Extreme Itineraries

The Jewels    10 days/ 9 nights
Entering Grand Canyon on the South Bass Trail, we do the fabulous Elves
Chasm loop with its 20 foot rappel on the third day after camping the
first 2 nights on the Esplanade. We meet the Tonto Trail at its western
terminus here and follow it east camping in Bass Canyon on the 4th
night. The next 4 days we spend hiking through Serpentine, Ruby,
Turquois, Sapphire, Agate, and Slate Canyons, known as the "Jewels".  We
camp in Boucher Creek on the 8th night and Hermit Creek on the 9th night
before we hike out on the historic Hermit Trail. This itinerary can be
shortened by one night by exiting on the Boucher Trail.

Clear Creek, Cheyava Falls  6 days/ 5 nights
We enter on the South Kaibab Trail , camping the first night at popular
Bright Angel Campground near Phantom Ranch. A long second day (13 miles)
brings us into Clear Creek. The Clear Creek Trail is like the Tonto
Trail but north of the river. We then spend 3 nights camping in this
remote location, 2 full days to explore Anasazi ruins and hike up to
Cheyava Falls. This is the largest fall in the canyon when it is flowing
with spring snow melt. We hike back to Bright Angel Campground for the
last night before hiking out on the Bright Angel Trail the last day.
April is the only time to see this waterfall.

Nankoweap, Kwagunt  7 days/ 6 nights
This is one of our spring expedition level treks. For experienced hikers
who wish to see a rarely visited part of the canyon known for it’s many
Anasazi sites. We snowshoe into the park over Saddle Mountain and follow
the Nankoweap Trail in to Nankoweap  Creek. We spend 2 nights camping
"at large" in this canyon  on our way into Kwagunt Valley where we camp
for 2 nights and explore the area possibly climbing Gunther Castle with
its views of Chuar Valley to the south.  The last 2 nights are spent
back in the Nankoweap drainage. Much of the area is very remote
wilderness with no trails other than game paths.

Nankoweap to Bright Angel 13 days/ 12 nights
This expedition level trek has been accomplished by very few people. We
snowshoe into the park over Saddle Mountain and follow the Nankoweap
Trail in to Nankoweap  Creek. We spend 2 nights camping "at large" in
this canyon  on our way into Kwagunt Valley where we camp for 2 nights
and explore the area possibly climbing Gunther Castle with its views of
Chuar Valley to the south. We are now deep in the trailless canyon and
spend the next week camping "at large" in the vast area of Chuar Valley,
Lava Creek, Vishnu Creek and Asbestos Canyon. We climb over the Redwall
Limestone thrice in a week before entering Clear Creek on day 10. We
spend 2 nights here exploring Anasazi ruins before heading to a well
deserved dinner at Phantom Ranch on the last night!

Crystal - Dragon Creeks  9 days/ 8 nights
There has never been a horse trail into this remote watershed of the
North Rim. Hiking in on the South Kaibab, we camp the first night at
Bright Angel Campground and it’s the last of civilization until we’re
back there the last night. Up and over Utah Flats, we then contour back
into upper Phantom Creek to camp the second night near the confluence of
Haunted Canyon. On the third day it’s up through the Redwall at the head
of Phantom to camp at Shiva Saddle. We can finally see into Crystal
creek from here! We head down into Dragon Creek and spend 2 nights
camping near the confluence with Crystal Creek. A different route is
used to return to Shiva Saddle and we wade Phantom Creek down to Bright
Angel on the eighth day . Due to it’s remoteness, this area is one of
the least visited in the park. Crystal Creek has as much water as Bright
Angel Creek and we’ll have it all to ourselves.  This trek can be
shortened by 2 days if accessing from the North Rim during summer.

