Hiking up to 6 miles per day on a variety of surfaces, including relatively level and paved paths, steep and rocky but well-maintained trails, slightly more rugged and less-maintained trails, and some off-trail terrain with abundant desert vegetation. Hikes include rocky, uneven terrain and steep inclines. Maintained trails are generally 4 feet wide with water bars and step pads. Longer hikes with significant elevation change have multiple options for length and difficulty; elevation changes up to 2,000 feet each way depending on option chosen. Standing up to 3 hours per day. Program will require approximately 15-21 miles (depending on hike selected) of hiking over 4 days. Some trails have no restroom. Vans are used for transportation and require up to 2 hours (87 miles) of driving time in a single day between lodging and trailheads. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Arizona
Hiking the Grand Canyon: Adventures On and Below the South Rim
Program No. 6112RJ
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Hiking the Grand Canyon: Adventures On and Below the South Rim
Hiking the Grand Canyon: Adventures On and Below the South Rim
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Grand Canyon - South Rim
Program Concludes
Grand Canyon - South Rim
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
13 (
5B, 4L, 4D
)
Activity Level
From
2,599Hike through stands of pinyon-juniper and around yucca and agave, as you venture along and below the rim of the Grand Canyon. Travel back through geological time, with naturalists providing insights into the landscape’s epic natural and human histories. Descend below the canyon’s rim on the historic Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails. See more of this natural wonder than you ever imagined, with hikes along the western rim viewpoints and others at some of the park’s eastern most points, Desert View Watchtower and the Palisades of the Desert.
Best of all, you'll...
- Venture out on hikes on and below the rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
- Learn from experienced naturalists about an array of topics ranging from the surrounding landscapes to current park management issues.
- Enjoy an off-the-beaten-path hike at the Palisades of the Desert, the eastern Grand Canyon’s sherbet-colored cliffs with distant views of the historic Desert View Watchtower.
General Notes
Due to the remote locations in this program some special diet requests may not be accommodated or will lack a variety of options.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Lisa Kearsley
Lisa Kearsley moved to Arizona in the 1980s to earn a master’s degree in biology at Northern Arizona University and, like many who have come to Arizona, she never left. She has worked for the National Park Service at Grand Canyon as an interpretive park ranger and as a researcher, studying the effects of Glen Canyon Dam on the river. She also is a natural science illustrator, working with pen and ink, as well as watercolor.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Lisa Kearsley
Lisa Kearsley moved to Arizona in the 1980s to earn a master’s degree in biology at Northern Arizona University and, like many who have come to Arizona, she never left. She has worked for the National Park Service at Grand Canyon as an interpretive park ranger and as a researcher, studying the effects of Glen Canyon Dam on the river. She also is a natural science illustrator, working with pen and ink, as well as watercolor.
Slim Woodruff
Marjorie “Slim” Woodruff is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. She has worked in outdoor recreation and education for most of her adult life. Slim is a board member and outings chair for the Grand Canyon Historical Society. She is a senior instructor with the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute. Living on the South Rim, her usual hangouts are inside the canyon. Her writings can be found in High Country News Writers on the Range and The Outdoor Journal.
Mike Kearsley
Mike Kearsley is a plant ecologist who has worked in desert and mountain riparian systems for 40 years. He grew up running wild in the hardwood forests of New England but fell in love with the environments of the Southwest when he moved to Arizona in the early 1980s for graduate school. Before working for the National Park Service at Grand Canyon for 17 years as a resource specialist and wilderness coordinator, he was a research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at NAU.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call
800-454-5768
Helpful Links
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Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.
- Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
- Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
- Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
- Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.
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