Inner canyon trails range from rigorous multiday backpacking adventures to short explorations from river camps. Backpackers often make the Colorado River their goal, but “halfway hikes” can also be very rewarding, offering beautiful river panoramas from viewpoints on the Tonto Trail or along the Supai Formation.

Inner canyon trails lend a sense of intimacy to your explorations, revealing details that are hidden from perspectives on the rim: historic mining camps, springs and seeps, clear-flowing creeks, waterfalls, sandy beaches, and beautifully eroded schist and granite. Many sites are readily accessible only from the river, and you’ll see more floating the canyon than you could in a lifetime of hiking.

A good trail map is a must for wilderness backpackers, along with an understanding of desert hiking and route-finding. For example, “Creek” on a map might refer to a dry wash, a year-round stream, or a stream that flows seasonally during spring melt or briefly after a rainstorm.

Before attempting a multiday backpacking trip, research potential water sources. Hiking guides are good resources, as is the online bulletin board managed by the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association (GCHBA) (www.gchba.org).

Trails described here include routes that start and end inside the canyon, as well as day trips from the river. For rim-to-river hikes, see the North Rim Hiking and South Rim Hiking sections.

When hiking in the backcountry, it’s safest to travel with companions. Also remember that the Navajo, Hualapai, and Havasupai tribes hold land surrounding the park. Be sure to apply for permits if you will be hiking into or across Indian land.

With the exception of Tonto Trail, which is only accessible by connecting trails, hikes here are arranged from east to west along the Colorado; The order you would encounter them on a river run.

• Tonto Trail
• North Canyon (mile 20)
• Silver Grotto (mile 31)
• South Canyon (mile 31)
• Eminence Break (mile 44)
• Nankoweap Granaries (mile 52)
• Beamer Trail (mile 61)
• Clear Creek Trail (mile 88)
• Monument Creek (mile 93)
• Shinumo Creek Falls (mile 108)
• Elves Chasm (mile 116)
• Deer Creek Trail (mile 136)
• Kanab Creek (mile 143)
• Matkatamiba Canyon (mile 148)
• Havasu Creek (mile 156)
• Fern Glen (mile 168)
• Whitmore Wash (mile 188)
• Travertine Canyon (mile 229)