Winter Rim to Rim ( November through March) 6 days/ 5 nights
Starting at the South Rim we drive, on the first day, through the Navajo
Reservation to Buffalo Range north of Grand Canyon where we put on the
snowshoes and climb the Saddle Mountain Trail. Although we camp on the
snow the first 2 nights, previous snow camping experience in not
necessary. On the second day we continue up on the Nankoweap Trail to
the North Rim. We snowshoe about 7 miles following the high country of
Bright Angel Canyon to camp near the North Rim. On the third day we head
down the Old North Kaibab Trail. Little used and somewhat overgrown,
this section of trail was replaced in 1928 by the route in Roaring
Springs Canyon that is used today. We meet the current North Kaibab
Trail at Roaring Springs and continue down to camp at Cottonwood
Campground. We stay at Cottonwood Campground for a second night taking
plenty of time to explore the upper reaches of Bright Angel Creek’s
tributaries. On day 5 we head down to the Colorado River and Bright
Angel Campground having dinner at historic Phantom Ranch. We hike up to
the South Rim on either the South Kaibab or Bright Angel Trails on the
last day.

This Rim to Rim itinerary is extended 3 additional days on this extra
extreme trek;

Winter Rim to Rim ( November through March) 9 days/ 8 nights
Starting at the South Rim we drive, on the first day, through the Navajo
Reservation to Buffalo Range north of Grand Canyon where we put on the
snowshoes and climb the Saddle Mountain Trail. Although we camp on the
snow the first 4 nights, previous snow camping experience in not
necessary. On the second day we continue up on the Nankoweap Trail to
the North Rim. We snowshoe about 7 miles following the high country of
Bright Angel Canyon to camp near the North Rim. On the third and fourth
days we follow the rim on the west side of the Walhalla Plateau for
about 5 miles each day as we head to Obi Point where an ancient Anasazi
route allows us down off the rim on the 5th day. Climbing down we have a
magnificent view of Deva Temple. As we spend our 6th and 7th days on the
temple’s side we attempt to summit and search for Anasazi ruins. On the
8th day we down climb the fault into Wall Creek to camp at Cottonwood
Campground. On day 9 we head down to the Colorado River and Bright Angel
Campground having dinner at historic Phantom Ranch. We hike up to the
South Rim on either the South Kaibab or Bright Angel Trails on the last
day.

Escalante Route  (east to west)  9 days/ 8 nights
This trek has all the best the Grand Canyon has to offer from the open
feeling along the river near Tanner rapids to the slot canyon of 75 mile
Creek. We hike down the Tanner Trail on the first day camping near the
Colorado River. The second day we day hike up river and enjoy the views
along this open area. On day three we get an early start as we hike west
on the Escalante Route. We camp near 75 Mile Canyon on the third night
and near Hance Rapids on the fourth night. Here we meet the eastern
terminus of the Tonto Trail, easy hiking compared to the Escalante. We
camp at Hance Creek on night five and head into Grapevine Canyon, the
largest side canyon on the South Rim after Havasu, for 2 nights while we
do some exploring. On the 8th day we continue on the Tonto Trail into
Cremation Canyon, one of the most active site for Anasazi Indians in the
canyon. We hike out on the Kaibab Trail on the last day.

Phantom and Haunted Canyons  8days/ 7 nights
Hiking in on the South Kaibab, we camp the first night at Bright Angel
Campground and it’s the last of civilization until we’re back there the
last night. Up and over Utah Flats, we then contour back into upper
Phantom Creek to camp for 3 nights near the confluence of Haunted
Canyon. We set base camp here under an alcove that could shelter 30
people in bad weather. We spend the 3rd day exploring Haunted Canyon and
on 4th we attempt a summit of Isis Temple. On the 5th day we contour the
Tonto Platform to the northest following the old cattle trail wherever
it still exists. On day 6 we come down near Ribbon Falls and camp at
Cottonwood Campground. Dinner at Phantom Ranch awaits us on the 7th
evening as we are back at Bright Angel Campground having completed a
circuit that few have even imagined.