Grand Canyon National Park

South Canyon Trail

Parks › Arizona › Grand Canyon › Points of Interest
CONTENTS

South Canyon is usually dry, but if hiking after heavy rain or snow melt, clear water may flow over smooth polished rock of the creek bed. Follow the cairns and well traveled footpaths rather than hiking through the creek bed much of the way and the hike will be easier. Locating the cairns is not always easy as the path goes over boulders, through bushes, into the wash, crisscrossing to either side of the canyon and up high on ledges to avoid pour offs. The mileage to the river from the canyon bottom is measured at a little less than 6 miles but with all the maneuvering around obstacles the route is much longer and time consuming. Carrying a large pack through much of this hike is difficult. South Canyon is strewn with large boulders, Tamarisks and sagebrush. Hike down the wash for about an hour, noting the limestone alcove on the left. Continue down the wash and the sandy bottom changes to hard rock. About 2 hours into the hike the bedrock becomes interesting. The elevation at this point is 4057'

Trail Conditions: There is a beaten dirt path during a good portion of the hike, but be prepared for boulder hopping while wearing a heavy backpack. A couple of ledges are dangerously narrow.
Trailhead: South Canyon (Not South Rim!) 20 miles east of Jacobs Lake and then 22 miles on a dirt road.
Trailend: Colorado River to Vasey's Paradise and then reverse route back to South Canyon rim.
Trail Access: Year-round, but the dirt road can be impassible after rain or snow.
Best Season: Spring and Fall.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Classic Grand Canyon Hike: No
Elevation gain/loss: 2656' from the rim to the river
Starting Elevation: 5576' South Canyon Rim
River Elevation: 2920'
Restrooms: None. Required 6" cat hole for waste and pack out toilet paper.
Water Availability: Vasey's Paradise is a reliable spring to filter water. The Colorado River water can be filtered, but the water is silty and South Canyon might have water running after a heavy rain.

Directions

From Fredonia, Arizona, proceed on highway 89A, bypassing the turnoff on highway 67 to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Turn right between mile posts 559 and 560. This is House Rock Buffalo Ranch Road. The graded dirt road is 22 miles/35.4km long. There is a brochure box at the entrance that often has information on the ranch and the California Condors that were released in this area at the Vermillion Cliffs. Follow the main dirt road for 19 miles/30.6km to the junction with USFS road 632. Turn left on road 632. This road is usually passable with a 2WD, but after rains or snow, the road can become difficult even with a 4WD. The flat strip of land to the left is a primitive airstrip. Turn right at the end of the airstrip and follow the rough road a little more than a mile to the South Canyon rim. The first .77 miles (measured as the crow flies, so its more like 1 mile) is a steep descent. It is 1,140' from the rim to the canyon floor below. Locate the sign for the trailhead and the cairn marking the location, to begin the down-climb. Be careful to keep site of the cairns on the route. Do not stray from the cairn defined route to the social trails. The start of the hike is an easy to navigate chute, followed by a series of steep switchbacks, with a few short down-climbs over and between fallen boulders. If wearing a large backpack, the down-climbs can be difficult. A flat outcropping of Toroweap limestone forms a large shelf about two-thirds of the way down. A well beaten dirt path traverses (2 dirt paths here one steeper than the other) the outcropping of limestone leading to a slickrock break. Follow the cairns and foot path down the cliff-side to the final set of switchbacks descending to the canyon floor.