South Kaibab Trail Private Tour
South Rim Village, AZ
5.0 (35 reviews)Trip Highlights
- BIG Grand Canyon Views
- Historic Hiking Trail
- Mesmerizing Ridge Hiking
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Mind-blowing Geologic History
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
This tour is our most popular! It features stunning views at every step as it follows an exposed ridge into the depths of the Grand Canyon. One of the most photographed trails in the country, it’s the trail to hike if you’re not going to see anything else.
This tour meets at Grand Canyon National Park. If you’d prefer transportation from Flagstaff to the Canyon and back, check out our Grand Canyon Discovery Tour.
There are two main turn-around options on the South Kaibab Trail. The first is Cedar Ridge, which is a broad saddle with stunning views, bathrooms and a bit of shade. Turning around at Cedar Ridge make the hike 3 miles round trip. The other option is Skeleton Point, which offers a breathtaking lunch spot and an incredible vantage point from which to view the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. Either way, this trail offers mind-blowing views and exciting hiking, much of which is in the first half of the hike.
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$145-$525 Per Person
Season: Year Round
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 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
- Hiking in 95+ degree fahrenheit temperatures (May-Sept)
- Hiking with moderate heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 42 because it follows one of the most popular trails in the Canyon. You can expect to be around other hikers most of the time.
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsRates
- 1 person: $525
- 2 people: $275 per person
- 3 people: $245 per person
- 4-5 people: $205 per person
- 6-9 people: $175 per person
- 10 and younger: $135 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include a required National Park Service fee (5%) or gratuity for your guide
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.
The listed dates reflect general availability for Grand Canyon day hike tours. You will select your exact hike during the registration process. The season for this hike is Year Round.
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
- A professional, knowledgeable, medically trained, friendly wilderness guide.
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- Use of crampons in the winter
What's Not Included
- Clothing and personal items
- Water (3 liters capacity)
- Transportation to the trailhead
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Food: What To Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
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.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
You will rendezvous with your guide outside The Grand Canyon Association Park Store at the Visitor Center at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Start Times
- October 1 to March 31: 8am
- April and September: 7am
- May and August: 6am
- June and July: 5am
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.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The maximum group size on this hiking tour is 9 guests. 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:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval 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° |
Trip Reviews
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Sarah A
South Kaibab to Skeleton Point
The South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point was a perfect hike for our family of 5. Our tour guide Tolman did a great job showing us some of the highlights of the trail and made us a fantastic lunch on the way back. The hike down was definitely easier and we mainly stopped at the main points. The way back we took more frequent breaks. Our kids ranged from 11-15. Total time 6 hours including lunch and frequent breaks on the return. Took 2 liters of water per person and started to run low at end.
Alex K
Amazing Spring Break Hiking Experience
Our South Kaibab Trail hike lead by Graham was an amazing family experience. The views were breath taking, the hike was a perfect level of challenge, and Graham was a great guide. He was knowledgeable about the geology, flora, and animals. He also did a great job of relating to my three children. We received great pre-trip communication and felt well prepared for the trip.
Sonal S
Best Time Ever
We will always choose Wildland Trekking when we have a chance! Chris was a superior trail guide with boundless depths of knowledge, kindness and patience, and I felt I would follow him on any trail! Now that I realize the type of experience he has, the first responder wilderness training he has completed, as well as the varied hikes he has undertaken on his own, I would jump at the chance of joining him on another trip. Truly a memorable experience!
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