Grand Canyon Basecamp Tour
Flagstaff, AZ
4.9 (22 reviews)Trip Highlights
- South & North Rim Hikes
- Premier Camping
- Phenomenal Views
- Desert View Watchtower
- Canyon Solitude
- Remote, Seldom Hiked Trail
- Historic Navajo Bridge
- Guides Choice Trip
Description
The North Rim is a summer paradise with only 10% of the visitation the South Rim gets, cooler temperatures, shaded forests, more wildlife, and wonderful, remote areas with fantastic views. This tour is an opportunity to get to know the North Rim by enjoying the well-known highlights like Bright Angel Point and the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, as well as exploring remote areas that few people know about. It’s also an extraordinarily great camping experience that feels a lot more like Colorado than the Grand Canyon. We start this trip off with a hike on the South Rim as well, for an all-around experience of Grand Canyon National Park!
Your guide will lead you on 1 hike off the South Rim and 3 hikes off the North Rim – the challenge of the treks will vary to allow for recovery and relaxation in between. We’ve hand-picked the hikes specifically for their uniqueness, adventure and scenic beauty. Some of the highlights include breathtaking views, incredible natural and cultural history, views of the Colorado River, stunning conifer and Aspen forests, ancient fossils, and remote wilderness. Each night you’ll return to camp in the cool pine forests of the North Rim. A tasty dinner, comfortable camp, cozy campfire, and mind-blowing star-filled sky will be your setting in the evenings.
$1535 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
Physical requirements:
- Hiking uphill and downhill with a 10-15 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
- Hiking in 95+ degree fahrenheit temperatures (May-Sept)
- Hiking with moderate heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
You can expect to be around other people most of the time in camp and on the rim, but having hours of solitude at a time on some of the hikes.
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.
Arizona does not charge sales tax on services, so there is no sales tax for this trip.
All trips in Grand Canyon National Park have a 5% fee required by the National Park Service. This fee is applied when your reservation is made and is passed through directly to the national park.
There are no other taxes or fees associated with this trip. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.Â
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4-5 People: Rate x 1.5
- 6-8 People: Rate x 1.25
- 9-12 People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to the North Rim: 4-hour drive from Flagstaff
- Hiking Mileage: 3-6 miles
- 1-way Elevation Change: 1200-2500 feet
On this Grand Canyon hiking tour, we’ll pick you up at your hotel in Flagstaff and drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon through the East Entrance, where the initial views are sure to blow you away! We’ll stop at the Desert View Watchtower en route to the Grandview Trail. This amazing structure is a replica of a Native American tower found in the same location by early explorers centuries ago.
The well-named Grandview Trail takes us down a series of exciting switchbacks with seemingly endless views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The trail was built by one of Grand Canyon’s most famous miners, Pete Berry, in the late 1800’s to extract some of the richest copper ore in the world. Eventually when his mine failed, he turned to tourism for a living, taking guests down his amazing, hand-cobbled trail. We’ll descend down through geologic and cultural history, gazing into the depths of the Canyon and discussing the immense beauty and intrigue of this landscape.
After our hike, we’ll begin our drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. En route we’ll cross the Colorado River near Lee’s Ferry, where the Old Navajo Bridge (built in the 1920’s) is suspended 467 feet above the water.
Once the hiking is done we’ll set up camp and enjoy our first tasty dinner of the trip.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 7+ miles
- 1-way Elevation Change: 500+ feet
Today is a very special day and in many ways the high point of this tour. We’ll enjoy another relaxing breakfast before heading out to a remote, little-known trail. Our route takes us along the rim through pine forests to a phenomenally breathtaking spot. Our destination is a peninsula of rock that sticks out over the edge of the Canyon allowing stunning views in all directions. What’s better is this spot is hardly known and we’ll likely have the day mostly – or completely – to ourselves. If the group is feeling amibitious we can continue on for another mile or two into the Canyon. Once our hike is complete, we’ll enjoy an outdoor dinner at another remote, awe-inspiring viewpoint we’re able to drive to.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5+ miles
- Elevation Change: minimal
After a big breakfast we’ll drive a short distance to our trailhead. Today’s hike is on a beautiful trail that winds through the pine trees and aspen of the high North Rim (8,000 feet) past ancient fossil beds to the edge of the Canyon. Elk, deer, coyotes, fox, mountain lions, and even half-breed wild buffalo roam these forests and meadows regularly. The plant life is rich and lush, which is an amazing contrast to the desert ecosystems we’ll be gazing down at inside the Canyon (and later walking through off the South Rim). Once we reach the edge of the Canyon, we’ll traverse the North Rim to a stunning viewpoint. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the depths of the Canyon, explore this incredible area by extending our hike along the Rim, and then return on the same trail.
