Trip Description
Our Grand Canyon South Rim Hiking & Camping Tour is the perfect way to experience the Canyon’s most iconic trails, viewpoints, and hidden corners - without the burden of worrying about the logistics and gear. Over three exciting days, you’ll join our team of professional guides for day hikes below the rim, visits to world-famous overlooks, and time exploring the cultural and natural history of this remarkable landscape.
Each evening, you’ll return to a well-appointed basecamp near the South Rim, where your guide will prepare hearty, delicious meals and you’ll relax by the campfire under a canopy of stars. This tour is designed to deliver the best of both worlds: unforgettable Grand Canyon hiking adventures by day, with the comfort and camaraderie of a fully outfitted campsite each night.
Highlights
- Iconic South Rim Hikes — Explore the Bright Angel Trail, panoramic ridgelines of the South Kaibab Trail, and quiet west-rim trails.
- Comfortable Basecamp — Relax around the fire, enjoy hearty camp meals, and stargaze each evening.
- Expert Canyon Guides — Learn the geology, ecology, and human history from local experts.
- Unforgettable Viewpoints — Desert View Watchtower, Yavapai Geology Museum, and hidden overlooks.
- All-Inclusive Adventure — Transportation from Flagstaff, meals, gear, and logistics included.
- Small Groups, Personal Attention — Travel with an intimate group and enjoy a customized hiking pace.

Overview
Type: Hiking & Basecamp
Days: 3 Days
Distance: Up to 18 miles
Itinerary
Day 1 - Flagstaff to the South Rim & Bright Angel Trail
Hiking: Up to 6 miles, 2000 feet descent / ascent
Drive Time: 1.5 hours from Flagstaff
Meals: Light Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We’ll depart Flagstaff early and drive through northern Arizona to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Our first hike takes us down the legendary Bright Angel Trail, a route used for centuries to access the inner Canyon.
Along the way, your guide will share the geologic story of the Canyon’s formation and the history of the Indigenous peoples who first walked these paths.
After the hike, we’ll stop at the Yavapai Geology Museum for exhibits and sweeping rim views, then head to our basecamp. Settle in, relax, and enjoy your first dinner under the stars.
Day 2 - Panoramic Ridges & Desert View Watchtower
Hiking: 6 miles, 2000 feet descent / ascent
Drive Time: Up to 1.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we’ll descend a rocky ridgeline into the depths of the Canyon, where panoramic views stretch for miles and glimpses of the Colorado River reward our efforts.
Your guide will bring the landscape to life with stories of geologic wonders and tales of early explorers.
After a picnic lunch on the trail, we’ll visit the Desert View Watchtower, where the vistas are dramatically different from yesterday’s hike.
Back at camp, enjoy another delicious dinner and an evening around the campfire.
Day 3 - Quiet Trails & Hidden Springs
- Hiking: Up to 6 miles, 1800 feet ascent / descent
- Drive Time: 2 hours back to Flagstaff
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
On our final day, we’ll explore a peaceful west-rim trail that descends into a basin shaded by pinyon pine and juniper. The path winds toward a sandstone alcove where a secluded spring offers a quiet retreat.
Along the way, learn about the 19th-century prospectors and guides who built these early trails.
After a final canyon-side lunch, we’ll return to Flagstaff in the late afternoon—bringing home memories of an unforgettable Grand Canyon hiking and camping experience.
Trip Dates
2025 Trip Dates
Starting in 2026, please see below.
2026 Trip Dates
- Apr 12-15
- Apr 21-24
- Apr 27-30
- May 8-11
- May 18-21
- Sep 16-19
- Sep 27-30
- Oct 8-11
Don’t see your dates? Custom dates may be available!
Call 1-928-525-1552 or email us for details.
Details
What’s Included
Your Grand Canyon South Rim Hiking & Camping Tour is designed to be all-inclusive. We provide everything you need so you can focus on the adventure, not the logistics:
- Two nights of comfortable camping near the South Rim
- All necessary camping gear: tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and all cooking/eating supplies
- Daypacks and trekking poles
- All meals from a light breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the final day, plus hearty trail snacks each day
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Flagstaff, AZ to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
- All park entrance fees and permits
- Expert local guides with wilderness first responder certification and in-depth Canyon knowledge
What’s Not Included
To help you prepare, here’s what you’ll need to arrange on your own:
- Transportation to/from Flagstaff, Arizona (trip starting point)
- Lodging the night before and after the tour
- Personal clothing, footwear, and rain gear suitable for hiking in variable weather
- Personal toiletries and sun protection
- Refillable water bottles or a hydration bladder (recommended capacity: 3 liters)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (suggested ~15% of trip cost, at your discretion)
How Many People In Group
Most trips will accommodate 6 people plus one guide. On occasion, a group may be as large as 9 people plus 2 guides.
