Lesser traveled area's of GC?

[bryanmertz]

I want to do either a couple day trips; or an overnighter in the GC? I was thinking of Antelope Canyon or Buckskin Gultch area, as I assume they are less traveled than Kaibab, or Bright Angel.

Time frame is March or April.

Anyone have a trip/ itenerary they wish to share?

I don't mind seeing other people on the trail, but I don't like hiking Peralta on a Saturday afternoon either!

[joebartels]

Personally I'd make it a trip worth losing sleep over

Cheyava Falls

if the 800 foot cascading beast isn't enough surely the ruins will make it a worthy expedition

As Doug mentions near the end of his Clear Creek summary
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=253
the falls may not be running in dry years, hence the name Cheyava which is Hopi for intermittent water.

[desertgirl]

The Clear Creek area is remarkable .....

I was there for 3 days & saw no-one.
Very pristine and has awesome views -- Its the only place you can walk along at Tonto level and look out at the south rim! This area opens up to incredible views of the buttes and mesas that make up GC! Dry camp & watch a sunset & sunrise!!

If you go there -- plan for a few nights - I love the campsites here

The Cheveya falls of course ....especially if you are there in spring ( other times -- I would not bother!)
The Clear Creek Narrows are great too.
There are plenty of ruins in the Clear Creek drainage - Obi Canyon has a few so does some of the slick rock drainages as you head toward Clearcreek!

[sean34]

Just pick a trail aside from Kaibab and Bright Angel and sack up. The chances of you seeing ppl are slim, if you do it usually a small group. Going in the winter/early spring rocks because it feels like you have the place to yourself.

South Bass is semi-isolated and very nice. New Hance Trail is 11 miles from the main entrance and is an awesome hike. Boucher is sweet. Hermit rapids is a great hike. I would suggest at least two days for this trips...hike to the river, camp and hike back out.

Do the Royal Arch and u probably wont see anybody for 4-5 days.

I havent done much on the north rim...just ribbon falls and clearcreek but Id assume you wont see too many ppl

Shoot me a PM...we go at least once a month.

Later,

Sean

[hikeaz]

Might I recommend 2 nights @ Hermit Creek Camp...

Day 1: Down to camp & explore the area
Day 2 dayhike down Hermit Creek to Hermit Rapids (big wavetrain)
Day 3 out.
OR

If that is full, try
...
Day 1 to Monument Creek & dayhike down Monument Creek to Granite Rapids (or there is a campsite @ Granite Rapids, as well)
Day 2 over to Hermit Creek Camp (< 3 miles) & dayhike down Hermit Creek to the Colorado & back
Day 3 out to the rim

[RedRoxx44]

Antelope is on Navajo land and is a tourist deal- no real hiking just photography. It is beautiful and somewhat creepy- in '97 a group of 11 or more people drowned in that slot in a flash flood.
Buckskin is great but if there are pools it will be cold. If you can get a permit go to the Wave nearby in Coyote Buttes. A hike near the rim of Buckskin will take you to Cobra Arch- in an area with some of the reddest sand and formations I've seen.
I don't have any good tips for Grand Canyon - except car camping at Toroweap is just great- right on the edge of the cliff. Hiked the Lava Falls trail- it is a nasty and dangerous trail with lots of elevation gain/loss but deposits you right on the river at Lava falls and if you are lucky you can cheer as the rafters go thru. After going down that trail you'll need to work off the adrenaline. It was many years ago I did it, I sure don't need to do it again.

[bryanmertz]

Have any of you been to Havasu Falls. I guess this isn't GC proper, but from what I've seen it's pretty spectacular.

Clear Creek sounds really nice too.

[FAF]

In response to bryanmertz's reply:
In March, I'd recommend a lower elevation start. 29 mile Canyon is a good one nighter down to the river and back, and the Lava Falls route near Tuweep for a good dayhike. Of course, I wouldn't do Lava Falls without spending a night camping up at Tuweep and experiencing the sunrise there. You won't see many folks (if anyone on 29 mile) in either place.

The south rim trails are probably fine then, but I've done the ice stuff there once (tanner in Nov), and it wasn't for me (tanner in Sep was great, though).

If you are talking April and can do an overnight, South Bass is wonderful, and Hermit is nice, too. You'll probably see a group or two on South Bass, and will certainly see people on Hermit, but not the day hiking hoards you see in the corridor.