Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Grand Canyon - One day Rim to Rim

Hi everyone - This is somewhat off topic but still part of the "next great adventure" we all seek. We are going to do a one day rim to rim hike spring 08.......has anyone out there done this? Any advice such as north to south, south to north, when, transportation, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Hollywood53

We did a R2R2R trip over two days in October - it was just beautiful. We hiked down the S. Kaibab and up the N. Kaibab the first day, stayed at one of the cabins at the North Rim overnight and then on the second day we went back down the N. Kaibab and up the Bright Angel Trail.

Tips:

If you go down the S. Kaibab Trail, pick up the shuttle to the trailhead at the Bright Angel Lodge instead of at the Backcountry Office because the Bright Angel Lodge is the first stop and you'll be sure to get a spot on the bus.

You can reserve a sack lunch at the Phantom Ranch and pick it up whenever you pass through there, so you won't have to pack a lunch to bring with you.

Try to go when the water faucets are on along the trail - some of the faucets along the North Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail are seasonal. Water is always available at Phantom Ranch.

The side trip to Ribbon Falls off the N. Kaibab Trail is well worth the time, so make sure you do it.

If you stay overnight at the North Rim, the lodge/cabins at the North Rim are about 1.5 to 2 miles away from the trailhead; so you'll have to hitch a ride over in the evening. In the morning that will shuttle you from the North Rim Lodge to the N. Kaibab Trailhead for a minimal fee.

The facilities at the North Rim are seasonal - spring to fall.

You're going to have a great time.

Pictures from our R2R2R hike in October.

Thanks for the excellent info, Kathy! I am going to do a R2R one of these years, so this information will be really useful.

Several years back I was beginning the planning stages, and even spoke to rangers on the N rim. At that time, they said the area closes with the first snow, and doesn't open usually until sometime mid May -- Elevation is over 8,000. So that is something to consider.

I have indeed done a one day Rim to Rim trip. It's a point of pride in my curriculum vitae, because it's a demanding achievement.

This was many years ago - when I was in HS. Our history teacher owned a converted school bus and every year took a group through the Southwest, focusing on the Grand Canyon, Indian ruins (like Canyon de Chelly and the famous White House ruins), and Mesa Verde NP. When we were in the Grand Canyon (it was March, so there was snow and temps were cool), he offered to lead a trip down the Kaibab Trail and back up the Bright Angel Trail. The handful of us who took him up on the offer were good hikers. It was a blast heading downhill, and it's really pretty and green at the bottom. But coming up was another story - here was a group of 17 year olds in great shape, all spent and dragging at the end, since it's at least a 5,000 foot gain in elevation. A one day trip up Whitney may be longer in distance, but you go UP first and cruise down later.

It's spectacular, but my obvious pointers for a one day hike: Start early, and be sure you are in good shape. You've picked the right time - Spring.

I've done RtoR 3 times, twice S to N, once N to S. Considerations: N to S you end up in the afternoon full sun on a completely exposed wall. S to N you do the final hours in a canyon with lots of shade. N to S you have 1000 ft less total elevation gain but the trail is very steep. S to N the greater elev gain is on a much more gradual grade.

Unless you have 2 cars you need to use the shuttle. If you want to use the shuttle you'll want to make advance reservations. The shuttle runs N to S in the morning and S to N in mid day. Last time (Sept, 2005),I drove to the N Rim (which I like better than the S) and stayed overnight. Next morning I took the shuttle to the S Rim and stayed overnight there. The 3rd morning I was up very early, took the local shuttle to the Kaibab trailhead and was on the trail by 5 AM.

I think it's a great hike. But heat doesn't bother me much.

May 2006 we did R2R2R from S2N. Left at midnight and returned by 2:30 that same afternoon. We had excellant weather conditions, although it had gotten into the 90's by the end of the day.

Carried food/water and stashed a lot on the way out for the return trip. The key was to find a shady spot. One stashed item (soda) was missing on the way back, but other than that it was a great trip.

Saw a mountain lion at the bottom and felt it was following us up the north side, but never saw it after the first sighting.

One more thing: if you stay at the N rim and take the shuttle to the S you can ask the shuttle driver to pick you up at the N rim trailhead, drive your car there and it will be waiting for you when you get back to the top. It's less than 5 minutes out of the shuttle's way and the driver was glad to do it at no extra cost.

Hi Doug and I and another father son team did the rim to rim in 1982 Doug was 12 , I was in the best shape of my life, walking climbing etc. the trip was hard , main factor was the heat along the botton miles, learned more on that trip than most of my other adventures.


As we started down the North rim I saw an elderly couple (about my age now) they had brown bags from a market, and a gallon milk jug full of water, moving about the speed of tree growth, I said Hi as we past several hours later we had stopped to eat, they went by , I thought they must of planned a short hike and we would see them going back up , we started off again and went by the couple , I noticed when we were near the couple they would talk about the canyon, the birds , waterfalls, we had another break in the botton of the canyon , same couple walked by, now I thought what are they going to do? we past them again several times that day and each time they looked fresh relaxed and enjoying the trip, drinking from the milk jug and eating snacks from the sacks, as we were near the South Rim on our final rest the couple went by , they had finished the rim to rim in about 11 hours spent 0 dollars on gear and knew the key elements to take care of GO SLOW, DRINK AND EAT and its not a race that you need to be in front all the time.

