Hiking in Arizona Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Hiking Guide...

Planning a Grand Canyon Hiking Trip

Preparing for your Grand Canyon Hike
Trail Guides, Hiking Tips & Resources

Hiking in the Grand Canyon

If you plan to hike and camp anywhere in Grand Canyon National Park (other than in developed campgrounds) you must obtain a permit from the Backcountry Information Center. The earlier you plan your hike and apply for permits, the more likely you will be to get the dates and destinations you want. You can apply for a permit on the first of the month, four months prior to your start month.

Grand Canyon hiking Hiking in the Grand Canyon can be an ordeal. Hiking the Grand Canyon is very different from most other backpacking experiences, even for avid hikers. Properly prepared, a hike in the Grand Canyon can be an experience you will want to repeat over and over again. But if you are not properly prepared, it will be something you would prefer to forget.

The Grand Canyon is a desert climate. Keep this in mind when you hike. Water and protection from the elements make the difference between life and death. Your trip begins at altitude (7000-8000 feet). You start your trip with a bone-rattling descent to the bottom of the canyon. Your trip will be long and tiring and end with a long, exhausting climb out.

Grand Canyon National Park is comprised of 1.2 million acres that is mostly inaccessible due to steep cliffs, and rough terrain. The Colorado River divides the canyon. Phantom Ranch is the only crossing point for hikers in the Grand Canyon. If you hike from one rim to the other, you will descend and ascend more than 10,000 feet from start to finish.

Day hiking is a rewarding alternative if you cannot get an overnight permit. Day hiking can also be a safer and more enjoyable choice than an overnight trip into the wilderness. However, you still must prepare for a day hike as carefully as you would an overnight trip.

Hiking in the Grand Canyon is rugged, even for experienced hikers. Depending upon how prepared you are and what kind of conditions you encounter in the Grand Canyon, your trip can be an enjoyable vacation or an ordeal.

Grand Canyon Trail Guides & Hiking Tips

Directory of Grand Canyon Hikes
Day Hikes	South Rim Hikes	North Rim Hikes	Summer Hiking	Hiking Tips

Preparing for Your Grand Canyon Hike

Recommended Resources...

See the Trails Before You Ever Lace Up Your Boots in this

Must See DVD

with 63 Minutes of Trail Footage & Animation

Review: January 9, 2007, Amazon.com

If You're Going to Hike - Get this Video! This is an excellent introduction to the trails of the Grand Canyon. Not only do they describe the trails, distances, and difficulty level, but also valuable information on how to hike the trails without hurting yourself. In order to prepare, they provide you with brief guidelines as to your cardio ability, supplies you will need, and what to expect during your hike (including water/rest breaks). They also give some information as to locations for water and lodging. We found this information invaluable in planning our trip!