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 This trip covers the second 136 River Miles of Grand Canyon, starting at Pipe Creek (River Mile 89) and ending at Diamond Creek (River Mile 225
This trip starts off with a day of VERY BIG white water right after you complete your hike down from the South Rim to join the trip at the river. This trip includes some of the big whitewater favorites like Granite, Hermit, Crystal and Lava. There are many waterfalls and slot canyon day hikes in this section and our nine day schedule allows us to do more of them.
 The day before your trip begins, our complimentary vans will transport you from Flagstaff to the South Rim where you will stay overnight at selected lodgings. Early the next morning, you will hike 7.5 miles down the Bright Angel Trail to Pipe Creek to join the trip. (Pipe Creek is 2 miles down stream from Phantom Ranch and saves 2 miles on the hike in.) You will meet and start your hike down as a group at first light between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. depending on time of year. There is a limited time window to complete this hike as we ask you to meet the boats at Pipe Creek Beach at 10 a.m. because we have a big day ahead of us starting off with some very big whitewater rapids. You need to be in good to excellent physical condition to do this hike. Hiking downhill for 7.5 miles with a backpack is very strenuous and is hard on your body - especially on your joints (knees, hips, ankles) and also on your calf muscles and quadriceps.
At Diamond Creek, you'll leave the canyon, boarding our complimentary transportation back to Flagstaff.
 Information about the hike down the Bright Angel Trail to consider before deciding on a Lower Canyon Trip: The Bright Angel Trail is steep and very long. It covers one (1) vertical mile in elevation change between rim and river. It is a 7.5 mile long hike. The trail is a well-maintained and wide trail that does not contain any difficult "hiking moves".
Conditions that significantly increase the difficulty of this hike include: Extreme temperatures (Summer temps exceed 100° F and sometimes exceed 115° F, and prolonged exposure to desert sun which can deplete strength and energy reserves. Carrying the extra weight of your backpack/clothing and water significantly increases the stress and amount of effort exerted. Dry, desert conditions that can result in serious water depletion requiring you to carry and consume lots of water and to snack regularly. Exerting yourself at elevation (elevation at the river is 2400'; elevation at the south rim is 6800') is exhausting and hard to condition for if you do not live at elevation. Going all downhill for 7.5 miles is very hard on your joints (knees, hips, ankles) and also on your calf muscles and quadriceps.
 It is essential that you take time to condition for your trip and for your hike into the Canyon at the start of your trip. Serious pre-trip conditioning is essential for you to have a safe, comfortable and more enjoyable journey. We suggest training with a weighted backpack on a stair-master, treadmill (set on incline), or a set of stairs (go to a local stadium or tall building). However, any exercise that builds cardiovascular and lower body muscle strength will help. Please start doing something right away.
Medical concerns: If you have asthma, high blood pressure, or a heart condition, attempting this hike puts your health at serious risk. If you have any of these conditions or are unsure whether you are in good enough shape for this hike, we strongly urge you to get your physician's approval for this trip. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns about the canyon’s environment and how we deal with the sometimes extreme conditions.
Mule/duffle service note: We cannot accommodate personal gear that is carried into or out of the Grand Canyon by the Fred Harvey mule/duffle service. The associated logistics negatively impact the experience of other trip participants.
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