South Rim of the Grand Canyon Adventure Trip
RIDING TYPE
Introductory
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
June-July

Grand Canyon South Rim Adventure: Forest Trails, Scenic Biking, and The Big Ditch
On this trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, we begin in the picturesque Kaibab National Forest. Here, the majestic Ponderosa pines cover the gentle hills right up to the edge of the canyon. On this trip, we will camp in the quiet forest, away from the crowds, and pop into the Park itself for hikes, bike rides, views, and yes, a quintessential Grand Canyon mule ride!
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
From Flagstaff, AZ, we will shuttle north to Tusayan and head for the Red Butte, a promontory that will give us the lay of the land as we work our way toward the big ditch.
This three-mile round trip hike brings us to a Forest Service Fire Tower with 360-degree views of this idyllic landscape of mature trees, majestic elk, and gentle roads and trails.
After the hike, we will do a fun bike ride that leads right to our quiet, secluded camp for the night.
Today we will bike a fun section of the Arizona Trail. This trail runs the length of the state from the Utah border to Mexico, and the part of the trail we will experience today is a great introduction to mountain biking on singletrack trails.
Double track dirt roads are also an option, but either way, we are likely to see wildlife and wildflowers. Our destination is another fire tower with a view, which will be our camp for the night.
Once here, we will have an early dinner to give us plenty of time to head over to Grand View Point on the rim itself for a truly spectacular Grand Canyon sunset.
Today we head to the western side of the forest, building on the biking skills we learned the day before. We will utilize some fun and flowy singletrack as well as some historic double track roads as we learn about the history of the region.
Historical Note: The first European visited the South Rim in 1540 with the help of a guide from the Hopi tribe. His name was Captain Garcia Lopez, and he and his party spent three days trying to find a route down to the river before giving up and turning back into the forest.
We won’t give up! Instead, we will continue on to our comfortable camp just past the little town of Tusayan.
Today we head to the western part of the South Rim for a whole new set of views. First, we will check out the famous Bright Angel Trailhead.
From here, we will hike down off the rim to get a better look at the geology and begin to understand the layers of earth that the Colorado River has been working to expose for us to enjoy. There is evidence that the layers of the canyon were deposited some 70 million years ago, and it only took the river five to six million years to expose them.
What goes down must come up! We will head back up the trail for lunch along the rim, followed by our chance to meet the descendants of Brighty of the Grand Canyon. Burros and mules have been helping humans experience the Canyon for hundreds of years, so we will take a mule ride to honor their contribution before heading back to camp.
Our final day is a true highlight: biking the scenic West Rim Drive (Hermit Road). This road is famously closed to private vehicles, allowing us to cycle peacefully and stop at world-famous viewpoints like Powell Point, The Abyss, and Hermits Rest.
Enjoy final, unforgettable vistas of the Grand Canyon before our return shuttle to Flagstaff, filled with memories of an incredible adventure.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Dirt roads, smooth singletrack and pavement.
Overall Rating
Introductory
Technical Difficulty
Easy
Physical Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Altitude
6,000 - 7,500 feet
Biking Mileage
Hiking Mileage
No hiking mileage
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Flagstaff, AZ, 8:00 AM MST. Ending time: return to Flagstaff 3:00-4:00 PM last day. Getting there: at junction of I-40 and I-17; fly into Flagstaff (FLG) or Phoenix (PHX, Arizona Shuttle available).
Lodging Before Your Trip
La Quinta
This hotel is about one mile from the bike shop where the trip meets.
Aspen Inn B&B
www.flagstaffbedbreakfast.com
Includes full breakfast.
Quality Inn
Econolodge
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 1 cycling water bottle
- Camp chairs
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Mountain bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
-A DAY WITH-
Western Spirit
Three chapters to every day on the trail. We sweat the details so you can simply ride, eat well, and look up.
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