White-Water Rafting

On a guided white-water rafting trip through the heart of Grand Canyon, you can observe canyon geology mile by mile. Long, peaceful stretches are sharply punctuated by wild rides through the canyon’s 160-plus rapids. Guides lead daily hikes up intriguing side canyons, such as sinuously eroded Matkatamiba, or the magical grotto Elves Chasm.

Most trips put in at Lees Ferry and take out at Diamond Creek, lasting 7–18 days, but if your time is limited, you can hike in or out at Phantom Ranch for a half-canyon trip.

Sixteen companies offer white-water trips through Grand Canyon, most including meals, gear, and shuttle service, so all you need to worry about is how you’re going to readjust to the real world afterward.

Backpacking

You can also explore the wild side of the canyon on foot. No permits are needed for day hikes, and you could hike every day at the canyon for a week and still have plenty of trails left to explore. If you want to spend a night in the canyon, however, you must apply for a backpacking permit.

Though the central corridor is busy, it’s best to start here if you don’t have canyon experience, taking two—or, better yet, three—days to hike the Bright Angel, South Kaibab, or North Kaibab Trails and camp at Indian Garden, Bright Angel, or Cottonwood Campgrounds. The central corridor is well maintained and patrolled, with beautiful views that can be doubled by making this a loop hike.

If you’re ready to graduate to a wilderness trail, Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa or Hermit Trail to the Colorado River combine views with historic sites on two- or three-day trips. If you already have a degree in canyon backpacking, you can get your post-doc by planning a multiday trip looping two or more trails together, such as the Grandview–Tonto–South Kaibab loop.

Backroads Exploring

If you want to get away from it all on wheels, Kaibab National Forest, especially on the canyon’s north side, has miles of dirt roads for driving or biking, and you’ll rarely meet more than half a dozen other vehicles. Many forest roads are suitable for passenger cars, though they tend to get rockier as you approach remote rim viewpoints like Parrissawampitts or Timp Points, which overlook the Tapeats Amphitheater.

One of loneliest spots in Grand Canyon National Park is Toroweap, where 10 campsites await at the end of 60 miles of dirt roads. A trail leads to a rocky ledge where, 3,000 feet below, you’ll see and hear roaring Lava Falls.

© Kathleen Bryant from Moon Grand Canyon, 4th Edition