Grand Canyon
Expert Tours
Rim to Rim - October 20-23, 2014
Price - $780 per person
Join us for this very special hiking adventure - crossing the Grand Canyon From North Rim to South Rim. This is a 24-mile hike over 4 days and 3 nights. A once in a lifetime experience!
Day 1 - October 20
Day 2 - October 21
We will beging our adventure at 10am by meeting at the North Kaibab Trailhead on the North Rim. There we will make sure everyone has proper gear, food, and water. Then we will begin our descent into the canyon. Today we will be camping at Cottonwood Campground. Our hike will 7 miles and 4,000ft downhill. Along the way we will discuss the geologic layers we are passing. We will be traveling through 500 million years of geologic time. There will be frequent break to stop and learn about what we are seeing. I will also discuss the various ecological changes we see as we pass through 5 climate zones. The hike to Cottonwood will take apporximately 5-6hrs.
Today we will leave Cottonwood headed for Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground (7.5mi.) We will be walking along the beautiful Bright Angel Creek. Running water will be our companion. We will make a short detour of 1.5 to visit the breathtaking Ribbon Falls (photo below.) We will break her efor lunch and enjoy the secluded other-worldly location. It is common to see many types of wildlife around Ribbon Falls such as bighorn sheep, deer, coyotes, fox, lizards, snakes, and a plethora of bird species. There I will discuss the fragile riparian ecosystem. This is truly one of my favorite places within all of Grand Canyon. Then we will continue to Phantom Ranch through what is called "the box" - narrow gorge for about 4 mi filled with rushing water and unique lighting situations for photography.
At Phantom Ranch we will visit the beach along the Colorado River. We have reached the bottom of the canyon. There I will discuss the diverse history of Phantom Ranch at Bright Angel ruins. A puebloan site dated to about 1,000 years ago.
Day 3 - October 22
Now we will begin our ascent to the South Rim. Today we will be ending up at Indian Garden - 4.5mi and 3,000ft uphill. We will take our time because this stretch of hike is strenuous but beautiful. We will pass mines from a bygone era and several small waterfalls along Pipe Creek. There will be frequent breaks to catch our breath and learn about the wonders we are seeing. Once at Indian Garden we will set up camp, have a dinner, and relax in the shade under large cottonwood trees while listening to the running water of Pipe Creek. For sunset we will take the 3mi round-trip trail to Plateau Point (optional, photo below.) This is a spot 1,000ft above the Colorado River and ideal for sunset photography.
Day 4 - October 23
On this final day we will leave Indian Garden and hike the remaining distance (4mi, 3,000ft) to the South Rim. Again, we'll take our time because the hike is strenuous. Once we reach the rim after about 6hrs of hiking (average) we will board the shuttle that will take us back to the North Rim to retrieve our vehicles. First we will gather at the rim to look down upon the places we had been and soak in the adventure that we just had.
the view from Plateau Point
Ribbon Falls
