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So it's been way too long since I've been to the Canyon and a friend is interested in a backpacking trip in October/November.

I've already done the requisite South Kaibab/Bright Angel 2 night loop, and Grandview for a night too.

Given the permit process, I'm guessing that landing permits for SK/BA could be difficult, and none of us are really fans of the crowds anyway, so I'm hoping to find something similar in difficulty elsewhere in the canyon... if anyone has any suggestions? Two nights/three days, possibly a little longer for the right route... and a snowballs chance in hell of actually getting the permits =)

You're strong, how strong is your friend.
Hermits to Tonto to BA http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1448
Grandview (Cave of the Domes) - Tonto - South Kaibab http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1449
Royal Arch http://hikearizona.com/x.php?I=4&ZTN=813&UID=0
South Bass http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1011 The difficulty here might be getting to the Trailhead if the weather is bad.

North Rim is officially closed but the roads could still be open
North Kaibab - BAC - North Kaibab. Probably hard to pull permits since the South Rim hikers are going to clog up BAC
Or North Kaibab - Cottonwood. Then day hike to the River and back or day hike to Ribbon Falls and upper Ribbon and the ruins back to Cottonwood. Then out North Kaibab.
These North Rim hikes are a lot tougher because of water management and having to cache water.
Thunder River - Tapeats - Deer Creek
Nankoweap to the River and back. Might be better as a 3 night 4 day. But could be a 2 night 3 day if you are really strong. I would do Tilted Mesa, River, Tilted Mesa, out. But could be Nankoweap Creek. Nanko Creek to the River and the Granaries and back to Nanko Creek, and out.

But all these hikes are a lot easier since I haven't done them in a while and I'm sitting at a keyboard.

You should have asked us this question in May. It is too late now to get a permit for some of these areas. They will be full. June 1 for October hikes. July 1 for hikes beginning in November.

Although North Rim is closed you can take trans-Canyon shuttle over there, weather permitting, through sometime in November but only to Corridor.

My favorites have been South Bass and Boucher-Tonto-Hermit Loop.

Hermit - Bright Angel
Grandview - South Kaibob

I doubt you will get permits for Indian Garden, or Bright Angel applying this late.

If you add one more day to get 4 days/3 nights you will not have to hike so long each day with either the above trips. Canyon newbies + long miles = disaster.

Al_HikesAZ wrote:But all these hikes are a lot easier since I haven't done them in a while and I'm sitting at a keyboard.

Hermit/Tonto/BA ... and can I join in?

Surprised nobody mentioned Tanner/Beamer to the Little Colorado and back out. A group of us packed an inflatable kayak down a few years ago to check out the petroglyphs across the river above Tanner Rapids.

Probably permits already taken for that one, too.

I've called the BCO to see if there are any permits available for a hike a couple weeks out in an area I'm looking at. Did it last year for a trip from Indian Hollow to Upper Tapeats to Deer Creek and back. Once I knew there was an opening, I faxed in the permit request. That has worked well for me. The BCO has always treated me very well.

Like rcorfman, I've found that once you establish that you know what you're getting into, the folks at the BCO are very helpful. Your best bet will probably be to call them with some ideas to find out what's available. If none of your planned routes are available, ask them for suggestions.

Wow, definitely no shortage of options. Also had never thought of just calling them up to check on availability. I figured it was just a submit, wait, and pray kinda thing.

Kinda thinking that the timing may just have to change since this is involving at least one GC newb (although a good hiker that shouldn't have any issues on most trails. As much as I hate the number of people on the corridor routes, the water availability and campgrounds are probably a good thing to not turn them off to the Canyon on their first try. I won't even get into how much I hoped for my own death, or a helicopter, on that Grandview trip when we had to descend, and somehow crawl back out, of the side trail where the water was.

That would be Page - or Miner's - Spring trail ... yep, it's a beast!