Tonto Trail, via Grandview

Overview:

The Grandview Trail is an amazing walk from the South Rim to the Horseshoe Mesa. The route has some of the best views one can find from inside the canyon as it drops abruptly through the top layers of dramatic rock bands. This route does not reach the inner gorge or the Colorado River, but accesses the beautiful Horseshoe Mesa that overlooks the River. This mesa houses a famous cave system which can optionally be explored, as well as breathtaking views up and down the canyon, and a myriad of some of our favorite Grand Canyon plant species. From here, the hike descends through the Redwall Limestone, one of the most vertical layers in the canyon to the Tonto Plateau, one of the most horizontal layers inside the canyon. This gives us a platform to make our way through the canyon and several side drainages to day hike or connect with the South Kaibab trail. Our adventure down to the Tonto Trail has three options ranging from shortest to longest. Please explore these below.

Option 1:

(3 days, 3400’ of loss and 3400’ gain, 10 miles with backpack, many miles of optional day hiking on layover day)

Difficulty: Moderate-difficult at times.

Day 1: (5 miles, 3400’ of loss) Hike down Grandview Trail to the Horseshoe Mesa. Once down on the mesa your guide will prepare a field lunch, and there is an optional activity exploring cave of the domes. From the Mesa descend into Cottonwood Creek and set up a basecamp for the night. Enjoy a delicious guide made dinner.

Day 2: (As many miles as you would like) A layover day will allow you to enjoy a long day hike in the canyon along the Tonto Trail without having to carry a heavy backpack. Your guide will take you to some scenic viewpoints overlooking the inner gorge of the canyon and the Colorado River, and prepare a hearty picnic lunch. If hiking in the canyon without a backpack is important to you this would be a great option.

Day 3: (5 miles, 3400’ of gain) Day three will encompass heading back out the way we came on the Grandview Trail, back to the South Rim. We will end at the same location we started - there will be no need for a shuttle.

Price: $1400 per person, to make a private trip add $250 per person = $1650 per person

Option 2:

(4 days, 5984’ of loss and gain, 27 miles with backpack)

Difficulty: difficult-very difficult at times.

Day 1: (5 miles, 3400’ of loss) Hike down Grandview Trail to the Horseshoe Mesa. Once down on the mesa your guide will prepare a field lunch, and there is an optional activity exploring cave of the domes. From the Mesa descend into Cottonwood Creek and set up camp for the night. Enjoy a delicious guide made dinner.

Day 2: (5 miles, 640’ of gain, 1000’ of loss) We will awake to breakfast and your morning beverage of choice, pack up our camp and begin to make your way along the Tonto Trail westward towards the main corridor trails of the Grand Canyon area. We will stop at a scenic locale to eat lunch and eventually settle into a camp most likely along the Grapevine Creek Drainage.

Day 3: (12 miles, 1247’ of gain, 1150’ of loss) Day three we will wake up and pack up camp in order to hike our way towards Cremation Creek drainage. We will make camp here and prep ourselves for the hike out of the canyon the following day.

Day 4: (7 miles, 3600’ of gain, 400’ of loss) Day four we will pack up and make our way up the South Kaibab Trail and out of the canyon to the South Rim. This will be a full day of uphill hiking with very dramatic views of the canyon.

Price: $1600 per person, to make a private trip add $250 per person = $1850 per person

Option 3:

(5 days, 8600’ of gain and 8500’ of loss, 37 miles with backpack)

Difficulty: Very difficult

Day 1: (5 miles, 3400’ of loss) Hike down Grandview Trail to the Horseshoe Mesa. Once down on the mesa your guide will prepare a field lunch, and there is an optional activity exploring cave of the domes. From the Mesa descend into cottonwood creek and set up camp for the night. Enjoy a delicious guide made dinner.

Day 2: (5 miles, 640’ of gain, 1000’ of loss) We will awake to breakfast and your morning beverage of choice, pack up our camp and begin to make your way along the Tonto trail westward towards the main corridor trails of the Grand Canyon area. We will stop at a scenic locale to eat lunch and eventually settle into a camp most likely along the Grapevine Creek Drainage.

Day 3: (12 miles, 1247’ of gain, 1150’ of loss) Day three we will wake up and pack up camp in order to hike our way towards Cremation Creek drainage. We will make basecamp here for 2 nights and get ready for our day hike down to the Colorado River.

Day 4: (9 miles, 2700’ of gain, 2700’ of loss) We will hike down the lower South Kaibab Trail into the inner gorge of the canyon. We will spend some time exploring the bright angel creek and Phantom Ranch before hiking back to our camping area at cremation.

Day 5: (7 miles, 3600’ of gain, 400’ of loss) Day four we will pack up and make our way up the South Kaibab trail and out of the canyon to the South Rim. This will be a full day of uphill hiking with very dramatic views of the canyon.

Price: $1800 per person, to make a private trip add $250 per person = $2050 per person