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I posted recently about hiking a Cabin Loop trail, but my girlfriend and I are looking for a different trail in a different region. We're looking to hike at the Grand Canyon, just a 2-3 trip, and wondering if the S Kaibab > Phantom > Bright Angel is a good trail to begin with for the Grand Canyon. We really want to hike to the bottom of the canyon to the river and back up. We're in good shape so we're not worried about the physical aspect, more of where experience comes into play (if that makes any sense at all).

When are you looking to go?

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Sure, it's a great trail, for October.

That would not be my first choice for a hike, this time of year. Why make it miserable, you want her to come along with you again don't you?

I agree, Oct. or Nov. is best. It is a really good first Canyon backpack, but definitely NOT in the summer. And don't hike the Canyon unless you have been doing a LOT of peak bagging, or even climbing Squaw Peak with packs on, twice, and doing it several times a week.

For your permit I'd request two nights at Bright Angel Campground, and one night at Indian Garden. Leave your car at the Backcountry office and take the shuttle bus to the Kaibab Trail. On your layover day you'd have time to hang out by the river or explore a few miles of Clear Creek Trail or N. Kaibab Trail.

You can eat a meal at Phantom Ranch, also, if you can afford it! They take reservations at Xanterra for the meals. You can find Xanterra on the net. Sometimes Phantom will sell you a meal without a reservation, also.

On your hike out, up the Bright Angel Trail, camping one night at Indian Garden. Once your camp is set up you may like to hike out to Plateau Point from there, especially if there is a full moon.

When you arrive at the Rim, put your gear away in the car and eat at Maswik Cafeteria if you like lots of choices--pasta, vegetarian, pizza, hamburgers, salads, tacos, desserts galore, etc. (The beer crowd will disagree with me on this, but I don't care. You don't have to get into your car to go eat.)

That is a fun first backpack trip in the Canyon, but make sure you train for it by climbing mountains! Lots of steep mountains!

As everyone has said, this is a great first Canyon hike, for Oct. or Nov. but...

Maybe I misunderstood your previous post...but I thought you said you and your girlfriend were both new to backpacking? If this is to be your first backpacking trip EVER...no, personally, I wouldn't pick this one. Try a couple easier trips to wet your feet first, then go have fun in the Canyon!

Agree with nine inch nails painter, pick something easy for your first backpack, something you could bail out of if you get afraid of things that go bump in the night. Once you have gone backpacking a few times and have figured out what not to bring, then you're ready to hit the canyon!

We're looking to go in October.

Have you checked on permit availability with the Backcountry office?

Paintninaz wrote:As everyone has said, this is a great first Canyon hike, for Oct. or Nov. but...

Maybe I misunderstood your previous post...but I thought you said you and your girlfriend were both new to backpacking? If this is to be your first backpacking trip EVER...no, personally, I wouldn't pick this one. Try a couple easier trips to wet your feet first, then go have fun in the Canyon!

Yes, we are new. But we are looking to do the GC trip in October, so by then I'm hoping we have 3-4 trips under our belt by then. I just want to plan ahead and be ready. I heard it is pretty difficult.

dysfunction wrote:Have you checked on permit availability with the Backcountry office?

No, didn't know I needed to do that now.

June 1 was the first day you could fax in your permit request for Oct. I got mine in the mail on the 5th of June, but did not get the campgrounds I wanted (Cottonwood was full)

dysfunction wrote:June 1 was the first day you could fax in your permit request for Oct. I got mine in the mail on the 5th of June, but did not get the campgrounds I wanted (Cottonwood was full)

Can you tell me the process? I had no clue about this. Sucks being a newbie.

I posted a link for you on the basics but I guess you didn't take the bait.

Backpacking in Grand Canyon A backcountry permit is required for all overnight backpacking. Plan to reserve your permit about 4 months prior to your planned hike. There is a fee

All the contact info is on the NPS site http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm Follow the links to permits. They have maps so you can decide which section of jail you're interested in being an inmate.

Basically you're trying to enter a booked zoo. Most fax in first thing on the first four months ahead of time.

joe bartels wrote:I posted a link for you on the basics but I guess you didn't take the bait.

Backpacking in Grand Canyon A backcountry permit is required for all overnight backpacking. Plan to reserve your permit about 4 months prior to your planned hike. There is a fee

All the contact info is on the NPS site http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm Follow the links to permits. They have maps so you can decide which section of jail you're interested in being an inmate.

Basically you're trying to enter a booked zoo. Most fax in first thing on the first four months ahead of time.

Bait taken! Yeah, I totally missed that. Guess I'll get started and hope for the best spot.

I just got permits for the Grandview-Cottonwood Creek hike at the end of October, so there is some hope. The main campsites at Bright Angel and Indian Gardens are usually booked, however. They do reserve a few spots for "walk-ups" at each of those, but that can be a multi-day waitlist thing if you're trying for a weekend day. Shoot for a weekday and you're much more likely to get lucky.

Buena Suerte!