The Escalante Route Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
| Address: | ~Unnamed Road, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA |
| GPS: |
36°1'58.4"N 111°51'8.3"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
| Trail Length: | 36.00 miles |
| Elevation Gain: | 9701.00 feet |
| Hike Difficulty: | Advanced |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
Pet Friendly
Backpack and Hike
The Escalante Route is one of the Grand Canyon's premier backcountry traverses, a rugged, unmaintained connector along the Colorado River between the Tanner Trail and the New Hance Trail on the canyon's eastern side. It is not a constructed trail but a route: a threading of beaches, benches, talus slopes and side canyons that demands solid route-finding, a head for exposure and real canyon experience. Most hikers do it as part of a classic three-to-five-day loop, descending the Tanner Trail from Lipan Point, following the Escalante Route downriver, and climbing out on the New Hance or continuing via the Tonto Trail toward Grandview.
From Tanner Beach the route works west past Cardenas Creek, the last reliable water before Escalante Creek, and climbs over the Dox Hills, then makes a long, airy traverse high above the river where in places the path narrows to a boot-width across steeply falling slopes, ground to take slowly and carefully. It drops to the beautiful, deep, narrow Shinumo Quartzite gorge of Seventyfive Mile Creek, threads the beaches past Nevills and Papago, and tackles the route's one real obstacle: the Papago Wall, a short, easy but exposed scramble up big secure holds where a light rope to haul packs is handy, followed by a steep boulder-filled gully back down to the shore. It finishes at Hance Rapids and the mouth of Red Canyon.
This is committing terrain with long waterless stretches, genuine exposure and no room for a careless misstep, and it requires an overnight backcountry permit. But the combination of riverside camps, colorful geology, deep solitude and real adventure makes the Escalante Route, for experienced canyon backpackers, one of the most memorable trips in the park.
More Information
Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary
This Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Grand Canyon National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/grand-canyon-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinEscalante Route - Wikipedia
The Escalante Route is a hiking trail on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. It starts near the Tanner Rapids (Tanner Graben) on the Colorado River and follows the river. It also passes by Escalante Creek and ends near the Hance Rapids. It falls into the lowest maintenance category ("route") of the Grand Canyon trails which means it is essentially unmaintained. There is a 30-feet cliff located near the Hance Rapids, popularly known as the Papago Wall, which needs to be climbed. The National Park Service advises to bring a rope for backpacks. There are several other easy, yet avoidable climbing opportunities in 75 Mile Canyon, some of which have been marked by cairns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalante_RouteNew Hance Trail - Wikipedia
The New Hance Trail (a.k.a. Red Canyon Trail) is a hiking trail on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is one of the "unmaintained" trails and, along with the similar Tanner Trail, is considered one of the most difficult trails on the South Rim. Unlike the Tanner Trail, there is no parking available at the trailhead, which is located about a 5-minute walk north of the South Rim main road. The trail ends at the Hance Rapids on the Colorado River. It is approximately 6.5 hiking miles and a 4400' descent from the South Rim main road at ~7040' to the Colorado River at ~2600' elevation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hance_TrailTanner Trail - Wikipedia
The Tanner Trail is a hiking trail located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. The trailhead is located at Lipan Point, a prominent lookout located to the east of the Grand Canyon Village, and the trail ends at the Colorado River at Tanner Rapids.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanner_TrailTonto Trail - Wikipedia
The Tonto Trail is a hiking trail on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonto_TrailBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
- Head west (344 ft)
- Turn right toward Village Loop Drive (141 ft)
- Turn right onto Village Loop Drive (0.2 mi)
- Turn right onto Center Rd (1.6 mi)
- Turn left onto AZ-64 E (1.3 mi)
- Turn right to stay on AZ-64 E (19.7 mi)
- Turn left (0.4 mi)
Other Hiking Trails and Backpacking Trails Nearby
Tanner Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
0.1 miles WA rigorous rim-to-river backpacking route recommended only for seasoned hikers — relentlessly steep, rocky, shadeless, and waterless until the Colorado River, with access to one of the canyon's most scenic beach campsites.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
Desert View Visitor Center Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
1.5 miles EA short trail starting just west of the Desert View Visitor Center along the East Rim — a convenient walk for those arriving from the East Entrance to the Grand Canyon.
Hike 
Tusayan Ruin Walk Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
1.6 miles SWA short walk to ancient Tusayan Ruin, reached about 4 miles west of the East Entrance Station along East Rim Drive.
