The Grand Canyon, located in Arizona and carved by the Colorado River, is almost wholly within the Grand Canyon National Park. The canyon provides visitors activities ranging from viewing the area from above at an information center to seeing the natural wonder up close and personal on a hike. A variety of Grand Canyon hiking tours are available.
Day Hikes
Many hiking tour companies offer day hikes that begin at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. These hikes typically last a few hours, and hikers are encouraged to bring plenty of snacks and water for the tour. The company Four Season Guides, for example, offers guided day hiking tours of the Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon Hikes also offers day hikes to visitors, and provides lunch, snacks, water, Gatorade, backpacks and poles to its customers. The guides are certified Wilderness First Responders, which means they are trained to respond to emergencies in remote settings.
Backpacking
For those who want a little more of a challenge than a day hike, many tour companies, such as Wildland Trekking and High Sonoran Adventures, offer backpacking opportunities. These tours encompass some well-known hikes of the Grand Canyon, including Phantom Ranch and rim-to-rim. Hikers usually meet at the South Rim, then proceed to hike for the better part of the day before setting up camp for the night. These experiences are offered in multi-day sessions for the most part.
Extreme
While backpacking may be fun to some, others just want the most extreme hike they can find. Fortunately, the Grand Canyon can provide that experience too. Some tour companies encourage customers to sign up for a multi-day, off-trail hike, which they say is one of the best ways to experience the Grand Canyon. Wildland Trekking, for instance, provides guides, gear, meals and local transportation to hikers on multi-day hikes. Many times, tour companies can tailor a hike to your needs if you desire a more challenging experience.
Multi-Trail
While many hiking tours in the Grand Canyon stick primarily to one trail, some hiking tours can switch to multiple trails depending on the number of days and distance you are hiking. For instance, Timberland Adventures provides a guided multi-day hike into the Grand Canyon that gathers at the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. The Timberland hike follows the West Rim before guests stay overnight at the Maswik Lodge. The next day, you hike the South Kaibab trail before climbing the Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim the following day.
Sights
On most any hiking tour of the Grand Canyon that you choose, you're sure to see at least a few interesting sights. Specific trail tours offered by popular guide companies include Bright Angel, South Kaibab, Deer Creek, Clear Creek, Tanner and Grandview, but there are many more. Trails and sights usually differ by level of difficulty or length of time in the canyon. Specific sights along trails include rivers, creeks, waterfalls, wildlife and rock formations.
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