Arizona Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch Rim to Rim Hiking 5 Day - 2026 Tour
Legendary Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike & Stay at Historic Phantom Ranch
- Available: June
- Activity: Level 5
- Accommodations: Comfortable Hotels, Rustic Lodging
Highlights
- Hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim, with a two-night stop at the famous Phantom Ranch
- Walk back in geological history among the vastness of the Canyon
- Explore the canyon's depths and relax on the banks of the Colorado River
Itinerary
Meet in the Phoenix & View the Vermilion Cliffs
Day 1
Meet your guides and fellow travelers this morning near Phoenix, Arizona. Today you shuttle to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with some interesting stops along the way. You will break at Cameron Indian Trading Post, which was established in 1916. It is now a famous showplace for fine Native American art and Southwest art. After crossing the Colorado River near Lees Ferry (the launch point for rafting the Grand Canyon), you will stop for lunch at the base of the Vermilion Cliffs. The day’s end will find you settling into comfortable accommodations at the Grand Canyon's North Rim, packing your daypacks for two nights at Phantom Ranch, and preparing for the challenge awaiting you in the morning.
Accommodation: Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim
Activity: 2 miles hiking with minimal elevation gain and loss
Transportation: 6 hours private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Descend into the Canyon on the North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch
Day 2
An early wake-up call signals the start of your big hike! Today's descent is 14 miles and 5,700' into the grandest of canyons through nearly every biological life zone in North America. As you drop from the alpine to the desert, each step takes you thousands of years back in geologic time through ancient oceans, deserts, lakes, and swamps. With mind-blowing vistas, 100' waterfalls, green spring-fed oases, plus fascinating trail design and workmanship, the North Kaibab Trail is a national treasure. At the trail's end, you'll find Phantom Ranch nestled on the banks of Bright Angel Creek just before its confluence with the mighty Colorado River. Phantom Ranch, a former hunting camp founded in 1903, is your home for the next two nights at historic Phantom Ranch.
Accommodation: Phantom Ranch-Grand Canyon National Park
Activity: 14 miles hiking with 6,000' elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Hidden Depths of the Park on the Clear Creek and River Trails
Day 3
A day in the very bottom of the Grand Canyon is all yours, with the canyon walls blocking out the rest of the world, offering a feeling of tremendous peace and tranquility. Today, you have the option to hike the beautiful Clear Creek Trail and River Trail. Many participants choose to use this day for relaxation, cheering on the river rafters, socializing with other adventurers, or stretching out in the shade with a book and a cold beer. Photography and bird watching opportunities abound in this lush green riparian habitat, fenced in by sheer walls of red rock. Your guides will be available all day to share with you the secrets of one of the world's most special places.
Accommodation: Phantom Ranch-Grand Canyon National Park
Activity: 3-5 miles hiking with 1,000' elevation gain and loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Climb to the Rim via the Bright Angel Trail through Havasupai Gardens
Day 4
The rising sun finds you preparing to conquer the canyon. Your exit is the classic trek on Bright Angel Trail. After crossing the Colorado River, the trail snakes its way up out of the inner gorge to the shady oasis of Havasupai Gardens. Here you will refuel and refill with water before tackling the steep ascent up Jacob's Ladder through the Redwall layer. This hike is a tremendous challenge, so welcome the advice of your guides as they will provide you with helpful hints, strategies, techniques, and their insider knowledge of the keys to a successful ascent. With proper preparation, hydration, and diet, your entire group will soon be high-fiving and hugging on the rim. You walk just a few more steps to your lodge perched right on the rim of the canyon. Tonight, you celebrate your shared accomplishments at a lodge near the canyon's rim before retiring to your rooms for some well-deserved rest.
Accommodation: Thunderbird Lodge-Grand Canyon National Park
Accommodation: Kachina Lodge-Grand Canyon National ParkActivity: 10 miles hiking with 4,300' elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A Final Hike and a Stop in Grand Canyon Village Ends your Adventure
Day 5
For those who can't get enough of the canyon, the fantastic Rim Trail awaits. You can hike one way along the rim. This is a great way to stretch your legs and get a bird's-eye view of the route you traversed in the days prior. Other interesting cultural sites include Hopi House and the many interpretive centers. Following this relaxing morning, you will depart for your drop-off location in the Phoenix area, arriving in the late afternoon.