Hike 
Blue Springs Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
3.2 miles EBlue Springs Trail in the Grand Canyon area — check AllTrails for current details and conditions before visiting.
Hike 9.1 mi
New Hance Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
4.5 miles SWA 9-mile out-and-back through Red Canyon to the Colorado River — one of the most difficult Grand Canyon trails with a 4,500-ft elevation change and very limited water sources.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
Tonto Trail: New Hance Trail to Grandview Point
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
6.0 miles SWA remote Grand Canyon hike connecting New Hance Trail to Grandview Point along the Tonto Trail — spectacular inner canyon scenery and serious backcountry adventure.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
Arizona Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
7.8 miles SWThis stretch of the Arizona Trail is its most spectacular and most demanding: the Grand Canyon crossing, where the roughly 800-mile state-long trail steps off the South Rim, descends nearly a...
Hike, Horseback 
Grandview Point to Horseshoe Mesa Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
7.9 miles WA rewarding day hike or backpack below the Grand Canyon's South Rim leading to the wide, woody expanse of Horseshoe Mesa.
Backpack, Hike 
Grandview Trail Loop
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
7.9 miles WA scenic Grand Canyon hiking trail — mountain bikes are illegal on Canyon trails, so lace up your boots and enjoy the views on foot.
Backpack, Camp, Cross-country Ski, Hike 
Tonto Trail from Grandview Point to South Kaibab Trailhead
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
7.9 miles WA rigorous four-to-five-day point-to-point backpack along the scenic, remote Tonto Trail from Grandview Point to the South Kaibab Trailhead — recommended for experienced Grand Canyon backpackers with careful water planning.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 0.5-0.8 mi
Cape Royal Trail
North Rim, Arizona
8.2 miles NWA flat, paved under-a-mile stroll to the tip of the North Rim's Cape Royal peninsula with sweeping canyon views, Angels Window, and the Colorado River framed in a natural arch.
Hike 0.8 mi
Cliff Springs
North Rim, Arizona
8.3 miles NWA hike past a granary ruin, overhanging rocks, and stunning Grand Canyon views to an alcove filled with Anasazi pictograph hand prints — some unfortunately defaced.
Hike 
Walhalla Overlook
North Rim, Arizona
8.5 miles NWHistory and geology converge at Walhalla Overlook on the Grand Canyon's North Rim, where sweeping views take in the Unkar Delta and the ancient farmland of those who once lived here.
Hike 
Walhalla Ruins
North Rim, Arizona
8.5 miles NWA short walk to authentic 900-year-old ancestral Pueblo ruins on Grand Canyon's North Rim, surrounded by canyon vistas on three sides at the lower-elevation Walhalla Plateau.
Hike 
Cape Final
North Rim, Arizona
9.1 miles NWA gentle climb through open ponderosa pine forest on the North Rim leads to a dramatic 180-degree canyon panorama at Cape Final — with a designated backcountry campsite right at the rim's edge.
Camp, Hike 1.1 mi
Shoshone Point Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
12.1 miles WA nearly level 1-mile dirt road through ponderosa pine opens to a stunning canyon overlook at Shoshone Point — a quiet, uncrowded gem with canyon rim views and a cool rock formation.
Hike 
The Grand Canyon: Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WAn unforgettable 2-3 day hike combining the South Kaibab's unbeatable views with the shaded, water-rich Bright Angel Trail — staring up at the canyon from the river below.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
South Kaibab to North Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WThe Grand Canyon's legendary Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim route — 44 miles and 20,000 feet of elevation change combining South Kaibab, North Kaibab, and Bright Angel trails for an epic multi-day adventure.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
South Kaibab to Phantom Ranch to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WA difficult but spectacular multi-day Grand Canyon hike combining South Kaibab's stunning rim views with Phantom Ranch's riverside oasis and Bright Angel's shaded water stations.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 5.7 mi
Rim Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WA mostly paved 12-mile walking path along the South Rim with spectacular Grand Canyon views, shaded areas, accessible sections for wheelchairs and strollers, and optional shuttle service.
Hike, Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Tanner Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
0.1 miles WA rigorous rim-to-river backpacking route recommended only for seasoned hikers — relentlessly steep, rocky, shadeless, and waterless until the Colorado River, with access to one of the canyon's most scenic beach campsites.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 9.1 mi
New Hance Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
4.5 miles SWA 9-mile out-and-back through Red Canyon to the Colorado River — one of the most difficult Grand Canyon trails with a 4,500-ft elevation change and very limited water sources.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Tonto Trail: New Hance Trail to Grandview Point
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
6.0 miles SWA remote Grand Canyon hike connecting New Hance Trail to Grandview Point along the Tonto Trail — spectacular inner canyon scenery and serious backcountry adventure.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Grandview Trail Loop
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
7.9 miles WA scenic Grand Canyon hiking trail — mountain bikes are illegal on Canyon trails, so lace up your boots and enjoy the views on foot.