I do a trip to the Canyon every year hike down stay the night and out in the morning. Thanks Doug

Just want to echo some of the sentiments of others - take a rim-to-rim hike in the Canyon very seriously. Heat, vertical, and going down before you go up can make this a quick trip to trouble for those who've never experienced Grand Canyon hiking. Be sure to hike within your limits ... and enjoy. There's nothing like the Canyon!

http://www.sierradescents.com/hiking/grand-canyon/walter-powell-route.html

I've done both R2R and R2R2R dayhikes, starting from south rim. Used the South Kaibab/North Kaibab trail for the R2R and Bright Angel/North Kaibab/Bright Angel for the R2R2R. As others have mentioned already, it's the heat between the river and Cottonwood campground that can get you. Yes, you have to hydrate yourself well, but also watch out for your salt level (potassium). When you sweat, you are loosing salt as well as water. Drinking all the water in world isn't going to prevent you from getting cramps and upset stomach if your salt level is not properly balanced. Use an electrolyte mix with your water, and use exactly amount the manufacturer recommends (don't use too much, as the mixes also contain large amounts of sodium and that can cause the same symptoms as too little salt).

Dressing properly for the hot, dry conditions can make a difference. I prefer sleeveless cotton t-shirt under a well-ventilated, long-sleeved, white sun shirt with long pants. A good sun hat is also essential.

I've done the GC R2R 3 years in a row now in mid to late October. It's truly one of the world's great one day hikes. Take everyone's advice seriously. It's not particularly difficult but there is exposure and no one to help you if you get in trouble. I would say that it is similar to a one day Mt. Whitney hike (without the altitude) but a bit easier. Proper hydration and nutrition are key. Plan on 12-13 hours and do it when the water is turned on along the trail. I prefer S to N on the Bright Angel and North Kaibab trails and then taking the shuttle from the north rim back to the south rim. S to N you have the sun at your back the whole way and you're not dealing with mules and a bunch of tourists on the trail when you're finishing and tired. The canyons and vistas on the north side as the sun is setting are spectacular. Usually we've been able to arrange Trans Canyon Shuttle to do an evening N to S run, even though that is not a scheduled run for them. As we were checking out the trailhead this past October the day before our hike, a hiker came through doing a one day R2R2R having started at 2 a.m. and doing the round trip in just over 16 hours. Pretty amazing. Have fun, be save and be prepared.

Did a S to N one day hike in late May of 1994. I agree with all the advice offered here. I will offer an additional note of caution because on my trip I experienced overheating and near dehydration. Temps at the bottom can be extremely warm and we had an exceptionally warm May day. The trail north of Plantom Ranch is exposed for a few miles before reaching a ranger station and great water source. I must admit I didn't eat enough or carry enough water; a valuable lesson learned that day I have not repeated since then.

I don't know for sure but I would venture a guess that there are more rescues and hikers in distress in the GC than on Mt. Whitney. It's a great hike but do not take it lightly.

Make sure you search the message board on this topic - a great thread happened about two years ago. After reading it, you can't help but add this hike to your life list of Must-Do's.

Not sure if this was mentioned yet, but the North Rim doesn't typically open until the second weekend in May. I've done the one-way trip about 5 times now, a Rim-Rim-Rim dayhike once and also a double crossing over 3 days as well.

The shuttle is the trans canyon shuttle, I think it costs about $70 for the one-way trip back around.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/bus.htm

It's just a long hike, no harder than hiking the main trail in a day. Actually I think easier since you don't have to breath at elevation either.

I struggle above 11,000 feet elevation, so I found the S. Rim to N. Rim day hike this past fall to be easier than the Whitney Main Trail day hike I did in June this past year. I was worried that my legs would stiffen up and get sore overnight at the North Rim and the N. Rim to S. Rim hike the next day would be really difficult, but that didn't happen. I must say though that the last part on the second day from Indian Gardens to the S. Rim were not a piece of cake.

We did a day hike down the S. Kaibab and up the Bright Angel trail last spring - that hike was a real pleasant day hike and definately easier and faster than the N. Rim to S. Rim hike.

About 7 years ago around Thanksgiving I did an overnight trip with my son. We hiked down the S. Kaibab Trail and stayed in the dorms down there overnight before hiking back up the next day. That was a wonderful trip and it was so nice to share it with my son.

Next time I might try a R2R2R day hike or maybe I'll stay overnight at Cottonwood Camp and make it a relaxed trip.

Anyway you do it - the Grand Canyon is just beautiful.

I've done this hike every year since 1979. I would not advise you to do Rim to Rim to Rim in one day. That's pretty brutal and in order yto complete it under 24 hours you need to trail run through the Box.

Here is my advice:

1. Do Rim to Rim to Rim in two days. It's easier logistically and not that hard to go back the next day assuming you're in shape.

