New Hance Loop
Flagstaff, AZ
5.0 (11 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Spectacular Grandview Trail
- Wild Grand Canyon
- Camping on the Colorado River
- Challenging & Scenic New Hance Trail
- Canyon Solitude
- Desert Springs & Oases
- Stunning Red Canyon
Description
Are you up for a more challenging hike? Experience famous “Red Canyon”, one of the most geologically unique areas in Grand Canyon National Park, camp next to the Colorado River, see impressive rapids, and enjoy the solitude of a less-visited and wild part of the Grand Canyon on this unforgettable backpacking adventure! We descend one of the most spectacular trails in the Canyon, and ascend one of the most exciting – this is a trip you’ll never forget!
On the first day you’ll hike down the exciting Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore the Cave of the Domes and century-old mining ruins. We then drop off the Mesa and hike deeper into the Canyon, camping on the Tonto Plateau above the Inner Gorge. At this point we’re looking up at the towers and rims of the North Rim – a viewpoint few people experience.
The next leg of our hiking trip takes us east on the Tonto Trail to the Colorado River. This is the eastern beginning of dramatic Granite Gorge. We’ll camp in Red Canyon or by the Colorado River, depending on the day’s hiking progress. Red Canyon’s lower elevations are predominately Hakatai Shale, undoubtedly the most brilliant crimson of any formation in the Canyon. The final day sees us ascending back to the South Rim on the New Hance Trail. Give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) to learn more or book a spot on this exceptional Grand Canyon backpacking trip!
Need to Know: Grand Canyon Permits
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, and you’ll receive a 5% early registration discount!
Pre-permit Registration $1173/$1287
Grand Canyon’s permit process is complicated, but we take care of everything so you don’t have to worry about it! Here’s what you do need to know – Grand Canyon issues backpacking permits through a lottery system 4+ months in advance (deadlines listed below). Permits for popular trips sell out immediately during the initial lottery, so it’s important to register before the process begins. Pre-permit registrants also receive a 5% discount and can pick any dates!
When you register we will ask you for backup dates and itineraries, as they are helpful if your first choice isn’t available. If a permit request is denied, pre-permit registrants have top priority for open spaces on confirmed permits, and very often get spots. Finally, we have good success rates, but your deposit is 100% refundable or transferable if we’re unsuccessful. Still have questions? Call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453)!
PERMIT DEADLINES
Month of Trip
|
Register Before
|
Permit Results
|
January
|
Sept 1
|
~Sept 15
|
February
|
Oct 1
|
~Oct 15
|
March
|
Nov 1
|
~Nov 15
|
April
|
Dec 1
|
~Dec 15
|
May
|
Jan 1
|
~Jan 15
|
June
|
Feb 1
|
~Feb 15
|
July
|
Mar 1
|
~Mar 15
|
August
|
Apr 1
|
~Apr 15
|
September
|
May 1
|
~May 15
|
October
|
June 1
|
~June 15
|
November
|
July 1
|
~July 15
|
December
|
Aug 1
|
~Aug 15
|
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 5
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 30-40 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 2-5 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 2500 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 3300 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Lightly maintained and rugged
- Additional:
- These trails are loose and steep in places. Be prepared for demanding hiking on sections of steep trails.
Participants should:
- be very active, healthy people
- exercise vigorously several times per week
- be comfortable hiking, biking, or running for hours at a time without taking breaks
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 4 because the beginning of the Grandview Trail can be busy, but as we make our way deeper into the Canyon we will see fewer and fewer people. There are also multiple groups allowed at some of the campsites.
Learn More about our Rating SystemWHY 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
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Leave a Reply