Deer Creek Trail

Distance: 10 miles round-trip
Duration: 4–6 hours
Elevation gain: 1,700
Effort: Strenuous
Trailhead: River right, mile 136

Most river trips stop to enjoy Deer Creek Falls and hike the Deer Creek Trail to the head of Tapeats Narrows, a challenging 0.5-mile hike, or to Deer Spring, 1.5 miles; the trail continues to Surprise Valley, connecting to the Thunder River Trail [1] at five miles. The waterfall is a refreshing sight after floating through the dark confines of Granite Narrows, bursting from the cliffs 100 feet above the beach.

Starting from the river, the trail climbs around Deer Creek Falls and enters a labyrinthine narrows of Tapeats sandstone. With the creek flowing below, the trail hugs the cliff inside the narrows, a serious challenge for any hiker with acrophobia or claustrophobia. The trail exits the narrows at Deer Creek Valley, where cottonwoods shade a few campsites.

From here, the trail climbs toward a spur trail that leads to a smaller waterfall created by Deer Spring. The main trail ascends through Muav limestone to shadeless Surprise Valley, where it joins the Thunder River Trail [1] at five miles. Most hikers starting from the river will turn around long before this point.

From here, it’s another 10 miles to the North Rim [2] and the forest service campground at Indian Hollow, though backpackers can shorten the hike by taking the Bill Hall Trail to Monument Point. Connections to Thunder Spring and Tapeats Creek are possible for multiday backpacking loops from the rim or a pleasant day long loop from the river.