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I was wondering if there is a hike down to the river and back that is can be done in one day. I have never hiked in the canyon so any info on permits and other requirements would be appreciated

Thank you!

Tom

Based on your two triplogs I'd say you're "possibly" in the ballpark. However it's a loaded question. People react quite differently to heat. It could be a death trap or it could go without a hitch. The only permit you need for a dayhike is the park entrance fee.

It can be done if you are in good physical condition, although it will quite warm now. Of the trails I am familiar with, the South Kaibab is the shortest route from the South Rim, and therefore also the steepest overall, with no water available on the trail. You might go down on the South Kaibab, and come up the Bright Angel, since the Bright Angel has water at Indian Garden, and hopefully also the 3 and 1.5 mile rest houses. Just realize that you are looking at almost 5,000 ft. elevation change each way, and 15+ miles...not exactly a casual stroll!!

IF (thats a big if) you feel that you can handle it physically then like joe said aside from the entrance fee you wont need any permits to dayhike in the grand canyon. I've hiked in the canyon during the summer a few times, and if you are going to the river and back then you'll need a pre-dawn start, around 4:00 or 4:30 to get down in time for the safest temperatures as you're coming out. If you search the site you can find a trip write up from others who have gone to the river and back in one day

It does not seem like a good idea to me. If you have to wonder if it is possible for you to do it, then you probably cannot.

I echo Sid's comment. The bigger question is Why? in this heat. Go hike Mt Humphrey's and come back to the canyon when it's cooler. Temps at the bottom track with Phoenix, 100+ is not fun and down right dangerous. Look around this site and find fun hikes in the cool, like maybe the Mt Baldy loop-17 miles or so. There are so many better choices for the summer.

joe bartels wrote:Based on your two triplogs I'd say you're "possibly" in the ballpark. However it's a loaded question. People react quite differently to heat. It could be a death trap or it could go without a hitch. The only permit you need for a dayhike is the park entrance fee.

I gotta disagree with our revered site host, the canyon and the hikes in the triplog are in two vastly different ball parks IMO. (Maybe I'm reacting to just reading the story of the Surprise, AZ fellow who didn't make it back.)

I hope you take the advise of the veteran hikers who advise against this. In addition to the heat, the elevation is a big deal to those who aren't acclimated to hiking at 7,000 feet. It's not so bad going down, it's the coming back up that's hard. I would suggest training at altitude before tackling the GC--by fall you could be ready! You don't even have to do Humphreys. Try Kendrick first; its a beautiful 8 mile trek to +/- 10,000 feet.

It's a crapshoot based on the two triplogs you have. You might make it fine and you might collapse from heat exhaustian at Indian Gardens. I would agree with the camp that is telling you that if you have to ask, you are not ready.

Remember if you can't hack it, and only find that out when you're down in the ditch, you get to pay for the helicopter ride out - provided you're still around to foot the bill.

Well, I wonder if he's reading all these posts? I agree with you guys. Besides, for most of us, hiking in the heat just isn't fun. Why do it if you are going to be miserable? I know that there are some people who are totally acclimated to the heat, and can hike 20 miles when it's 110, but those people know who they are! Like you guys said, "if you have to ask..."

So my advice from the armchair is, do the training hikes on Kendrick, Humphreys, and also climb Camelback or Squaw Peak or whatever, several times a week for several months (doing it in the heat, also!) and then do your GC dayhike in October. But make sure you have already done a good long-distance (20 mile) dayhike with elevation gain beforehand, so you know you can hike 20 miles.

toreilly wrote:I was wondering if there is a hike down to the river and back that is can be done in one day. I have never hiked in the canyon so any info on permits and other requirements would be appreciated

I quess everyone is assuming he wants to do this now(in the heat), but since he hasn't responded we don't know if that is the case or not. Also, just because he only posted two hikes doesn't mean he hasn't hiked more than that or is in excellent shape. One thing I love about this site is... people express their opinions and share knowledge but rarely flame.

If I were doing it now, I'd do it as at least partly at night, starting at 1:30 or 2:00 am. You'd miss a lot, but it would be less miserable. For the least misery, I'd do the whole thing at night.

Not to side track this, but I did a hike out of the canyon when heat was a concern, so I started well before daylight. I used a flashlight till a mile or two from the river up the South Kaibab. As it turned out, the weather changed and I also wore a jacket the whole trip, but the point of all this is that hiking out while the light goes from pitch dark to full sun was a huge visual "extra."

Sredfield wrote:Not to side track this, but I did a hike out of the canyon when heat was a concern, so I started well before daylight. I used a flashlight till a mile or two from the river up the South Kaibab. As it turned out, the weather changed and I also wore a jacket the whole trip, but the point of all this is that hiking out while the light goes from pitch dark to full sun was a huge visual "extra."

I've done two backpacks to phantom ranch, and both we're in the dead of summer. Like you said the heat can be avoided with a pre-dawn start, it's more so just a matter of physical conditioning in my opinion

btw, if you enter the park @ dusk till dawn while the station(s) are unmanned, entry is free. the gates are left open. go in before 6am and you save $25 that you can use for a Wapiti Ale from Mogollon Brewery in Flagstaff (or 4) ;)

here's a tip to avoid overheating: use an umbrella like the Golite ChromeDome. It'll cut 10° off the outside world while you stroll uphill in your "micro climate" of luxury.

Yup, parsimonious person that I am, I almost always enter the park before it opens. I am so parsimonious, however, that I drink water, even after the hike! ;)

I agree with the dark-to-dawn transition being visually awesome. My last hike out of the canyon was last May and I started before dawn. Awesome visual changes.

te-wa wrote:btw, if you enter the park @ dusk till dawn while the station(s) are unmanned, entry is free. the gates are left open. go in before 6am and you save $25 that you can use for a Wapiti Ale from Mogollon Brewery in Flagstaff (or 4)

Also saves a couple hours worth of salary some ranger won't get paid.

Thank you all for the advise. I am in pretty good shape as I do 3-4 mi hike 2 to 3 times a week to train but will pass on this due to all the great advise. I will do Humphries this summer again with my daughter and will get to the Canyon when I can back pack in and not try to do 15mi in a day. I enjoy this site very much, wish I had time to read it more.

Again thank you all very much for taking the time to answer my question!!!

Tom