The forbidden Grand Canyon hike

[Cross-posted; experienced only; date/time open]

The NPS specifically warns people not to do one specific hike. So - you guessed it - we're going to do it.

The forbidden dance in question is hiking from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back in one day.

We'll hike down the South Kaibab trail, head to Phantom Ranch, and then hike back up the Bright Angel trail. There's no water on SK but there is on the rest of the route. We'll time it so we're going uphill after 4pm; we'll probably finish the hike by headlamp.

We'll do this at a moderate pace; no tigers please. We'll all stick together for safety.

Bear in mind that this is about 17 miles RT with about 5000' of gain. There is a tiny safety valve: instead of going all the way to the River, we could head across the Tonto trail if necessary, and that would make it about 13 miles RT with about 3500' of gain. In either case, you have to bear in mind that there's a lot of gain to get out of the Canyon.

In order to go along you must let me know recent hikes that have similar stats and you must indicate that you've hiked in the heat recently. Going on my Pinto Mtn hike is almost a requirement for the Grand Canyon event.

Note that I'll drive to Flagstaff the day before and stay at the Motel 6 near NAU. If you want to camp, there's endless boondocking off FS171 north of Bellemont (call the forest to check if the road is open).

While a weekend day is preferred, I could also do this during the week. And, trail closures play a part: part of the route won't reopen until Nov 1, 2025. So, you're welcome to indicate dates that would work best for you. If possible I'd like to start the hike later in the morning, but I'm flexible there too.