All-Women’s Kanab Creek Wilderness Backpacking 

Our adventure begins with a scenic drive from Flagstaff, winding through the breathtaking landscapes of northern Arizona. We cross the mighty Colorado River at the historic Navajo Bridge and arrive at the trailhead for our warm-up hike.

We will embark on an exciting adventure through a stunning, narrow canyon that winds its way down to the banks of the Colorado River. The gorge grows deeper with every step, until the cliffs are several hundred feet overhead. Arriving at the banks of the river, we will pause to relax and soak in the beauty of this beautiful and remote location. 

After retracing our steps, we’ll check in at our nearby lodge for the night. Once we’ve settled in, we’ll regroup for a gear check and backpacking orientation, making sure everyone feels confident and prepared for the days ahead. It’s also our chance to begin building the camaraderie and trust that make these women’s trips so powerful. We'll share dinner together at the lodge’s restaurant before heading to bed for a good night’s rest—excited for the journey to truly begin tomorrow.

Drive Time: 2 hours

Distance & Elevation: 3 miles, 500-foot descent / ascent

Lunch, Dinner

We’ll start the day early with a nourishing breakfast and then set out on a two-hour drive to the remote north rim of the Grand Canyon, where our true backcountry adventure begins. At the trailhead, we’ll make our final gear adjustments and take a moment to absorb the vast quiet of this rarely visited corner of the canyon.

Our hike begins with a gradual descent into Upper Jumpup Canyon, following a dry creekbed through wide-open terrain framed by weathered cliffs. After about four miles, we’ll leave the wash and traverse the beautiful Esplanade, a broad sandstone bench known for its gentle slickrock hiking and sweeping desert views—a perfect introduction to the solitude and scale of this wilderness.

After a few miles, we begin a steeper descent into Sowats Canyon, where the walls begin to rise and the sense of seclusion deepens. A final mile along another dry wash brings us to a serene oasis tucked beneath cottonwoods and overhanging rock—our home for the next two nights.

Drive Time: 2 hours

Distance & Elevation: 8 miles, 1730-foot descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is all about exploration and discovery, with a full-day loop hike through some of the most stunning and secluded terrain in the Kanab Creek Wilderness—carrying only light day packs as we leave camp set up.

We’ll begin by following the canyon downstream to its confluence with Lower Jumpup Canyon. Before long, the landscape shifts dramatically as we step into the breathtaking Jumpup Narrows—a deep limestone gorge where smooth, water-carved walls rise hundreds of feet above us. The sheer scale and silence of this place make it a highlight of the trip and a powerful reminder of nature’s artistry.

After soaking in the magic of the Narrows, we’ll backtrack to a beautiful side canyon where we begin a scramble up toward the Esplanade. It’s a challenging ascent, but filled with rewards—hidden pools, delicate waterfalls, and shaded alcoves offering moments to rest, refuel, and simply marvel. We’ll stop for lunch along the way, surrounded by slickrock and sky.

Once back on the Esplanade, we’ll loop around on a scenic trail that eventually leads us back down into Sowats Canyon, completing our circuit and returning to the comforts of our familiar camp. It’s a big day—physically challenging, visually stunning, and deeply fulfilling—shared with a group of women moving through wild country together, one step at a time.

Distance & Elevation: ~9 miles, ~1200-foot ascent / descent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A new day dawns in the heart of the canyon, and with it comes a sense of calm strength and deep appreciation for the wilderness we’ve called home. After breakfast, we’ll pack up camp and begin making our way up-canyon, retracing part of our route as we move steadily back toward the rim.

Today’s hike is about four miles, with our goal being a peaceful campsite in the dry wash not far from a natural spring. Once we’ve arrived and set up camp for the final night, the afternoon is ours to enjoy. Whether you choose to wander the slickrock, explore nearby narrows, practice some gentle yoga, or simply settle into stillness with your journal or your thoughts, this is a space to savor the quiet and soak up the final hours in the backcountry.

We’ll close the day with a relaxed, shared meal under the stars—a celebration of the strength, laughter, and sisterhood that has carried us through this unforgettable journey.

Distance & Elevation: 4 miles, 400-foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After packing up camp one last time, we’ll set out on our final trek—a gentle 4-mile hike back to the trailhead at Jumpup Cabin. Though we covered this stretch on Day 1, the early morning light and changed perspective make it feel like a new experience.

Before the final climb to the trailhead, we’ll take time to visit a hidden spring and a set of ancient pictographs, quiet reminders of those who traveled this land long before us.

At the trailhead, we’ll enjoy a well-earned celebration lunch before loading up and beginning our drive back to Flagstaff. Expect to return by 5:00 PM at the latest, tired but fulfilled, carrying home not just memories, but a deeper connection to the wild—and to the women who shared it with you.

Hiking Distance & Elevation: 4 miles, 1400-foot ascent

Breakfast, Lunch

Drive Time: ~4 hours

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• All necessary gear: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
• All cooking/eating gear: bowls, cups, utensils (your guide will prepare all meals)
• All meals from a light breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last day + trail snacks
• Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon
• Entrance fees and backcountry permits
• 5% National Park Service Commercial Fee (a required fee that passes through to Grand Canyon National Park)

• Transportation to/from Flagstaff, AZ
• Lodging the night before/after the trip
• Clothing, raingear, and footwear
• Personal toiletries, sunscreen
• Water bottles/hydration bladder
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Guide gratuity (suggested 10-20% of trip cost)

*Upon Booking you will receive a detailed trip information packet

Most backpacking trips in Grand Canyon will accommodate 5 people plus one guide. On occasion, a group may be as large as 9 people plus 2 guides.

Our All Women’s Adventures are intended for adults 18 years of age or older.    

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.

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.

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 between 4:30am and 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.

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.

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.