Grand Canyon Backcountry Hiking Tour to Phantom Ranch

• Hiking
• Las Vegas
• Small Group
• Western USA

Itinerary:

Day 1:  Grand Canyon National Park, Historic Route 66

Welcome to Las Vegas! Welcome meeting in the lobby to discuss your back country adventure, meet your guide(s) and fellow hikers. After a short welcome meeting, this tour departs Las Vegas. This morning we make our way to the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. Enjoy a short visit to Williams, AZ on Historic Route 66 for a picnic lunch before arriving at the Grand Canyon mid-afternoon. Williams is a quirky town with great Route 66 memorabilia. This afternoon, enjoy walks and a sunset along the rim of the Grand Canyon before checking into your hotel and meeting for dinner. Dinner is self paid. Get a good nights sleep before tomorrow’s adventure into the canyon!

Overnight Red Feather Lodge Grand Canyon

Day 2: Grand Canyon National Park

Enjoy a hearty included breakfast at the hotel this morning before we descend into the Canyon. The hotel will hold the luggage you don’t need to carry into the canyon – it will be there upon return for check in, night 3.

Depending on trail conditions and weather – you will be descending via one of the two trails into the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.

1. South Kaibab Trail
2. Bright Angel Trail

The South Kaibab Trail is steep and narrow at parts, leading into smoother switchbacks – making your way into the Canyon.

The South Kaibab Trail is a well-defined, well-maintained dirt trail offering wonderful expansive views. This can be a great trail for people with good physical fitness, but the openness of this trail lends itself to more heat exposure during the summer months and little to no protection from passing storms. There is little shade, and what is there comes mostly from the canyon walls at the very beginning of the trail in the early part of day. There is no water along the trail, though there is a spring-fed water filling station at the trailhead during the summer.

This is a decent of 7.1 miles – with an approx of 4800 feet elevation change.

The Bright Angel Trail will always be the way we ascend out of the Grand Canyon.

The Bright Angel Trail is a smooth and less steep ascent/descent into the Canyon – with a water refill station along the way. Long sweeping switchbacks descend into the Canyon with spectacular views.

Either trail lets hikers walk in the footsteps of the canyon’s Indigenous Peoples, miners, and early tourists, as they descend into the canyon’s depths. Offering big views, morning and afternoon shade, rest houses and vault toilets. Drinking water is available in spring months at Indian Gardens/Plateau Point – the halfway point.

This is a total ascent/descent of 8.3 miles – with an approx of 4870 feet elevation change.

Your guides will take ample breaks and set a smooth pace. The advantage of hiking in shoulder season is the cool temps – and fewer crowds. You are in no rush to reach the bottom – today is a smooth hike down. Upon arriving at the base of the canyon, you will arrive at the Silver Bridge – crossing the roaring Colorado River! If we are lucky, we will see some rafters floating by, braving the rapids. From here – you are less than a 1 mile to Phantom Ranch – our night stop. Arriving to Phantom Ranch is a great feeling – and now we can relax!

Overnight at the Group Cabin – it sleeps 10, so we will all share this accommodation as a group – including your guides. Hot showers are available, and bed linens are provided. Time to relax and soak up the incredible views along the Colorado River.

Enjoy an included dinner this evening at Phantom Ranch.

Day 3: Grand Canyon National Park

After an included breakfast, we pack up and depart. Your ascent today is approximately 8.3 miles – with an approx of 4870 feet elevation gain.

This will be a slow and steady climb – with incredible views, and natural beauty along the way. Today’s hike will take anywhere btw 5-8 hours. A phenomenal feeling coming up out of the canyon – seeing every color of the canyon light up as afternoon approaches.

A sandwich style lunch will be provided.

We arrive back to the south rim of the canyon mid to late afternoon – and reward ourselves with a HUGE HIGH FIVE!  Enjoy a farewell meal in the cute town of Tusayan this evening at the park entrance. Dinner is self paid.

Day 4: Grand Canyon and return to Las Vegas

This morning, you have the option to take a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon or enjoy one last stroll along the rim.  Later this morning, we head back to Las Vegas! An en route stop to Seligman to visit Route 66 – for lunch will be our midday break. Lunch is self paid.

This tour ends at approx. 5pm. Take home wonderful memories – and feel accomplished after such a rewarding journey – physically, emotionally and spiritually.