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Still awaiting the approval for a backcountry permit next month and looking for a couple of back up hikes to throw out to the rest of my hiking party if we don't get the permit. One is flying in for his annual trip with me into the GC, so want to make sure he isn't disappointed.

So far we've both have already done R2R, R2R2R, Rim to River and I just did SK to Tonto to BA last week. Any suggestions for a 20 mile +/- day hike off of the South Rim and doing it mid-October? We met hiking the scree fields on approaches to summit trips in Idaho, so don't care if we need to hit a little rough stuff.

Cheops plat or pyramid are both pretty nice in Oct. even if you dont summit.

BobP wrote:Cheops plat or pyramid are both pretty nice in Oct. even if you dont summit.

- Did that last year, ran out of time to summit. So trying to get a permit to camp overnight this year. We've gotten a follow up email from the Back Country office asking us about our qualifications but no approval yet.

Wherever you go, don't forget to clean the water bottles!

chumley wrote:Wherever you go, don't forget to clean the water bottles!

- I have been paranoid about that ever since.

Grandview / Tonto / New Hance is a stout and scenic loop (23 mi, 5000' AEG), with an easy shuttle between the trailheads. Its several miles shorter if you take the Miner's (Page) Spring cutoff instead of going around Horseshoe Mesa.

Hermit / Tonto / Bright Angel and Hermit / Tonto / Boucher are also big boy "day hikes".

Zoroaster.

Bumping this up. Have two people joining our group that are experienced hikers, but neither has been in the GC. Narrowed down to either a lollipop loop down Grandview and around Horseshoe Mesa or SK-Tonto-BA with a side excursion to do Battleship. For first timers into the canyon, which will provide the best views? I've never been that far east in the park.

I am of the school of thought that the best views are often obtained from the viewpoints on the rim.

That said, unless these are really hardcore people to truly enjoy the canyon as the canyon and not as a hike, I would do less. I should be up there over the next week or so and my goal is to just do what I want. I don't even care if I make it to the Colorado River on either of the two trails I plan to do; Tanner Trail or Hermit Trail. They could always take in a Grand Canyon summit, which I will probably do. I'm not bashing anyone here, but overextending oneself or doing massive day hikes tends to ruin something as opposed to enhance my enjoyment of it. That is obviously my personal opinion.

@SpiderLegs
You can't go wrong with either. The Grandview loop will feel a little more primitive, less tourist too.

@Jim_H - That's why I'm trying to stay along the Tonto. Prefer the views from there over views from the river. We are just looking for a nice semi-challenging day hike that's 6-8 hours. Gives us a couple of hours to poke around here and there along the trail.