Grand Canyon rim to rim

[Elkfitness]

Our info and story from last year's R2R2R hike: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/2024-death-hike

Great write up!


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[Macintosh]

Wife and I hiked it with some friends a few years ago from the south, but we just did a day trip. It’s a cool hike, the scale is really something. Would be fun to have a day or three to explore down in the canyon. We went in early april, it was near freezing at the rim and hot down near the river. I have to think it would be pretty brutal in september.

 

[mtnbiker208]

South rim to phantom ranch and back in a day. Geology field trip and i signed up for the hike. I remeber an early start and a late finish. I think it was either 1989 or 90. That same hike would kill my knees today.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Hiking the Grand Canyone from Rim to Rim!!?? That has to be tough and dangerous, that's........ one hell of a rim job!! I know, I know, I will see myself out now! lol

 

[dsotm]

Hammock is a no-go in the canyon and September weather will be absolutely brutal to the point you could actually die

 

[Bassman]

I've done Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim but we did not camp in the bottom. We hiked the whole thing in a day and then turned around and went back the next morning (they don't recommend doing this). Staying in the bottom at the designated camp sites requires planning and a bit of luck during the better weather. No hammock spots

The scale of the Canyon is impressive, it's really something to see.

 

[displacedtexan]

I do appreciate everyone's concern about the heat, but late September is the only window that's feasible for all four of us.

North Rim closes Oct 15th, which is me and him bear hunting.

And we're people who are physically capable of setting forms, pouring concrete, framing, and roofing in dangerous heat.

 

[Cannonball]

I got roped into R2R June 5, doing North Kaibab to Bright Angel in one day. We have a group of about 5. Kinda wish we were doing an overnight so I could use some backcountry hunt gear

Ive been watching a bunch of videos about the hike and they have said there are no provisions for hammocks below the rim

 

[AggieOutdoors16]

Several buddies of mine and I did R2R in Sept. starting at the south rim and finishing at the north rim. We are all in our very early 30’s and stay in really good shape.

I am not ashamed to say that it was way more physically demanding than we expected it to be. We started on a Thursday at 10:30 am and finished Friday morning at 3:30 am. The start time was not ideal, but was forced due to the logistics of everyone traveling in from out of state and time-constraints of the overall trip.

Make sure you have a good game plan for carrying enough water and that overall you feel good about your physical condition, because once you’re in the bottom, the only way back out is hiking up one way or the other.

It is an experience I would love to have again, however, I wouldn’t do it unless I trained to be in condition to run it or if I planed ahead enough to secure a camping spot in the bottom to break it up. We did most of the hike past Phantom Ranch under headlamp and therefore didn’t get to take in the views of the North Rim area, which in my opinion, are the more scenic of the hike.

Good luck, and make sure to follow this thread up with your experience!

 

[displacedtexan]

I got roped into R2R June 5, doing North Kaibab to Bright Angel in one day. We have a group of about 5. Kinda wish we were doing an overnight so I could use some backcountry hunt gear

Ive been watching a bunch of videos about the hike and they have said there are no provisions for hammocks below the rim

That's part of why we're doing it in 2 days, fly rods and gear we have already spent money on!

You're better at finding the videos than I am! Everything I've found is about the hike, or Phantom Ranch/using an outfitter.

 

[displacedtexan]

Several buddies of mine and I did R2R in Sept. starting at the south rim and finishing at the north rim. We are all in our very early 30’s and stay in really good shape.

I am not ashamed to say that it was way more physically demanding than we expected it to be. We started on a Thursday at 10:30 am and finished Friday morning at 3:30 am. The start time was not ideal, but was forced due to the logistics of everyone traveling in from out of state and time-constraints of the overall trip.

Make sure you have a good game plan for carrying enough water and that overall you feel good about your physical condition, because once you’re in the bottom, the only way back out is hiking up one way or the other.

It is an experience I would love to have again, however, I wouldn’t do it unless I trained to be in condition to run it or if I planed ahead enough to secure a camping spot in the bottom to break it up. We did most of the hike past Phantom Ranch under headlamp and therefore didn’t get to take in the views of the North Rim area, which in my opinion, are the more scenic of the hike.

Good luck, and make sure to follow this thread up with your experience!

Thanks! I'm guessing y'all did it non stop? What part of September? We're going to do North to South, make the hike out the shorter one.