Activity: 3 miles hiking with minimal elevation gain and loss (optional)
Transportation: 4 hours private van transfer
Meals: Lunch
Why Travel With Us?
- Our expert guides provide travelers with helpful hints, techniques and hiking tips, plus knowledge on local wildlife, geology, and history.
Be one of the few to hike famed trails all the way to the canyon floor and spend two magical nights at the historic and highly coveted Phantom Ranch—the only lodge below the canyon rim.
- MT Sobek's legacy of preservation and protection enables us to operate over 30 Global National Park adventures.
Know Before You Book
Phantom Ranch Accommodations
During your stay at Phantom Ranch, you will occupy shared, mixed-gender cabins reserved exclusively for MTS guests and guides. Single rooms are unavailable for the nights in the canyon. Each cabin varies in size, accommodating anywhere from two to ten occupants, and is equipped with bedding, a cold-water sink, a toilet, liquid soap, and hand towels. Showers, hot-water sinks, bath towels, and a combined liquid soap and shampoo are provided at a central facility available to all ranch guests.
Dates & Prices
- 2026
- Go Private
- Go Custom
- Inclusions
2026
Scheduled Dates
Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
- $4,995 price per person dbl occ
Optional:+$460 Single OccupancyWaitlistConfirmed
Looking for a different date? Check out our Arizona Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch South Rim Hiking 5 Day Tour!
Arizona Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch South Rim Hiking 5 Day – 2026
Go Private
Go Private
Gather your favorite travel companions to share an MT Sobek adventure on an easy-to-book Private departure.
Call or email us to get the ball rolling.
*Private trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit.
Looking for a private family adventure?
This trip can accommodate guests with a
minimum age of 18.
Call for Private Trip Pricing
Make Your Own Dates in These Months
- June
Go Custom
Create Your Very Own Adventure
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
Start PlanningInclusions
Price Includes
- Expertise and services of our experienced adventure guides
- All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
- Snacks and water between meals
- Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
- Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
- Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
- Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
- Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
- Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
- Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
- Travel Protection Program
- Personal expenses
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
Casey H.
Casey has been guiding exhilarating outdoor adventures since 2016, leading guests though some of the most awe-inspiring places in the West, from Yellowstone to Zion and the Grand Canyon. He is all about showing people the beauty of the wild while keeping them entertained with captivating stories and cool facts, and ensuring they are well-fed and safe on the trail. Casey is a Wilderness First Responder.
Jerry W.
Jerry started guiding in 2007 after moving to Colorado where he discovered mountain biking in the fresh alpine air. After years of guiding multi-day hiking and cycling trips, he has built up a depth of hands-on experience and wilderness wisdom that he brings to each adventure. He was raised in Florida, followed by four years in the military, then moving to Colorado, where the magnificent wilderness inspired him to guide.
Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 5. Trip members will carry their large daypack weighing 15-25 pounds 14 miles (6,000' elevation loss) from the North Rim down to Phantom Ranch and 10 miles (4,300' elevation gain) up to the South Rim of the canyon, maintaining a 2+ mile per hour pace.
Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 1
2 miles hiking with minimal elevation gain and loss
Day 2
14 miles hiking with 6,000' elevation loss
Day 3
3-5 miles hiking with 1,000' elevation gain and loss
Day 4
10 miles hiking with 4,300' elevation gain
Day 5
3 miles hiking with minimal elevation gain and loss (optional)
*Mileage and elevation change information is approximate and may vary slightly depending on trail conditions, weather, and route adjustments, and the guide’s discretion.
Accommodations
Comfortable Park lodging on the South Rim. Phantom Ranch is shared, mixed gender cabins reserved exclusively for MTS guests and guides.
Thunderbird Lodge-Grand Canyon National Park
Built near the Bright Angel Trail head and the Vercamps Visitor Center, the Thunderbird is a popular South Rim lodge. Contemporary 1960s architecture coupled with a wonderful vantage point ensure an unforgettable stay on the very edge (literally) of a natural wonder of the world. Comfortable rooms have all the expected amenities but the biggest draw is the location.
Kachina Lodge-Grand Canyon National Park
Perched on the Grand Canyon's South Rim, the Kachina Lodge boasts a contemporary setup near the historic district, and rooms complete with amenities like full baths and flat-screen TVs. The lodge is a convenient and comfortable hub for guests eager to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Grand Canyon.
