Havasupai Gardens & Plateau Point Hike
Adventure Details
The Havasupai Gardens campground is located 4.5 miles below the rim, half way to the Colorado River at the bottom. This campground has a perennial water source running through which offers a lush green atmosphere at the campgrounds. This backpacking tour and guided hike to Havasupai Gardens is an ideal trip for families and light hikers wanting to camp below the rim and visit the Colorado River. On this trip you will stay at the iconic Havasupai Gardens Campground and on the 3 day hiking option will have the opportunity to day hike down to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch at the Bright Angel Campground. 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 to Havasupai Gardens down the Bright Angel Trailhead for a 4.5 mile hike. The trail descends over 4,800 feet down to the canyon floor of this spectacular gorge. We will be stopping at about 3,000 feet below the rim at Havasupai Gardens. 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 Havasupai Gardens Campground, it's time for a nice lunch break under the shady cottonwood trees where we set camp for the evening. A large spring gushes from a cliff face in this verdant oasis. After our rest, we continue down further, now joined by the stream formed by the spring. That evening we enjoy dinner at Plateau Point overlooking the Colorado River, about three miles roundtrip from our campsite before camping under the stars.
Day 2:
You awaken to the smell of fresh coffee and breakfast being prepared by your guide. Then we are off to wind down the Devil's Corkscrew, a series of exhilarating switchbacks and then on to the Colorado River. We cross the extension bridge to the north side and arrive at the Bright Angel Campground. We will enjoy a deli lunch on the canyon floor where you and your guide will select some unique areas to explore before enjoying the hike back to our Indian Garden campsite.
Day 3:
On the last day of our Grand Canyon backpacking tour and guided hike, 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 Scottsdale by about 6:00 pm. We hope to have provided you with a wonderful experience "below the rim."
Pickup Locations
Our Grand Canyon Havasupai Gardens hike and guided backpacking tours start and end in Scottsdale, AZ; saving you travel time and money on your travel expenses compared to leaving from Flagstaff, AZ. Transportation from our Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale, AZ the night prior to the hike.
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Cost:
2 Day – $897
3 Day – $1147 -
Type:
Backpacking
-
Length:
2-3 days
-
Difficulty:
Moderate
-
Mileage:
9 – 17+ miles
-
Elevation change:
5200 Ft.
-
Season:
Year-Round
*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.
Accepted Credit Cards
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 Scottsdale
- 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
-
Cost:
2 Day – $897
3 Day – $1147 -
Type:
Backpacking
-
Length:
2-3 days
-
Difficulty:
Moderate
-
Mileage:
9 – 17+ miles
-
Elevation change:
5200 Ft.
-
Season:
Year-Round
*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.
Accepted Credit Cards
Questions? Inquire Below!
-
Cost:
2 Day – $897
3 Day – $1147 -
Type:
Backpacking
-
Length:
2-3 days
-
Difficulty:
Moderate
-
Mileage:
9 – 17+ miles
-
Elevation change:
5200 Ft.
-
Season:
Year-Round