Kanab Creek Adventure
Guided Backpacking Trips
7 Days, 6 Nights 55MI / 88KM
Trip Highlights
Come join us for this world-class off-trail Grand Canyon backpacking adventure! This trip is for the more serious adventurer, as it is our most strenuous and most secluded trip in the Grand Canyon. We’ll follow a series of breathtaking side canyons deep into the Grand Canyon, finally arriving at the Colorado River on day four. We’ll hike through land rich with cultural and natural history, including some incredible pictographs. A few of the highlights include a traverse of Jump Up Slot Canyon, Sowats Canyon, Kanab Creek, a layover day near the Colorado River and a hike across the scenic Esplanade.
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Remote Grand Canyon Hiking
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Ancient Pictographs
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Amazing Springs & Oases
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Mighty Colorado River
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Sheer Slot Canyons
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Canyon Solitude
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7-Day Adventure
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
7 Days, 6 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 10 mi -
Group Size
1-9 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip is essentially an off trail hike. The terrain is extremely rugged for the duration of the trip, requiring walking through water for entire days, climbing up and over inumerous large boulders, and significant daily hiking distances.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to the North Rim: ~5 hour drive
Hiking Mileage: 5.2 miles
Elevation Loss: 2,200 feet
This adventurous Grand Canyon hiking adventure starts from Sowats Point, where we hike rapidly downhill to the esplanade, a broad terrace at approx. 5,000’ of elevation. An enjoyable 2-mile hike along the esplanade brings us to Sowats Canyon. The canyon is shallow and dry for ¾ mile until we get to Mountain Sheep Spring, a gushing spring of fantastic drinking water. We’ll make camp near the spring in a beautiful alcove beneath scarlet overhangs. Also nearby are a series of remarkable pictographs left by Native Americans.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 10.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 1,300 feet
A hearty breakfast will precede our hike down Sowats Canyon. After a mile of hiking adjacent to Sowats Creek we’ll arrive at Jump-up Canyon. At this point Jump-up is more of a broad valley than a canyon, allowing views of the rim of the Grand Canyon above. However, after hiking a bit further we’ll encounter the first layers of the redwall limestone; a layer of rock hard enough to promote formation of the Jump-up slot canyon. Soon we’ll find ourselves hundreds of feet deep in a narrow swath of polished stone. Several miles further the canyon widens and intersects Kanab Creek. Now the canyon is wide and deep, with brilliant red walls rising high overhead. Another couple of hours of hiking brings us to the hanging garden of Showerbath Spring. Just beyond the spring is a campsite protected by more overhangs. This is a long day consisting of 8 miles of rugged canyon hiking and will likely take 10-11 hours to complete.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 8.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 400 feet
Another hearty breakfast will precede a continuation of our hike downstream. The canyon grows ever deeper and presents a theater of features including massive overhangs, enchanting springs, exquisite lighting and a myriad of colors. We’ll make camp, relax and enjoy dinner as the glow of the sunset fades away above the cliffs that tower over us.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 8.0 miles optional round-trip day hike
Elevation Loss/Gain: 200 feet
Today is a much needed layover day. Willing members of the party have the option of a day hike to the Colorado River and back (no backpacks). The mouth of Kanab Creek creates a thundering set of rapids on the Colorado. We’ll eat lunch while appreciating the grandeur of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon and then hike back to camp.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
On Day 5 we turn around and begin our hike out of the Grand Canyon. We’ll hike up Kanab Creek, where we’ll again enjoy the beauty of the majestic camp from Day 3.
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 10.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
Today’s hike will re-trace our steps through Jump-up canyon, however once we’ve hiked through the slot canyon we’ll immediately turn east into Kwagunt Hollow. Kwagunt is more dramatic than Sowats and presents a variety of terraces and overhangs. We’ll make camp this evening in Kwagunt Hollow near small seeps that we’ll use for our drinking water.
Day 7
Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
Shuttle: ~5-hour drive
After a lazy morning we’ll hike out Kwagunt and re-join the Sowats trail near the bottom of the switchbacks. Hiking up the switchbacks to Sowats Point will complete this classic Grand Canyon backpacking trip. From the top of Sowats Point we’ll be able to look out over each canyon we hiked all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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Pre-Permit Trip Dates
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, May 1, 2026 | Thu, May 7, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 2, 2026 | Thu, Oct 8, 2026 | Request Reservation |
What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles and Microspike Crampons if necessary
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Roundtrip transportation from origin to the Grand Canyon and back
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Entrance fees and national park permits (read about Grand Canyon’s permit system)
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
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Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Grand Canyon
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
Unless we tell you otherwise, you will meet your guide and group at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff (use this reservation page for a 10-60% discount at Little America) for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. We’re happy to give you a ride to this meeting if you’re not staying at Little America, but staying at one of our other recommended hotels. Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead. For Private Grand Canyon Tours your guide will meet you at your hotel in Flagstaff at an agreed upon time.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Flagstaff
WHY WE BASE IN FLAGSTAFF VS. PHOENIX
- Reduced drive time by 3 hours on first day of hiking
- Guide support is only an hour away vs. 4-5 hours away in Phoenix.
- Increased flexibility with unforeseen circumstances
- Flagstaff is a scenic mountain town with great hiking and restaurants!
GROOME SHUTTLE
Groome Transportation operates an Arizona Shuttle that makes 9 dependable trips daily each direction between Phoenix and Flagstaff. The duration is 2.5-3 hours. They pickup/drop off at Sky Harbor Airport and the Metro Center in Phoenix, and in Flagstaff at the Amtrak Station (near downtown) and the NAU campus.
Note: Groome also offers daily transportation (3 trips in each direction) from Flagstaff to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
CAR RENTAL
Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix has a fantastic car rental facility that is easily accessible and hosts a great variety of companies. We recommend checking Priceline.com as well for especially good deals.
ARIZONA EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT
Arizona Executive Transport offers private, reliable SUV service between Phoenix and Flagstaff. This option is best if you’re traveling in a group of 3 or 4. As Wildland Trekking guests, your one-way cost for up to 4 passengers is only $275. Simply type “Wildland Trekking Company” in the Discount Code Box at the bottom of the online registration page. You can go to http://www.arizonaexecutivellc.com to make your reservations online.
Pre and Post-Trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Flagstaff, Arizona as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 4 and 6 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day no later than 7 PM.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
- specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Amy L
1 year agoWildland made it easy to plan and stress-free
This is a trip for the truly adventurous! Lots of scrambling and off-trail hiking on challenging terrain. Kanab Creek is a magical and pristine place, even by Grand Canyon standards… it’s like spending a week on another planet. This itinerary is very challenging, but absolutely worth it for the unbelievably beauty and the opportunity to explore such a unique environment. As always with Wildland, our guide (Chris) was wonderful - kind, helpful, and made amazing meals. This would have been a logistically very difficult trip to plan independently, and Wildland made it easy and stress-free.
Rita S
1 year agoThank you Wildland for offering the trip!
I could never do a trip like this without Wildland. They plan everything and make it doable. I was pushed hard but never harder than I was able. I am so grateful to get to do such extreme adventures.
Kellie J
1 year agoFantastic Trek
What a fantastic trek this was. I would highly recommend doing a tour with Wildland Trekking. They were very organised, they supplied equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, mats and poles. They even supplied snacks for each day. The guide we had (Tolman) was amazing, he cooked up some amazing meals during the week. Plus, he was very supportive and made sure everyone enjoyed their time.
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