Sign the roster
The permit is booked. There are 12 of us and 11 spots, because the park allows 11 to a camp, so the first 11 yeses go.
11 spots left
Roster history
The route, day by day
Friday is easy, Saturday is long, and Sunday is the hard climb out.
Download the route as a GPX file for AllTrails, Gaia or your watch.
-
Getting there
By Friday morning, Jan 15
Land in Phoenix by 6:30 am Friday, then drive up in the vans. Coming in Thursday works too, and that night is still TBD.
- Drive
- 3.5–4 hrs
- Sleep
- TBD if you come Thursday
-
Friday
Jan 15 · Bright Angel Trail
Shuttle the cars and start hiking by about noon, down to a shaded creek oasis.
- Miles
- 4.6
- Climb
- ~3,100 ft down
- Camp
- Havasupai Gardens
-
Saturday
Jan 16 · Tonto Trail
The big day of walking. West across the plateau, with huge canyon views the whole way. Skip the water at Horn Creek, because it's contaminated.
- Miles
- ~10
- Climb
- Rolling
- Camp
- Monument Creek
-
Sunday
Jan 17 · The climb out
This is the crux. Back along the Tonto, then up the unmaintained Hermit Trail, steep and rocky, to Hermits Rest. Then we drive toward Phoenix for a big dinner.
- Miles
- ~8
- Climb
- ~3,850 ft up
- Sleep
- TBD, closer to Phoenix
-
Monday
Jan 18 · Heading home
Sleep in, then fly home whenever works. It's also our spare day if the hike runs long or Hermit Road closes.
- Flights
- Any time Monday
- Sleep
- Home
Before you say yes
You need to be in hiking shape
You carry everything for three days, and Sunday climbs about 3,850 ft on a rough trail, right after our longest day. Get some miles in with weight before January.
It's cold and it's dark
Days below the rim are mild, but nights get near freezing. The top two miles of both trails are often icy, so microspikes are a must. There are no campfires, only stoves.
No signal, and help is slow
There's no cell service in the canyon. After this summer's flood, the park warns that rescue may be delayed and isn't guaranteed. We'll carry a satellite messenger.
Quiet nights
Quiet hours run 8 pm to 6 am, and everything gets packed out, including toilet paper. The party stays in Phoenix.
Water and trail status
Checked Nov 1. The Aug 29 flood damaged parts of the canyon. Our route is open, but crews are still fixing the Bright Angel Trail, so expect delays or short closures. The park can change this, and we'll recheck before we go.
| Camp | Water | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Havasupai Gardens | Tap is off all winter. Filter from Garden Creek. | No water on the trail Friday, so fill up at the rim. |
| Monument Creek | Creek, filter it | Our own large-group site |
Weather
Our trip is too far out to forecast, so plan on typical January. The rim is about 10° colder than camp.
| Mid-January | Avg high | Avg low | Coldest low |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Rim | 40° | 22° | 7° |
| Havasupai Gardens | 50° | 32° | 19° |
| Monument Creek | 52° | 35° | 22° |
Jan 12–20 in each of 2021–2026, modeled for each stop's elevation. About 1 day in 7 had rain or snow.
What it costs you
About $350 on the ground, plus your flight, or less if we camp Thursday and Sunday. Only the permit is a firm number. Pick your city to see your total.
| Permit | $31 |
|---|---|
| 3 minivans and gas, split 11 ways | ~$130 |
| Park entrance, $35 a vehicle | ~$10 |
| Thursday night, TBD | ~$60 |
| Sunday night, TBD | ~$40 |
| Food and stove fuel | ~$80 |
| Flight |
| Phoenix from | Flight | All-in |
|---|
Cheapest round trip on Google Flights on Nov 1, Thu Jan 14 to Mon Jan 18. These are often basic economy, and a better flight time will likely cost $50–150 more. Gear you don't already own is extra.
How it works
Flights
Land in Phoenix by 6:30 am Friday, because the vans leave by about 7:30 so we can start hiking by noon. Coming in Thursday works too. Thursday and Sunday nights are still TBD, and we may camp to save money. We'll group the vans by landing time.
Cars
We start and finish 7 miles apart. On Friday, we drop everyone and the packs at Bright Angel, leave 2 vans at Hermits Rest, and bring the drivers back in the 3rd. On Sunday, those 2 vans carry all of us back to the 3rd.
If Hermit Road closes
Private cars can only use that road December through February, and snow can shut it for days. We'd need a backup plan for the finish, which we'll sort out before the trip. Monday gives us a spare day if it happens.
Refunds
The permit is booked and paid, $340 total. If we cancel by about Dec 16, we get it back, minus a $10 fee. After that, there's no refund.
What to bring
Decide now, not in December
The permit is booked, and there are 11 spots for 12 of us.
Sign the rosterSources: Recreation.gov permits, NPS group limits, NPS trail and water status, NPS reopening notice, NPS Hermit Road, NPS fees. Map: elevation from Mapzen Terrain Tiles, trails from OpenStreetMap contributors.