Itinerary
Monday, May 12, 2025
Fly or drive into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
We will pick you up and bring you to Guide Emeritus Deb's house.
Your flight must arrive by 1PM in order to get to the park in a timely manner.
If you cannot arrive early, please let us know and we may be able to make arrangments.
We will assemble at:
Guide Deb's House, 12419 S Suki Ct Phoenix, AZ 85044
Make your own trail mix bar from our copious assortment of ingredients
Your spare bag(s) will be left at Guide Deb's house for safekeeping
At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD
Shuttling will take about 4 hours
Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner
at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)
Camp at TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Board a National Park shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead
Start hiking at South Kaibab Trailhead, elevation 7260'
Hike 1.5 miles to Cedar Ridge, elevation 6120'
Hike 1.5 miles to Skeleton Point, elevation 5220'
Hike 1.4 miles to the Tip Off, elevation 4000'
Hike 2.6 miles to Bright Angel Campground, elevation 2480'
Camp at Bright Angel Campground, elevation 2480'
Miles today: 7.0 miles. Total to date: 7.0 miles
Possible Bailout: South Rim
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Hike 0.4 miles to Phantom Ranch, elevation 2546'
Hike 5.2 miles to Ribbon Falls, elevation 3720'
Have lunch near Ribbon Falls. Watch your pack. The area has squirrels that will
chew through it looking for trail mix, trail bars or any other food. After a flood in
2017 washed away the bridge, access to Ribbon Falls may be difficult so lunch might be on the trail.
Hike 1.6 miles to the Cottonwood Campground, elevation 4080'
Camp at Cottonwood Campground, elevation 4080'
Miles today: 7.2 miles. Total to date: 14.2 miles
Possible Bailout: North Rim one day away
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Hike 1.4 miles to the Pumphouse Ranger Station, elevation 4600', reliable water found here
Hike 0.7 miles to Roaring Springs, elevation 5220'
Hike 3.0 miles to the Supai Tunnel, elevation 6800'. There is a water faucet
here, but it may not have been turned on yet.
Hike 1.7 miles to the North Kaibab Trailhead, elevation 8241'
Hike 1.0 miles to the North Rim Campground, elevation 8241'
Camp at North Rim Frontcountry Campground, elevation 8241' (Note: Temperatures at
this elevation might reach freezing even in May)
There are bath houses with sinks and flush toilets at the North Rim Campground as well as water faucets.
Miles today: 7.8 miles. Total to date: 22.0 miles
Possible Bailout: North Rim
Friday, May 16, 2025
Option 1, Tri-Rim
Hike 1.0 miles to the North Kaibab Trailhead, elevation 8241'
Hike 1.7 miles to the Supai Tunnel, elevation 6800'
Hike 3.0 miles to Roaring Springs, elevation 5220'
Hike 0.7 miles to the Pumphouse Ranger Station, elevation 4600'
Hike 1.4 miles to the Cottonwood Campground, elevation 4080'
Camp at Cottonwood Campground, elevation 4080'
Miles today: 7.8 miles. Total to date: 29.8 miles
Possible Bailout: North Rim
Option 2, Rim to Rim
Take the 7:30AM
Trans Canyon Shuttle
to the South Rim, arriving at 11:30AM
Set up camp at Mather Campground, site(s) TBD
From camp, day-hike about 3.0 miles on the Rim Trail going by the Visitor Center, Mather Point,
Yavapai Point and Grandeur Point before returning to Mather Campground
Miles Today: 3.0. Total to Date: 24.0
Possible Bailout: South Rim
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Option 1, Tri-Rim
Hike 1.6 miles to Ribbon Falls, elevation 3720'
Hike 5.2 miles to Phantom Ranch, elevation 2546'
Hike 0.4 miles to Bright Angel Campground, elevation 2480'
Hike 1.5 miles to River Resthouse, elevation 2480'
Hike 3.2 uphill miles to Havasupai Gardens Campground, elevation 3800'
Camp at Havasupai Gardens Campground, elevation 3800'
Miles today: 11.9 miles. Total to date: 41.7 miles
Possible Bailout: North Rim
Option 2, Rim to Rim
No water today. We must carry 8 liters each.
Take park shuttle to Grandview Point, elevation 7399'
Hike 2.9 downhill miles to Horseshoe Mesa, elevation 5250'
Hike about 1.0 round trip miles to explore Cave of the Domes, the only cave in the park that
doesn't require a special permit / license to enter.
Camp at Horseshoe Mesa, zone BF5, site TBD, elevation 4900'.
Reliable water can be found at Page Spring /
Miner's Spring (same thing) nearly a mile away from where we camp, if necessary
Miles today: 3.9 miles. Total to date: 27.9 miles
Possible Bailout: South Rim
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Option 1, Tri-Rim
Hike 4.9 steep uphill miles to the Bright Angel Trailhead, elevation 6860'
Miles today: 4.9 miles. Total to date: 46.6 miles
Option 2, Rim to Rim
Hike 3.0 grueling uphill miles to the Grandview Trailhead, elevation 7400'
Miles today: 3.0 miles. Total to date: 30.9 miles
Possible Bailout: Grandview Trailhead
Options 1 & 2
End of Hike
Shuttle to Flagstaff for Dinner and Awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price). Suggestion:
Lumberyard Brewing Company
Shuttle back to Phoenix. Pick up off-trail items / luggage at Guide Deb's House
Shuttle back to local hotel:
TBD, To Be Determined
Gather your off-trail items from storage
Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)
Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)
This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at
the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew
and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if
this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.
Monday, May 19, 2025
Either take a free airport shuttle or we will drop you at the airport
in the morning or we will provide a shared cab/uber for you.
Back to top