Horseshoe Mesa
Grand Canyon Backpacking Tour
Backpacking Gear Included
|Fresh Meals Prepared Daily
|Professional Wilderness Guides
Horseshoe Mesa
Grand Canyon Backpacking Tour
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Cost:
$1047 – $1347
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Type:
Backpacking
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Length:
2-3 days
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Difficulty:
Moderate
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Mileage:
12-15+ miles
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Elevation change:
2600 Ft.
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Season:
September – May
*IMPORTANT* – Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Grand Canyon, this tour should be booked no less than 5+ months out to obtain permits. We accept and encourage bookings less than five months out but permit availability may be limited.
Adventure Details
Horseshoe Mesa is located approximately 3 miles miles below the rim, down the Grandview Trail. Our Horseshoe Mesa backpacking tour and guided hike is an ideal trip for families and light hikers wanting to camp below the rim and experience the canyon without a really challenging hike. This hike can be done over 2 - 3 days and offers a number of great day hiking options including a day to the iconic and magnificent Cave of the Domes! Check out our 2 day option if you are looking for something a little quicker but still allows you to say you camped in the canyon!
Adventure Itinerary
Day 1:
We meet you at your Scottsdale hotel and drive to the south rim. We begin our backpacking tour and guided hike to Horseshoe Mesa down the Grandview Trailhead for 3 miles. The trail descends over 2,600 feet down to the mesa of this spectacular gorge. We will be stopping at about 3,000 feet below the rim at Horseshoe Mesa. You will be carrying a backpack weighing approximately 35-37 pounds. It will contain your personal belongings along with the food and camping gear we provide. Our expert guide will interpret the various rock layers for you during the descent in which the age of the earth is clearly outlined. The Grand Canyon is one of the very few places in the world where you can see rock layers that age back to over two billion years old, half the age of the earth! Once we arrive at our Campground on Horseshoe Mesa, it's time for a nice lunch break overlooking to great expanse of the canyon where we set camp for the evening. Day hikes to Cottonwood Creek or Hance Creek can be done after lunch.Day 2:
You awaken to the smell of fresh coffee and breakfast being prepared by your guide. Then we are off to explore the Cave of the Domes. We will enjoy a deli lunch on our hike where you and your guide will select some unique areas to explore before enjoying the hike back to our campsite.Day 3:
On the last day of our Horseshoe Mesa backpacking tour, we're up early for a nutritious breakfast and preparations to head back to the trailhead. It seems going back up the canyon that the views are always different than on the way down. There is so much to see and so many memories you will have once you are home again. We reach the trailhead by late morning and take a last look at the Grand Canyon's vastness while enjoying a deli lunch. We arrive back in Phoenix by about 4:00 - 6:00 pm. We hope to have provided you with a wonderful experience "below the rim."Pickup Locations
Our Grand Canyon Horseshoe Mesa hike and guided backpacking tours start and end in Phoenix, AZ; saving you travel time and money on your travel expenses compared to leaving from Flagstaff, AZ. Transportation from our Phoenix Hotel Partner is included in the cost of the tour. We do not pickup in Flagstaff, AZ as orientation is mandatory and takes place in Phoenix, AZ the night prior to the hike.
What to Bring
Our camping and hiking trips include round trip transportation, all pro-quality gear and meals required for your adventure. This includes tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking supplies, trekking poles, and daypacks and/or backpacks. We are happy to accommodate food allergies and most dietary restrictions. Please include your preferences in your Registration Form so that we can prepare accordingly.
Gear Included
Discovery Treks tours are all inclusive tours which include:
- All meals from lunch day 1 through lunch day 3
- An experienced Wilderness First Responder Certified Grand Canyon Backpacking Guide
- Transportation From Phoenix
- Necessary pro-quality backpacking gear including 65 - 75L Osprey backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles, double occupancy tent (Single tent upgrade available for $50)
- All permits and fees
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Don't see a tour date that works for you?
We may still be able to schedule additional tour dates that fall within your travel window.
Please call our office to inquire at 480-247-9266.