A backcountry ranger who’s hiked every mile of trail in the Grand Canyon told me this is the park’s best backpacking trip—that’s a pretty strong endorsement. Then I backpacked this route—after having done several others in the canyon—and agreed with him. For seasoned and strong backpackers, this 74.3-mile traverse from the South Kaibab Trailhead to Lipan Point delivers the complete Grand Canyon experience: remoteness, solitude, wonderful campsites, adventure, and incredible scenery from the South Rim to the Colorado River. It also features major challenges from limited water sources to some scrambling and exposure. (Novice backpackers should start with my e-book “The Best First Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon.”)
This e-guide will tell you all you need to know to take the best multi-day hike in the Grand Canyon—including new-for-2024 detailed instructions on how to obtain a highly competitive backcountry permit at recreation.gov, a day-to-day itinerary, numerous photos of the route (including of the difficult sections), expert advice on the ideal times of year, water sources, travel logistics, tips on gear and clothing, safety, and other details. It also describes several alternative itineraries, most of them shorter.
Watch the video below and see many photos in my blog story about this trip “The Best Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon,” which requires a paid subscription to read in full, or see my “Photo Gallery: The Grand Canyon’s Best Backpacking Trips,” which is free for anyone to read.
Purchase this e-book NOW to begin planning your adventure on the best backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon!
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