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 This trip will take you through the first half of Grand Canyon, starting at Lee’s Ferry and ending at Pipe Creek (River Mile 89)
The white water starts small and gets bigger every day allowing time to gain confidence in your oar guides or paddle team. You will experience the sensation of the canyon’s walls "rising up" as each new geological layer appears. Our seven day schedule allows time for lots of extended day hiking. The Upper Canyon offers opportunities to visit archeological sites and to "rim out" on hikes that provide great views of the canyon and the river. Although the rapids on the Lower Canyon are more renowned, there is actually more fast moving water on the Upper Canyon including rapids like House Rock, Nevills, Grapevine, Sockdologer and Hance with ratings between 6-9 on the Canyon’s big water scale.
 On the last day, you'll hike up the Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim from Pipe Creek. This is a strenuous hike and we recommend it only for those in very good to excellent physical condition. The hike is 7.5 miles, is very steep and covers a vertical mile in altitude. You have the entire day to complete the hike; our complimentary vans arrive at the South Rim at 5:00 p.m. to transport you back to Flagstaff.
 Information to consider about the hike out on the Bright Angel Trail before deciding on an Upper 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". Some conditions that significantly increase the difficulty of this hike include: Extreme temperatures (Summer temps exceed 100° F and sometimes exceed 115° F). Carrying the extra weight of your backpack/clothing and water significantly increases the stress and amount of effort exerted. There is little shade cover on the hike resulting in prolonged exposure to desert sun. Dry, desert conditions result in serious water depletion and require 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 6,800') is exhausting and hard to condition for if you do not live at elevation.
Conditioning: It is essential that you take time to condition for 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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