Day 4
- Shuttle to the East Entrance: 3-hour drive from the North Rim
- Hiking Mileage: 1.5-4.0 miles
- 1-way Elevation Change: 600-1441 feet
- Shuttle to Flagstaff: 1.5 hours
We’ll break camp and head to the famous Grand Canyon Lodge. We’ll check out the lodge and its massive picture windows before hiking down the famous North Kaibab Trail to Coconino Overlook or possibly Supai Tunnel, two impressive overlooks in the Canyon. The hike from the North Rim is a fantastic one for the natural history buff as we descend through a dense mixed conifer forest on the rim towards a semi-arid High Sonoran desert environment.
After hiking, we’ll drive back to Flagstaff, during which time you can relax and reminisce over the last 4 amazing days.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and daypack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Grand Canyon hiking guide
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona to the Grand Canyon and back
- Entrance fees and national park permits
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
Your guide will prepare all the meals on your basecamp tour from breakfast the first day through lunch the last day. Breakfasts and dinners are normally prepared and eaten in camp, while lunches are normally eaten on the trail. You can expect a diverse, tasty menu and plenty of food!
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear To Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are three 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
Trip Logistics
How do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
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 Considerations
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. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The standard group size on this hiking tour is a maximum of 6 guests and 1 guide , with a maximum of 9 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in the Grand Canyon
The weather in the Grand Canyon varies tremendously from the rim to the canyon floor, with as much as a 30 degree Fahrenheit difference. For this reason, the Canyon is truly a year-round hiking destination. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures at the South Rim and the Canyon bottom:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | South Rim | Canyon Bottom | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hi | low | hi | low | |
| Dec-Feb | 41° | 18° | 60° | 38° |
| March | 51° | 25° | 71° | 48° |
| April | 60° | 32° | 82° | 56° |
| May | 70° | 39° | 92° | 63° |
| Jun-Aug | 82° | 53° | 108° | 75° |
| September | 76° | 47° | 97° | 69° |
| October | 65° | 36° | 84° | 58° |
| November | 52° | 27° | 68° | 46° |
Accommodations
Premier Campgrounds
3 nights
On our signature camping tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.
Fantastic Meals
11 Meals
Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.
Comfortable Camping
Camping Amenities
What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, access to showers, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!
Trip Reviews
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- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Ralph S
Highest Level of Service
Brian Cresson went above and beyond our expectations and provided the highest level of service in ALL areas. We could not be more pleased with our first hiking experience with Wildland Trekking. Brian was the PERFECT GUIDE for our group.
Alona P
I would not change a thing!
Having never done this type of trip before; one that is planned, organized, in a group lead by a guide and everything provided for you: I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Also I was taking my 16 and 18 year old grandsons and was particularly wanting it to be a good experience for them so was a little anxious about the ultimate outcome. Not to worry! The trip was just incredible from start to finish. Our tour guide, Brian Cresson, was amazingly organized, accommodating, educational, and very fun. He always had the groups best interest, enjoyment and safety in mind. In addition, he was just a very comfortable person to be around. We could not have asked for a better escort. We learned and enjoyed so much from the experience he provided. The scenery was nothing less than breathtakingly stunning everywhere we went and hiking and activities were perfectly balanced. There was quite a bit of driving time involved and I would have preferred less if possible, but it always ended up being totally worth any extra time spent in the vehicle (which was comfortable, by the way). Looking back I would not change a thing. The meals prepared for us by our guide were incredible. Fresh delicious home made flavorful food at EVERY meal. Even at our hiking destinations. Our guide packed and carried fresh food and prepared it on location. He catered to our likes and dislikes and insured everyone was happy. When I got home; I missed the wonderful food and luxury of having every meal prepared for me. My grandsons told me several times it was the best vacation they had ever been on; and they have been on quite a few. The experience and memories will last a lifetime and was everything I had hoped for. Given the opportunity, I will use this company again. My main concern is that the guide will be a tough act to follow.
Craig H.
Amazing Guide
Steven’s passion and knowledge during our trip was spectacular. He was attentive , gave us our space when needed and engaged all of us with his vast knowledge of the Grand Canyon. His culinary skills were a treat for each meal and we always looked forward to the next meal. Steven is a special guide and we hope to cross paths again in the future.
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