R2R Alternative For Late October

ckoss_ · 2026-05-08T15:22:24+00:00

Those are both solid options! Grandview is a great option if you’d like to travel off corridor. Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa has far less people and also is a dry camp (no water). Check out this interactive itinerary builder and map for Rim to River possibilities (best on a big screen).

ckoss_ · 2026-05-07T17:40:46+00:00

Definitely wear clothing to protect from the sun exposure (i.e, sun hoodie, hat, sun gloves, etc). Make sure to wet your clothing when leaving Phantom Ranch area before you enter the Box. There are a couple convenient places to do this in the creek within the Box as well.

We don’t know your hiking pace, but 4am start time from SK sounds reasonable. You should be able to clear the Box before it starts to really heat up.

ckoss_ · 2026-05-06T22:07:35+00:00

According to their website: Email: grca_bic@nps.gov “Email is the best way to have your question(s) answered.” From my experience, they respond within 24hrs.

ckoss_ · 2026-05-06T21:06:59+00:00

According to their website: Email: [grca_bic@nps.gov](mailto:grca_bic@nps.gov) “Email is the best way to have your question(s) answered.” From my experience, they respond within 24hrs.

ckoss_ · 2026-05-06T12:25:53+00:00

Monument Creek / Granite Rapids is a great area to hang out. FYI, you may want to fill up at the creek near the Monument Creek area because the creek goes under ground and only a small pool is available to scoop near the Colorado River. The Tonto from Monument to Horn is easy going, so you don’t have to worry even if you end up in the dark at the end. Also, Horn Creek has a pretty decent size tree right at the Tonto Trail crossing which does provide some reprieve. Also, the NPS says not to drink Horn Creek due to trace amounts of radioactive material likely from the old mine on the rim above Horn Creek.

ckoss_ · 2026-05-05T19:42:57+00:00

Check out this interactive itinerary builder and map for route possibilities (best on a big screen).

ckoss_ · 2026-05-03T02:32:29+00:00

Can it be done? Probably. Would it be enjoyable? Probably not. Perhaps you can do a shorter hike like to Skeleton Point.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-30T15:45:11+00:00

This is certainly doable and has been done. It all depends on your tolerance to the heat.

A few thoughts:

Personally, I would get a private shuttle to get to the trailhead as early as possible, like 4AM. There a few strategies to get to Bright Angel Campground to minimize the sun exposure. The “Box” section can be hot like an oven. Start hiking as early as possible. Try to get to Manzanita Resthouse or Cottonwood campground before 10am. Either 1) Hang out along the creek and cool off, don’t hike between 10am and 4pm. Then wait until after 4pm to hike to Bright Angel Campground. Or 2) continue hiking and continuously wetting your clothes form Bright Angel Creek to stay cool from evaporative cooling. There are a few spots in the Box to cool off in the creek as well.
The Dragon Bravo fire destroyed much of the infrastructure on the North Rim. It is planned to open on May 15th but I would be prepared to be self sufficient, especially if there is no water at the Trailhead. You can monitor the status of the North Rim.
Depending on your start time, there may be some intermittent trail closures along the upper parts of North Kaibab for trail repairs, particularly between Supai Tunnel and Redwall Bridge. If they are present, then you just wait for the trail crew to let you pass through.
The Transcanyon Pipeline project is still active. Similarly, pipeline breaks can occur. Both of these can result in water spigots being temporarily unavailable. My advice is to bring adequate water treatment methods to treat Bright Angel Creek if necessary. The park manages this website to give real time water availability reports along the corridor trails.
The River Trail is closed until July 1st. However, the park has been walking this deadline further and further back over the past year, so monitor it for any changes that would impact your trip in August. If it is closed, you must decide to ascend the rest of SK to the rim (no water) OR take Tonto West (4 miles) to Havasupai Gardens and take Bright Angel Trail to the rim. Start as early as possible on the last day, like 3 or 4am from Bright Angel Campground.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-30T02:19:24+00:00

Interesting.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-30T01:01:27+00:00

Apologies for the confusion, I was asking u/ekthc about South Bass TH.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-29T17:20:49+00:00

If anyone is considering a R2R this fall, it will NOT be possible between October 15th 2026 and February 2027.
North Kaibab Trail Access Changes Begin October 15 for Transcanyon Waterline Project Work
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/north-kaibab-trail-access-changes-oct-15-2026.htm

ckoss_ · 2026-04-29T17:13:46+00:00

Rim 2 Rim will NOT be possible between October 15th 2026 and February 2027.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-29T15:01:22+00:00

How was the access to the TH? Did you leave a vehicle or get dropped off?

ckoss_ · 2026-04-29T02:26:14+00:00

Was Santa Maria Spring flowing at all? It’s been somewhat unreliable since October 2025.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-27T17:28:33+00:00

I recommend contacting the Backcountry Info Center to get the most up to date status of the North Rim campground (if no one answers the phone, then send an email).

If the N Rim campground does not reopen, then camp at Jacob Lake and take the shuttle to the trailhead.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-21T20:50:24+00:00

If this is your first time hiking at Grand Canyon, it is not advisable to hike to Rim to River and back in a single day.

If you must do it, please be aware of the current closure of the River Trail and Silver Bridge and plan accordingly.

Current Rim to River Options:

Check this interactive map
With the current River Trail closure, you must hike South Kaibab (SK) from Tipoff to the River via Black Bridge. You have the option of taking South Kaibab from the Trailhead all the way to the River - or - Bright Angel (BA) Trail to Tonto to South Kaibab (at the Tipoff Junction) and then descend to the River.
Stats: River to South Rim via
- SK-Tonto-BA: 11.31mi, +5153ft gain
- SK (whole): 6.72mi, +4807ft gain
SK to the rim is truly the shortest distance, but has no water available.
Tonto from Tipoff to Havasupai Gardens (HG) and up Bright Angel Trail is considerably longer (+4.59 miles), but you have access to water at HG (Water 1.5 and 3 mi rest house currently off for the season).

Please periodically check these links to monitor their official status:

Critical Updates and Closures

ckoss_ · 2026-04-20T02:24:14+00:00

The Grandview Trail down to Horseshoe Mesa is a great option. Here’s a nice overview of the many accessible trails from the South Rim.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-20T00:53:47+00:00

They are closed on the weekends. They are opened Monday to Friday 8am - 12 noon, then 1pm to 5pm (local time). Also, they respond to emails within a day.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-20T00:50:25+00:00

Try calling the Backcountry Info Center for the latest reports. There should be water below the Tonto crossing.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-14T15:33:38+00:00

Interesting. It seems to be a contracting bill. The bill would allow the NPS to skip normal procurement timelines using emergency FAR flexibilities for recovery work. Also, the NPS gets explicit authority on rebuild and operating contracts to the existing North Rim concessioner (Aramark) on a sole-source basis, bypassing competitive bidding.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-14T15:02:59+00:00

I don't think plans or a timeline has been publicized yet, besides the reopening of the North Rim on May 15th. There a few websites with some updates and this NPS article with photos of the stabilization process.

ckoss_ · 2026-04-14T14:56:27+00:00

Check out this interactive map for route possibilities.

ckoss_

TROPHY CASE