The rest before heading up is part of why we're spending the night. Especially for my wife (only one with an office job). We also have a pretty serious training program. That she's already starting on!

We also want to do all of the hiking during daylight, even though we've all done it at night. We want to see this!

Thanks for the tips/reminders!

I like your "only way out is up", it's amazing how many people forget that. Last year me and my fly fishing buddy hiked down the Rio Grande gorge to fish... Halfway up he was surprised it was so long and hard to get up. "Yeah, it's the exact opposite of what we hiked down to get here."

 

[AggieOutdoors16]

We did it on Sept. 5th/6th.

I think North to South is the better option. Are you planning to drive to the South, park and shuttle to the North? Make sure you book your shuttle well in advance as well.

We initially planned on doing R2R2R, but after doing it straight through our bodies were too shot for the return trip the next day and we didn’t have the time to give ourselves a rest day then do it. We essentially found ourselves stranded on the North Rim trying to find a ride.

I think splitting it up into two days is a perfect idea and very doable.

 

[AggieOutdoors16]

I forgot to mention that if there is any way for you to avoid “The Box” at the hottest part of the day, then I would do so. We hit it right around 4 pm and it was brutal. Someone on the North Rim told us that it was 115-120 degrees when we were in there, although I couldn’t verify that exactly, I know it was brutally hot.

 

[displacedtexan]

We did it on Sept. 5th/6th.

I think North to South is the better option. Are you planning to drive to the South, park and shuttle to the North? Make sure you book your shuttle well in advance as well.

We initially planned on doing R2R2R, but after doing it straight through our bodies were too shot for the return trip the next day and we didn’t have the time to give ourselves a rest day then do it. We essentially found ourselves stranded on the North Rim trying to find a ride.

I think splitting it up into two days is a perfect idea and very doable.

We're planning (hoping?) for a few weeks after that. For weather, and put me and him together for our bear hunt.

So our group is my hunting partner and our wives...

Our shuttle is easy... My dad hangs out with all of us, and sometimes takes his camper close to where we're hunting/fishing/whatever, just to go somewhere, hang out with us a little, and has been known to run some errands for us. He's retired and like getting out of the house.

Trying to find a ride last minute sounds brutal! And it sounds like the canyon kinda kicked your butts, but y'all were victorious in the end, that's the main thing! Well done!

 

[LaHunter]

I would also recommend checking with the GCNP rangers and ask about fly fishing. Getting off the designated trails within the canyon is against the regs I believe.

 

[AggieOutdoors16]

We're planning (hoping?) for a few weeks after that. For weather, and put me and him together for our bear hunt.

So our group is my hunting partner and our wives...

Our shuttle is easy... My dad hangs out with all of us, and sometimes takes his camper close to where we're hunting/fishing/whatever, just to go somewhere, hang out with us a little, and has been known to run some errands for us. He's retired and like getting out of the house.

Trying to find a ride last minute sounds brutal! And it sounds like the canyon kinda kicked your butts, but y'all were victorious in the end, that's the main thing! Well done!

100% on being victorious. It was a really cool accomplishment when it was said and done. There’s a lot of people in the world that will never experience it!

 

[displacedtexan]

I would also recommend checking with the GCNP rangers and ask about fly fishing. Getting off the designated trails within the canyon is against the regs I believe.

Good heads up, I already looked.

It's actually a lot looser than many NPs in where/how you can fish. Ironically in Bright Angel Creek(by where we want to camp) you have to keep trout. That's gonna be weird!

And in NPs, I'm a big "stay on the trail" person, so that's not really an issue for me.

 

[LostArra]

Rim to rim is a great adventure but here's a visual to remember to respect the risk

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/StorytellingTextLegend/index.html?appid=0d41baefd133497db0a10018af579b5a

 

[bascott1]

Heading out there with a couple buddies first of April. Plan on staying north rim then hiking back the next day. Looking forward to seeing this place.

 

[DapperDan]

I’ve hiked from the south rim down to the Colorado River, overnighted at angel, then hiked out of the canyon the next day with a 40 pound pack. I’m from Texas and it showed! That hike out ain’t no b****. Those switch backs were quite miserable. Rim to rim is for a sure a bucket list hike for myself and my wife though. We did that hike together at the end of July a few years ago.


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