Grandview Trail
Day Hike Tour
From $625/group
3-10 hours
Easy-Moderate
Oct-Apr
3-7 Miles
Up to 2K feet
The Grandview Trail was built by famous Grand Canyon miner Pete Barry in the late 1800s. It provides for a dramatic hike with spectacular views into the Eastern Grand Canyon, where the Colorado River winds below the canyon walls. We will hike as far as you would like, with the potential to go all the way to Horseshoe Mesa (8-10 hours).
Highlights
Rates
1-2 People: $625
3-4 People: $845
5-7 People: $1025
Rates are in USD and are per group.
Gratuity not included (recommended 10-20% of rate)​
What's Included
Local Transportation
Professional Guide
Snacks & Lunch
Trekking Poles
Entrance Fees*
Fascinating Interp
* Entrance fees are not included if meeting us inside the Park.
What's Not Included
Clothing & Footwear
Backpack
3 Liters of Water
Headlamp or Flashlight
Sun Protection
Guide Gratuity*
* Recommended guide gratuity is 10-20% of the tour cost, depending on your level of satisfaction
Dates and Booking
Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
​​Your guide will pick you up at your accommodations in Flagstaff, Williams, Tusayan or at the South Rim. Your guide will reach out approximately 48 hours before the hike to answer any questions you have and confirm the pick-up time and location.
Start/End Times
This tour begins with pick-up at your hotel between 5 and 8 am, depending on the time of year. We will drop you back off at your accommodation no later than 5 PM.
Dietary Restrictions
We can accommodate all dietary restrictions. Please notify your guide of any restrictions when they contact you 48 hours prior to your tour.
Gallery
Reviews of the South Kaibab Tour
"The entire experience with Grand Canyon Hiking Co. was amazing. Our guide, Jamie, was top notch and made it as wonderful as it could be! The views are mind-blowing on this hike and even the same strata of the canyon seemed to change as we ascended or descended. Highly recommend!"
Kathy W., Appleton, WI
Is This Hike Right For You?
Asking whether this is the right hike for you is important! Please read below for some straight talk about what to expect and whether this hike is the best option for you and your group.
Breathtaking Views
As its name implies, this trail provides dramatic views of the Grand Canyon. The views are panoramic and include the Colorado River to the east.
No Bathroom
There is no bathroom on this trail until we hit Horseshoe Mesa (most groups don't go this far.) If peeing (or more) in the woods isn't your thing, avoid this hike.
Serious Heights Exposure
This trail has serious heights exposure where you are hiking very close to deadly drop-offs. If heights is not your thing, avoid this hike.
Sun & Shade
This hike has nice shade, especially if we turn around at Coconino Saddle. If we continue to Horseshoe Mesa, be prepared for lots of sun and little shade.
Quieter Trail
This trail is one of the South Rim's quieter trails. Expect to see a handful of other hiking groups, mostly at the start and end of the trail.
No Water Sources
This trail does not have any water sources. What you leave with is what you have. We recommend hiking with 3 liters in a combination of a water bladder and a water bottle.
More About the Grandview Trail
The Grandview Trail has been utilized by many groups of people over the years: Native Americans, pioneers, miners, early Grand Canyon tourism operators, and now hikers and backpackers. It is a trail with rich history, much of which is still evidenced today by the hand-built cobblestone trail and rusty mining relics left behind at Horseshoe Mesa.
History of the Trail
Up to 1893
Beginning thousands of years ago, Native Americans (primarily the Hopi in more recent times) were using the route that is now the Grandview Trail to access the inner canyon. The main purpose for this route, as far as modern people are aware, was to gather mineral paints (especially blue copper ore) from Horseshoe Mesa. The minerals were used to create a blue paste utilized for body paint, for decorating objects and for ceremonial practices.
1893-1907
In 1893 famous Grand Canyon miner Pete Barry, with the help of one of Grand Canyon's most prominent entrepreneurs, Ralph Cameron, constructed the Grandview Trail. (Built with masterful cobblestone masonry, the trail's original construction endures amazingly well preserved today.) The trail's original purpose was to provide access to the Last Chance Copper Mine at Horseshoe Mesa and transport the ore to the South Rim. At Chicago's World Fair in 1893 the ore from this mine won a top prize for its exceptional level of purity. In its heyday, teams of 10-12 mules (each carrying 200 pounds of ore and supplies) were making daily trips out of the Canyon. In 1907, copper prices plummeted, the mine became unprofitable, and it was closed down.
1907-Now
After the closing of the Last Chance copper mine, the Grandview Trail became a trail entirely utilized for the tourism industry. Pete Barry built a hotel called the Grandview Hotel, and patrons of the establishment enjoyed descending into the depths of the Canyon on the old mining trail. Today the Grandview trail is one of Grand Canyon's most traveled routes in and out of the Canyon. Hikers and backpackers use it for day hikes, multi-day treks to Horseshoe Mesa, Hance Creek, Cottonwood Creek, or to create loops that connect with the Tanner Trail, New Hance Trail or other South Rim hiking trails.