Grand Canyon National Park Backpacking Trip
Monday Feb 26 to Friday Mar 1
Description: Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! With a week of adventure in Grand Canyon National Park, you are bound to have a story to tell for years to come. On this adventure we will be hiking from the South Rim to Cottonwood Campground and back . Please note that this 28 mile in-and-out trip is considered extremely strenuous and appropriate backpacking gear/experience is a must.
Note: Due to a trail closure announced on 1/30/24, we will not be able to hike to the North Rim as the trail is closed through February. If the trail opens early, we would plan on hiking it Wednesday 2/28, though it is scheduled to reopen on 3/1/24 currently.
Weather: Since we will be traveling down to the canyon floor, early spring weather is to be expected. At the South Rim Visitor Center lows of the 20s can be experienced overnight, but down on the canyon floor we will likely have warmer weather to be expected. If able to go, at the North Rim temperatures will be colder, so plan on warm layers for the day trip on Wednesday! See the temperatures below for what to expect below the Grand Canyon rim (i.e., visitor center): https://www.grandcanyon.net/weather
Route: With the Bright Angel Trail being closed, we will hike the (shorter) South Kaibab Trail. From South Kaibab Trail we will camp at Bright Angel Campground, then Cottonwood Campground later in the week. From the South Rim to Bright Angel it is 7mi, and another 7mi to Cottonwood. Finally we will return to Bright Angel for a night (7mi) before hiking out on Friday March 1st (7mi). The South rim is ~5k feet elevation gain .
Base Camp Info: https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/camp/cpe-bright-angel-campground
Gear: A robust backpacking gear set is required. Water filtration system is required. Warm sleeping bags are a must in case of colder weather. See sample backpacking gear list here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Z9CQT_tMHj2TfinMREuXXcPh4-Qx_Cqi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111366896655914566684&rtpof=true&sd=true
Note: Microspikes and hiking poles are recommended as a precaution if a day to the North Rim becomes possible.
Cost: $70 non-refundable. Note: Meals, transportation and lodging before/after the backpacking excursion will be booked by attendees. These costs are not reflected in this registration.
Trip Leader: Tyler Roosden 651.497.1611
Schedule
Sunday Feb 25
Stay overnight in local motel, check gear. Trip Leader will be staying overnight at the Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon Village.
Monday Feb 26
Park and take shuttle to the trailhead. Estimated 4-5hours hike down 7mi to Bright Angel Campground via the South Kaibab Trail. We will basecamp from this campground for several days. Sunset is at 6:15pm.
Shuttle Information: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-national-park-public-health-update.htm
Tuesday Feb 27
Basecamp at Bright Angel Campground. Day hike the canyon.
Wednesday Feb 28
Pack up camp and hike 7mi to Cottonwood Campground.
If trail closure ends: Leave overnight gear at camp and continue hiking to North Rim. Hike is 7mi with 6k ft elevation gain. Hike back to Cottonwood Campground.
Note: Water will not be running at this time of year at the campground or North Rim Visitor Center so all water will be pumped from a canyon stream.
Thursday Feb 29
Pack up camp and hike 7mi back to Bright Angel Campground. Relax and/or day trip for final evening at camp.
Friday Mar 1
Pack up and hike all gear/materials out of Grand Canyon. Return hike to South Kaibab Trail is 7mi with 5k ft elevation gain. Shuttle back to cars, get dinner and stay overnight at local hotel. Trip Leader will be staying overnight at the Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon Village.
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Permit Information:
The Trip Leader and/or participants can be cited for violating these regulations:
- Permit Requirement: A Backcountry Permit is required for all overnight backcountry use and MUST be in your possession while in the Backcountry. The permit is valid only for the trip leader, campsites, dates, and number of people specified on the permit.
- Campgrounds: Quiet hours are 8pm-6am. No smoking within 100' of campgrounds or 25' of Ranger Stations or Water Utility Buildings.
- Trash: Carry out your trash. Burning, burying, or leaving trash or toilet paper is prohibited.
- Affiliated Groups: Your permit is void if on any night another group affiliated to yours (i.e. same club, organization, group of friends, etc.) is using the same campground or use area. More than one group from the same organization or affiliation camping in the same designated campground or Use Area per night is prohibited.
- Commercial Use: Commercial Use Authorization is required for Commercial Use of the backcountry.
- Fires: Wood or charcoal fires of any type are prohibited. Sterno or fossil fuel backpack stoves are permitted.
- Water: Use of biodegradable or any other type of soap in creeks or camping within 200' of any water source (except at designated sites) is prohibited.
- Wildlife: Feeding, touching, teasing, or intentionally disturbing wildlife is prohibited.
- Rocks: Throwing or rolling rocks or other items down hillsides or mountainsides, into valleys or canyons, or inside caves is prohibited.
- Shortcutting: Leaving a trail or walkway to shortcut between portions of the same trail or walkway, or to shortcut to an adjacent trail is strictly prohibited.
- Preservation: Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing from its natural state any plants, rocks, animals, mineral, cultural or archeological resources, natural features, or signs is prohibited. Walking on, entering, traversing, or climbing on an archeological resource is prohibited.
- Please see rest of the rules available here
