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Just getting back into backpacking and wanting to hike on the AZT. I am currently thinking of packing sections 39-42 with a friend and could really use some advice. Any help with the following questions would be very helpful:

1) Is there good trail access on and off for these passages?
2) Is it better to hike these going north bound or south bound?
3) Is it possible to leave a vehicle on each end of this hike?
4) I have never seen the Grand Canyon. Will passage 39 give me a good view of the canyon?
5) Is there a 50-60 mile hike that you would recommend instead?

I appreciate any feedback you have for me. Thanks

Should be regular FR access, at least up to Jacob Lake. Not sure about north of there, but the official website should have good info on vehicle access.

As far as canyon views, I don't think there will be any views on Passage 39. It just heads north, away from the rim. The southern end is at N Kaibab TH, so you'll have good views nearby. But not on the trail itself. Passage 40 has some excellent views along the East Rim of the Kaibab Plateau.

Probably doesn't matter much which direction you go, but if you haven't seen the canyon, it'll probably be better to go N to S so you have payoff at the end of the trail.

@ShatteredArm
Thanks for the help. I like your idea of ending at the Grand Canyon instead of starting there. You mentioned that there would be FR access, but will there be places to park as well? We plan on leaving one car at each end and going back for the one at the start of the hike.

@MRoberson
I don't see why you wouldn't be able to park at the north end. AZT website says that's BLM land.

Also, I assume you're doing this in May or later; you won't be able to park at N Kaibab before then.

@ShatteredArm May 2nd is my plan. Will that be ok?

@MRoberson
Unfortunately the North Rim doesn't open until May 15th. You may be able to get as far as the park boundary via forest roads, and then do an ONB to the rim, but the highway will be closed, and there's a chance there could still be snow.

@ShatteredArm
The North Rim is open all year to foot travel. The highway is closed to vehicles at Jacob Lake and the National Park facilities don't open until May 15th, but there is no restriction to hiking the AZT any time of the year. Though certainly snow depth can be an issue in May of some years if you're not accustomed / prepared for it.

@chumley I want to avoid snow if possible. Would a hike starting south of the canyon and ending at the canyon be preferable?

@MRoberson
It depends when you need to finalize your plan. The north rim can be totally snow free in April some years. I'm not an AZT hiker so I'll defer to others, but I've heard that the stretch south of GC is not the most exciting.

@chumley
The first week in May is pretty set, but I don't need to finalize anything until the week before. Pretty flexible as far as that goes.

Snow-wise, you're probably pretty safe in May as far as snow pack is concerned, although new snow is not terribly uncommon. I honestly wouldn't worry too much about that, although it will most likely be pretty cold at night regardless. I've been up there a handful of times in May, and I've seen it snow twice, but it'll melt pretty quickly that time of year.

@ShatteredArm

Thanks for reply, I am looking into other hikes just in case. How cold at night? My quilt is 20 degree. Would that be enough?

Hard to say, can't find weather history for Jacob Lake. Figure it'll be a bit colder than Flagstaff though, and Flagstaff's record low for the month of May is 7. Last year the low for May was 24. So I'd say it's not likely, though possible, for temperatures to dip below 20 at night.

ShatteredArm wrote:So I'd say it's not likely, though possible, for temperatures to dip below 20 at night.

It only gets really cold when you don't have the gear for it.

@big_load
In 10/2016 my Buddies & I hikes from north rim to Utah border. There is good road access to all the passages with places to park your vehicle. Passage 39 North to South , Passage 40 South to North, Passage 41 South to North, Passage 42 South to North, Passage 43 South to North.