Phantom Ranch-Grand Canyon National Park
Founded in 1903 as a hunting camp, Phantom Ranch is a National Park Service-owned and operated outpost in the depths of the Grand Canyon, and the only lodging below the canyon rim. Made up of a main lodge and shared dorm-style cabins, it's known for its hearty meals prepared by the rangers. The cabins are traditional and very comfortable, providing a peaceful place to rest your head.
Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim
The only North Rim lodging inside the park, this rustic National Historic Landmark has limestone walls, timbered ceilings, and a magnificent dining room with canyon views. Cabins are within easy walking distance of the canyon rim at Bright Angel Point.
Weather
Be prepared for anything as the weather varies. North Rim temperatures range from 32 F to 77 F. Phantom Ranch temperatures range from 63 F to 100+ F. South Rim temperatures range from 35F to 84F.
FAQs
Who will meet me on arrival?
You can choose to meet your guides and fellow guests on Day 1 of the trip at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Tempe and TownePlace Suites Tempe at 8:00 a.m. or, if you prefer to fly into Flagstaff, AZ, meet at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport at 10:30 a.m. on Day 1 instead.
What is the best time of year to hike to Phantom Ranch?
During the winter months, access to the North Rim is closed, so hikers seeking the rim-to-rim experience must travel when the North Rim is accessible. For this reason, MT Sobek offers this trip from Mid-May through October. Summer days can be intensely hot, particularly in the inner canyon, with temperatures soaring above 100°F (38°C), requiring hiking times to be adjusted for very early starts to avoid travel during the hottest part of the day. Smaller crowds and great swimming opportunities are some advantages of summer visits, and temperatures are more enjoyable for hiking portions of this trip high on the North Rim and South Rim as well. Limited fall dates for this trip will fill particularly fast due to the more moderate temperatures in the inner canyon in October. If you want to avoid the heat altogether, our South Rim-based Arizona Phantom Ranch Escape operates in January-Mid-May and October-December.
How should I train for this Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch hike?
Can I skip some activities on this trip if I want more downtime?
Yes, you may choose to skip the hiking on Day 3 for some additional downtime at Phantom Ranch.
How is this trip different from the other MT Sobek Phantom Ranch Trips?
This trip visits the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and serves as your starting point for your hike into Phantom Ranch. Both visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and hiking into Phantom Ranch from the North Rim offer unique differences then trips starting from the South Rim. The North Rim's remote access, requiring additional driving time to navigate around the Grand Canyon, limits the number of visitors, meaning fewer crowds. The North Rim, sitting at about 1,000 ft higher in elevation than the South Rim, has a cooler, more temperate climate and wider variety of plants and animals. The hike into Phantom Ranch from the North Rim is also considerably more challenging then from the South Rim, with twice the distance (14 miles vs 7 miles) and a greater elevation loss (5,850' vs 4,780'). Hiking from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon also offers the prestige of becoming a “Rim to Rim” hiker, a title learned by those completing this hike. If you are more interested in visiting Phantom Ranch then the title of a rim to rim, you might be interested in one of our other trips to Phantom Ranch: Arizona Phantom Ranch Hiking.
Where can I find more information about Phantom Ranch?
Check out our Phantom Ranch information page for more on reservations, length of stay, weather, history, amenities, gear considerations, wildlife and to learn more about all the ways to visit Phantom Ranch with MT Sobek.
What is the minimum age for MT Sobek Phantom Ranch hiking trips?
The standard minimum age for these trips is 18, and hikers must be fit to complete the challenging hikes into and back out of the Grand Canyon. Families with fit younger teens may consider private and custom trip options
Similar Trips to Arizona Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch Rim to Rim Hiking 5 Day – 2026 Tour
Inspiration to Explore Tour
Guest Reviews
Thank you for a wonderful trip! The guides, the meals and the prep materials were great.
Fay S.
MT Sobek Guest, Grand Canyon: Hiking to Phantom Ranch
Our Grand Canyon: Hiking to Phantom Ranch trip was an amazing adventure that I will never forget. Our guide gave us 110% and everything was over the top. I can't wait for my next adventure.
Melanie D.
MT Sobek Guest, Grand Canyon: Hiking to Phantom Ranch