Are There Age Restrictions?
Children must be 12 years old to join mixed group trips. For private trips, we can accommodate as young as 7 years old.
How Do I Sign Up
In order to confirm a reservation, we require an initial deposit of $250 per person, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the trip’s departure. If you book a trip within 90 days of the trip’s scheduled departure, then full payment is due at the time of booking.
Once we confirm availability, you will be provided with an online registration link. Your deposit is payable online by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or ACH transfer.
Travel Logistics
Where does the trip begin/end?
This trip will begin/end in Flagstaff, AZ and you will need to spend the night prior to your trip’s scheduled departure in Flagstaff. You will want to fly into either Phoenix (2 hour drive) or Flagstaff. Please visit our Travel Resources page for information on airports, shuttles/rental cars and recommended hotels.
Where do meet our guides?
We will hold a pre-trip orientation at 4:00pm the evening prior to your trip’s departure at the Little America hotel in Flagstaff. Departure times and logistics for the following morning will be discussed at the orientation. Most trips will depart by 6:30am.
*This meeting is not mandatory, but highly recommended, as we will depart early the next morning. If you are unable to attend, please let us know in advance so that we can make alternate arrangements.
What do we do with our car and extra stuff?
We will provide all transportation to/from trailheads for the duration of the trip. We will pick you up at your hotel in Flagstaff and return you there at the trip’s conclusion. Guests staying at the Little America Hotel (recommended) can leave their cars at the hotel. The hotel will often store your luggage for you, as well. If not, we are happy to store extra luggage at our warehouse for the duration of the trip. If you are staying at a different hotel, you will need to check with them as to whether you can leave your car there.
What time will we get back on the last day?
Expect to be back in Flagstaff by 5pm at the latest on the last day of the trip. Many trips will return earlier but we cannot make any guarantees. In general, it is recommended that you do not plan to fly home on the same day your trip finishes. Since each trip has slightly different logistics, feel free to contact us with specific questions related to the expected return time for your trip.
Guest Testimonials
List of Services
-
Chantal W.
“I absolutely LOVED my experience with Four Season Guides and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing time in the Canyon. This small Flagstaff company goes above and beyond to make everything about the trip exceptional in every way - from the first time I reached out for information to the last day of our trip the personal attention provided was so greatly appreciated. The itinerary was perfect, it was wonderful to take time to experience every moment of wonder the Canyon has to offer. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the geology, fauna and history of the Canyon - we learned so much! He pointed out so many things that we would otherwise have walked right past...wow! Food and snacks were delicious and abundant. I highly recommend Four Season Guides and plan to be a return customer again in the future!”
Chantal W.
-
Colleen P.
“Such an amazing trip! Our guide Bri was outstanding! She understood what our group wanted and tailored the trip to take advantage of the best views and trail conditions. Am definitely going to use Four Seasons again for future hiking adventures!”
Colleen P.
-
Amanda L.
“We wanted to experience a hike into the Grand Canyon with our 12, 10, and 7 year old children, and Four Seasons Guides delivered! By leading a private tour, they were able to accommodate my 7-year old’s fear of heights and even conquer it to some degree. Our guide was Brian, and he was enthusiastic, positive, and very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the canyon. He held our interest at every step, and he even took great family shots without that “selfie” vibe. Many hikers passed us going up and down, and many slowed down to eavesdrop on Brian’s information.
You can absolutely do a hike into the canyon without a guide but having one really enhances the experience and gives you more than just good views. I highly recommend using Four Seasons Guides for any of your adventures. They go out of their way to ensure you have exactly the experience you’re looking for.”
Amanda L.
Price:
$1675 per person
01
Top-Ranked Tour Company
Don’t take our word for it. More than a thousand 5-Star reviews on TripAdvisor will attest to the quality of our adventures.
Exceptional Guides
03
Our guiding staff consists primarily of seasoned veterans who have been guiding professionally, full-time, for a decade or more. In addition to their extensive experience, our guides are fun, accommodating, approachable, entertaining, polite and just plain good people.
All-Inclusive Tours
04
We’re at work, you’re on vacation! We take care of all the logistics associated with a backcountry adventure and handling all the dirty work. Gear, food, permits, transportation…we have you covered and it’s all included.
Local Experts
02
The Southwestern U.S. is our home and our passion. We’ve been exploring this region for decades and know it intimately. This is our niche and nobody does it better.
Four Season Guides
Why Travel With Fsg