Backpack, Camp, Cross-country Ski, Hike
Tonto Trail from Grandview Point to South Kaibab Trailhead
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
7.9 miles WA rigorous four-to-five-day point-to-point backpack along the scenic, remote Tonto Trail from Grandview Point to the South Kaibab Trailhead — recommended for experienced Grand Canyon backpackers with careful water planning.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Cape Final
North Rim, Arizona
9.1 miles NWA gentle climb through open ponderosa pine forest on the North Rim leads to a dramatic 180-degree canyon panorama at Cape Final — with a designated backcountry campsite right at the rim's edge.
Camp, Hike
The Grand Canyon: Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WAn unforgettable 2-3 day hike combining the South Kaibab's unbeatable views with the shaded, water-rich Bright Angel Trail — staring up at the canyon from the river below.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
South Kaibab to North Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WThe Grand Canyon's legendary Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim route — 44 miles and 20,000 feet of elevation change combining South Kaibab, North Kaibab, and Bright Angel trails for an epic multi-day adventure.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
South Kaibab to Phantom Ranch to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WA difficult but spectacular multi-day Grand Canyon hike combining South Kaibab's stunning rim views with Phantom Ranch's riverside oasis and Bright Angel's shaded water stations.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 13.6 mi
South Kaibab Trails
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WSeven miles of ridgeline descent from Yaki Point to the canyon floor — no shade, no water on trail, and the best unobstructed Grand Canyon panoramas you'll find on any hike.
Camp, Hike, Horseback 
Clear Creek Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
13.0 miles WA 4–6 day Grand Canyon backpack deep into a fascinating, off-the-beaten-track drainage — bring plenty of water, as Clear Creek is the only reliable source on trail.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 0.6 mi
Mather Campground Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
14.8 miles WA 1-mile connector trail adjacent to Mather Campground on the Grand Canyon South Rim — flat and easy for biking, running, or walking with pets on leash; campground has RV options nearby.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike 
Grand Canyon South Rim Area Campgrounds
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
15.5 miles WCampgrounds at the Grand Canyon's South Rim, one of the most iconic settings in the American Southwest.
Camp 1.5-9.8 mi
The Bright Angel Trails
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
16.4 miles WMultiple Bright Angel Trail routes range from a 5.4-mile out-and-back to the Three-Mile Resthouse to a 19-mile trek to the river, with the 12.4-mile South Kaibab–Tonto–Bright Angel point-to-point offering over 3,000 feet of Grand Canyon grandeur.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback 4.5 mi
Bright Angel Trail to Bright Angel Campground and River Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
16.4 miles WThe Bright Angel Trail is the Grand Canyon's most storied hike — South Rim to the Colorado River past tunnels, pictographs, Havasupai Gardens, and the Devil's Corkscrew.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Rock Climb 
Bright Angel Trail to Three-Mile Rest house
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
16.4 miles WA steep 5.4-mile out-and-back trail descending into the Grand Canyon with 360-degree canyon views and extreme switchbacks — water and pit toilets at the Three-Mile Resthouse turnaround point.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 4.9 mi
Bright Angel Trail to Tonto Trail
Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
16.4 miles WA rugged 12.4-mile point-to-point through Grand Canyon's inner gorge on the South Kaibab–Tonto Trail corridor, with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain — advanced hikers only.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
Rim-to-Rim: North Kaibab to Grand Canyon Village
North Rim, Arizona
17.1 miles NWA four-day rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike with stops at Ribbon Falls, Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Camp, and a sunset at Plateau Point that must be seen to be believed.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 
Phantom Ranch to Ribbon Falls on North Kaibab Trail
North Rim, Arizona
17.1 miles NWA classic Grand Canyon corridor hike on the North Kaibab Trail from Phantom Ranch to Ribbon Falls.
Camp, Hike 
North Kaibab Trail to Colorado River
North Rim, Arizona
17.1 miles NWA steep, well-maintained, and well-marked trail dropping from the North Rim to the Colorado River — perfect for experienced hikers ready for serious elevation change.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
