1-2 guides
(Note: Group size will be determined by the type of backcountry camping permit we are issued from the National Park. We reserve the right to cancel any trip that doesn’t meet our required minimum number of clients. Most of our trips will be limited to 4 clients and 2 guides.)
 
Bring a friend (or three!) and save!
See special group pricing. If you would like to pay separetly, contact us!
 
Read our Terms and Conditions before registering for any workshop