Colorado River Traverse
Guided Backpacking Trips
4-6 Days, 3-5 Nights 29MI / 47KM
Trip Highlights
The Colorado River Traverse is a demanding and rewarding Grand Canyon hiking adventure in the eastern part of the Park. This is a 5-6 day trekking adventure that follows the Colorado River from the Tanner Trail to the New Hance Trail (or the Grandview Trail on the 6-day itinerary). The Colorado River Traverse is one of our most aggressive itineraries and will take you to remote and wild areas. This trip features fantastic Colorado River beach camping, stunning slot canyons and out-of-this-world views. You’ll spend days having the Canyon all to yourself, eating surprisingly great backcountry cuisine, learning about the history of the Canyon, and soaking up the magic of this extraordinary landscape!
Important: It is strongly recommended to book your Grand Canyon backpacking trip 5 months in advance due to the Park’s permit system. Backpacking permits are issued on the first of the month 4+ months in advance (see deadlines for each month.) Permits for the most popular trips sell out very quickly during the initial lottery, so registering prior to the deadline of the month you’re interested in is highly beneficial. You can also pick any dates!
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Remote & Wild Tanner Trail
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Remote Beach Camps
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Mighty Colorado River
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Side Creeks & Canyons
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Unique Red Canyon
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Incredibly Exciting Hike
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Vast Amount of Grand Canyon
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
4-6 Days, 3-5 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 8 mi -
Group Size
1-9 Guests
Is This Trip Right For me?
Most of this trip consists of on-trail hiking and is moderately to strenuously rugged. However, one section of the trip – the Papagos Slide – is approximately 1/4 mile of extremely rugged, loose, steep terrain requiring careful balance, strength and focus. The Papagos Slide pushes this trip into Level 5 difficulty.
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 South Rim: 2-hour drive from Flagstaff
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Elevation Loss: 4650 feet
We begin this Grand Canyon backpacking tour with a journey down the Tanner Trail to a stunning beach campsite on the Colorado River. The trail is long and steep and we’ll rejuvenate by soaking tired feet in the icy waters of the Colorado River. Relax in camp tonight as your guide prepares a hearty meal to the sound of Tanner Canyon Rapids.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
Elevation Loss/Gain: 1200
We’ll rise early to take advantage of hiking during the cooler morning hours. Today’s hike travels west along the Escalante Route of the Colorado River. Our goal is to reach Escalante Creek beach, a stunning side canyon that empties into the Colorado River. Relaxing by the river is one of the best rewards at the end of another day in Grand Canyon.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 4-7 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 850-1650 feet
Day 3 is often considered the most scenic and adventurous of all – following breakfast we’ll break camp and continue west until we reach Seventyfive Mile Creek; a serpentine slot canyon that pours into the Colorado. Some technical but photo-worthy terrain lies between here and our campsite. Our goal today is Red Canyon beach which may just be the most pristine beach in all of the Grand Canyon.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 3-4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
After a leisurely morning we’ll break camp and start our hike up Red Canyon, where tilting strata provide stunning scenery and an amazing geologic story, as the area was once an island that rose above the waters of an ancient sea. We’ll hike up the dry creek bed of Red Canyon and then switchback through the towering Red Wall – a sheer, 5oo-feet tall, red-tinted limestone barrier. We’ll make camp atop the Red Wall at one of the most spectacular camps in the Canyon. After enjoying a final, celebratory dinner with panoramic views of the Grand Canyon as our backdrop, it will be time to turn in for a good night’s sleep.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 2-3 miles
Elevation Gain: 2300 feet
Shuttle to Flagstaff: 2 hours
A tasty breakfast will precede our hike out as we leave the Red Wall formations and enter into an old creek bed. After following the creek for awhile we’ll hike and scramble up out of the creek bed to the trailhead and the end of our Grand Canyon backpacking adventure. From there we’ll ride comfortably back to Flagstaff and much deserved – and anticipated – showers.
6-Day Variation
This trip also makes a great 6-day trip by continuing to hike west on the Tonto Trail to Hance Creek, instead of heading up the New Hance Trail. We continue past Paige Spring to Horseshoe Mesa, where we’ll have the opportunity to explore an old copper mine and historical area. Then we hike out on the Grandview Trail, named for some of the biggest views in the Grand Canyon; as much as 100 miles on a clear day! This variation adds 6 miles of hiking and little to no changes in elevation from the 5-day itinerary.
Important: this trip is operated as either a 5-day or 6-day itinerary, and is confirmed as such in advance. Variation of trip length does not mean guests can choose to leave a trip or early or extend it a day.
Trip Dates
Pre-Permit Trip Dates
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Mar 5, 2026 | Mon, Mar 9, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Sat, Mar 21, 2026 | Thu, Mar 26, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Apr 2, 2026 | Tue, Apr 7, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Thu, Apr 2, 2026 | Tue, Apr 7, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Sun, Apr 19, 2026 | Fri, Apr 24, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Sun, Apr 19, 2026 | Fri, Apr 24, 2026 | Request Reservation |
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 19, 2026 | Thu, Sep 24, 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 your hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona to the Grand Canyon and back
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Entrance fees and national park permits
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
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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 7 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 normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
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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Katharine V
5 months agoOutstanding
Second Trip with Tolman. He is an outstanding guide and cook as well as an excellent human. Mark was wonderful. I had unexpected knee pain on day 2 and couldn't keep up with the group--Mark hung back with me and very patient and kind. Tolman talked me through a number of places that scared me.
John G
5 months agoIt really was a perfect trip for me.
What an amazing trip! Even though parts of the trek were a bit difficult, it was well worth the effort to spend time within the Grand Canyon hiking through some fabulous terrain. Our guide Karla shared interesting information about the canyon and pointed out plenty of interesting sites along the way. She also kept us well fed with very tasty meals. The other members of our group were also fun to talk with. It really was a fabulous trip. I am so glad that I got a chance to do it.
Beverly M
5 months agoThe rewards were phenomenal.
The Colorado River Travers Trip was fabulous - the beauty and peacefulness unsurpassed. My guide was stupendous, so knowledgeable and caring. I would recommend this trip and go on another Wildland trip.
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