2. Start at the NORTH RIM. Sorry for shouting but this is imperative. Why? Because you can leave your car at the North Kaibab parking lot and when you arrive at the South Rim, you can stay at the Thunderbird Lodge, which is within steps of the rim. If your begin at the South Rim and come back the North Rim, you will have transportation problems since the North Rim Lodge is 2.2 miles from the North Kaibab trailhead. Hitchhiking it is not as easy as you'd think, and most Rim to Rim-ers end up walking that additional mileage.

However, the most important reason for starting on the North Rim is because during the second leg, you will not encounter much traffic in the upper area of the North Rim. The South Rim is crawling with tourists who will not yield for you and have no trail etiquette. Trust me on this, I've done this hike for a quarter century and it never fails to be true. At the end of 48 miles, you do not want to be impeded. That is why you always start at the North Rim and end at the North Rim.

The trans canyone shuttle takes 6 hours and is a cramped, uncomfortable and miserable ride. It's far easier to simply spend the lay over day at the Thunderbird and return to the North Rim the next day.

For my money it's the greatest hike in North America. Nothing comes close. If you have any additional questions, ask away.

One last thing. I see you want to do it in the Spring. I would advise against this and opt for the Autumn. Aim for the last weekend the North Rim is open, usually mid-October. This year the Lodge closed October 17, but in 2005, they closed October 8.

If you do the Rim to Rim in the Spring, you will probably do it in mid-May when the North Rim opens up again. The sun on the trail in May is unrelenting. You will have very little shade and I've done Rim to Rims in May when the temps are 108 degrees at Cottonwood campground.

It is far better to do this in October, when the shade is plentiful, though it can still be brutal from the Box through the Aken house. The canyon is more beautiful and green in October than in May and you have far greater shade.

You do not need to run through the box to make it in 24 hours. I did it in 20 hours a few springs ago and there was NO running at all. A 2 MPH pace will get you through the whole thing in < 24 hours.

I did a Rim-Rim-Rim this year, but had a layover day on the North Rim. The North Rim in Fall is much more pleasant and peacefull than any day on the South Rim.

Thats just my opinion though. I haven't been doing it for 20+ years though, but do have 7 crossing completed.

-TIM-

I did a solo rim-to-rim a couple years ago, first week of June, down North Kaiabab and up Bright Angel. It was too hot in the inner canyon, so I rested a couple of hours at the bottom (drinking lemonade at Phantom), as well as a short nap when I came to the river rest house (on the South side of the Colorado), hoping for some cooling off before the steep part up to Indian Gardens. Hydrate well before this part! I have backpacked the canyon several times, and I prefer the North to South, just because it's less elevation to climb up when you are tired. As mentioned in this thread, going up the South Rim, the tourists have no trail sense, and will not step aside, and sometimes actually block your way. I just stopped for a rest, and put some space between them and I. I don't do the hike for the best time, just for the fun and the beauty of it. I did my rim to rim in 14 and a half hours.

As for a ride around, every time I have done this, I have had my husband, my dad, or good friend drive my vehicle around and meet me. When I did the one day rim to rim, my husband and kids drove around and met me just after sundown as I cleared the rim. They had been doing the touristy things all day, after arriving at the South Rim. I have, at times, offered to pay for a friend's motel room, giving them a free vacation just for driving my car from point A to point B. On my rim to rim, I hurt my knee going down, but didn't worry too much about it. I didn't run, just kept a good pace. good luck. Its a great hike, even (especially?) as a day hike.

I've done R2R several times without camping (you travel so much lighter), N to S, soloed it in 11 hours, done it in the day in summer and overnight too.

I'm over 50 and I drink too much so you should not find it difficult, although I abjure the grape for a day or two prior.

Just idiot-proof yourself. You need water. There are two 7 mile stretches on N. Kaibab without it and no water at all should you desire the torment of S. Kaibab. I have found one 2L bottle of water and one 2L bottle of electrolyte mix to be sufficient between water sources.

You also need real food and you need to actually eat it whether you want to or not. This is no joke.

Wear a hat. Wear long sleeves, light-colored and with a collar you can turn up on the neck. Take a flashlight regardless of whether you plan to walk in the dark. Changing into fresh inner and outer socks at the river works miracles. But take blister gear just in case. If you require advice about sunscreen you should not be going. Hiking poles makes the difference between hard clean fun and agony.

And you absolutely should reward yourself at the end. Either have a room reserved at the El Tovar if you go N-S or the Grand Canyon Lodge if S-N; even better is having a car waiting to whisk you back to Vegas and a suite, fine meal (tragically you might not be able to choke down wine the first night), and speaking strictly for myself a beautiful appreciative woman.

El Tovar/GC Lodge Res.: 888.297.2757
El Tovar dinner res.: 928.638.2631
GC Lodge dinner res.: 928.638.2611
Transcanyon shuttle: 928.638.2820

Travel alternatives I've used: (1) hire a driver from Vegas to drop me off at N. Rim and while I hike overnight drive over to meet me at S. Rim and then back to Vegas, where said beautiful woman theoretically has been lounging around Bellagio's pool; (2) Fly from Vegas to S. Rim and back on Scenic Air, latest number I have is 800.634.6801 - for that you will need the shuttle or other end-around ride unless you go R2R2R.