Hiking in the Grand Canyon offers a variety of emotions in one location, the solitude, the rock formations like opulent abodes of head-of-state, and the Colorado River so beautiful it is awe-inspiring, the hike itself so strenuous many an avid backpacker vowed never to return.
Knowledge and Planning are the two main requirements to turn this hiking trip into one of the most enjoyable wilderness experiences.
Fitness and Health
Consider the fitness and health of each person in your group and choose a route the weakest member can manage. The Grand Canyon is like hiking an upside down mountain, the easy downhill part is in the beginning of the hike and the hard uphill climb at the end of the day.
Know exactly where you are going, how far it is and how long it will take to walk down and back up again – the average hiker’s uphill speed is one mile per hour due fatigue combined with the increase in altitude as you come from low elevations up to the rim.
Permits
Permits are obtainable from the Backcountry Information Center at Grand Canyon National Park they do accept faxed or personally submitted permit requests.
Permits are not required for day hiking neither for overnight stays at developed camps like Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, North Rim Campground (summer season only), Tuweep Campground and the Phantom Ranch cabins.
However you do need a backcountry permit for activities like overnight hiking or overnight camping at non-developed campgrounds.
Please note that deviation from your permit itinerary may result in a fine or a court appearance as the itinerary is in place to protect both the fragile canyon environment, as well as yourself by giving the National Park Service an indication of your whereabouts in the unhappy event of you not returning from your hike on time.
Attire
Apart from wearing clothes to protect you from extreme heat or cold, carry with you sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or bandanna and a lightweight raincoat or tarp, as the weather conditions can change quickly.
Cheap sneakers might be the lighter option for footwear and you might not mind them getting ruined on the trip, but it would be better to wear a good pair of hiking boots to protect your feet from the rough terrain as well as any encounters you might experience with scorpions or snakes.
There are some poisonous snakes in the canyon so please be aware and do not try to handle any, scorpion stings are very painful but not deadly, so be conscious of where you rest your hands, feet and derriere whilst visiting the backcountry.
Food and Water
Carry enough food and water with you as purified drinking water is only available along the Corridor trails, buy water pipes can break anytime so always carry water when hiking.
You would need about 4 liters of water per day during summer, remember it is nearly impossible to see how much you are sweating as it evaporates way too quickly. Carry your water bottle in-hand and sip regularly, do not wait till you are thirsty as you may be dehydrated by then.
Rest regularly, about every half an hour, eat salty foods like peanuts and raisins, saltine crackers, pretzel or potato crisps to replace the electrolytes you are losing through perspiration.
Leg cramps and nausea are often the early stages of hyponatremia, or low sodium levels in your blood due to only water and too little salt intake.
Extras to Pack
Maps in particularly topographic maps, a compass or GSP are essential when walking in the wilderness. Depending on the length of your hike, it may be advisable to pack additional clothes, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a whistle, a knife, toilet paper, a small trowel and Ziplock plastic bags.
Need to Know
You are not allowed to start a fire anywhere throughout the backcountry. Everything you carry into the canyon you are required to carry back out, and that includes any used toilet paper or hygiene products used in areas where there are no toilet facilities available.
Also bury feces in shallow, 15 cm deep “catholes “ at least 60 m from any water sources, campsites or trails.
Visiting the Grand Canyon every American should try doing, hiking is optional but should you feel the desire to do so plan ahead and come back with loads of beautiful pictures and fond memories.