Has anyone walked the length of the Grand Canyon?

Twenty-four astronauts left the Earth's orbit for the moon. But only 12 people have ever walked the length of Grand Canyon in one continuous push. Why? There are no towns for resupply, no base camps for logistics support, and in fact, no trails for the vast majority of the 700 miles.



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There are three ways to reach the canyon floor. You can do it by foot, following the many inner-canyon trails including the popular Kaibab or Bright Angel trails from the South Rim (note that Kaibab has a North Rim trailhead as well).

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DO NOT attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day, especially during the months of May to September. Many options are available for day hikers. Both the South Rim and the North Rim offer rim trail hikes that have spectacular views of the inner canyon, some on paved trails.

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The Bottom Line Making your way to and from the bottom of the canyon isn't a cake walk but it is absolutely possible to get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in one day. With a little effort, courage, and preparedness, you can smoothly make the trip!

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Carved by the Colorado River and other geological forces, it is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. Nearly five million people visit the canyon annually, but as we later learned, only about one percent of them hike all the way to the bottom, as we planned to do.

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Q: How long will it take to get to the bottom from the South Rim? A: The South Kaibab Trail is 6.8 miles to Bright Angel Campground and the Bright Angel Trail is 9.3 miles. It will take most hikers between 4 and 5 hours to get to the campground on either trail.

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Well, yes, you can get to Africa from the Grand Canyon. You cannot walk to Africa from the Grand Canyon though unless you go up through Alaska then into Russia and all the way through Central Asia and into Africa.

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Grand Canyon day trip – which Rim to visit It's about 277 miles (446 km) long and up to 18 miles (29 km) wide. Needless to say, you won't be able to experience all of it in a day, not even in a week or two… But you can certainly see some amazing places, even if you are just visiting Grand Canyon as a day trip.

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Nearly five million people visit the canyon annually, but as we later learned, only about one percent of them hike all the way to the bottom, as we planned to do. Our chosen route was the South Kaibab trail. Created in the 1920s, the trail winds down 7.1 miles to our destination – Phantom Ranch – at the bottom.

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Nestled at the Bottom of Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the canyon rim, and can only be reached by mule, on foot, or by rafting the Colorado River. Have questions about the lottery process? Click here for the lottery schedule, additional information and/or FAQs regarding the Phantom Ranch Lottery.

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There is something for everyone within the Grand Canyon, as long as YOU know your limitations! The Bright Angel Trail is a good one to start with. You can hike down to the 1 1/2 mile resthouse and turn around here or if you feel you are in better shape due to conditioning then you can go down to the 3 mile resthouse.

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Is there cell service in the Grand Canyon? You can get Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T cell coverage in the Grand Canyon, but it's more stable in the south rim areas. You can access all three carriers in the south rim area, especially in the Grand Canyon Village area, where there's more infrastructure.

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With less elevation gain and a slightly longer trail, the hike up Bright Angel is easier than South Kaibab.

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Camping at the Bottom of Grand Canyon Camping underneath Grand Canyon is one of the unique experiences in America. Bright Angel camping ground provides drinking water and a toilet. Backcountry camping is also allowed for more rugged places; however, you will have to provide permits.

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Staying Overnight Overnight hiker dormitories and cabins can be reserved and meals are available for purchase. Advance reservations for meals and lodging at Phantom Ranch are required. Reservations are made through Xanterra via an on-line lottery 15 months in advance.

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