The Grand Canyons Most Difficult Hike - Hayduke Trail Thru Hike 13

The Hayduke Trail is an 850 mile hike across Utah and Northern Arizona. It is one of the most challenging long distance trails in the United States, and a big part of that is the environment it passes through! The hardest part of this hike is the time spent down in Grand Canyon National Park, as our route goes through the depths of the Canyon for more than 200 miles.
Hayduke Trail Gear List:
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Battery - Ravpower PD Pioneer 20,000mah 60w
Charger - Ravpower PD Pioneer 30w 2-port
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After leaving Jacob Lake we entered Grand Canyon National Park on a remote corner of the north rim. Descending down the Nankoweep Trail, which is known as the hardest hike in GCNP. The Nankoweep isn't technical rock climbing or anything, but it starts out with walking many miles on a very thin rocky trail, which is slanted towards a 4,000 foot drop. Any slip, trip, or fall could be extremely bad. For hours we have to be focused so intensely on our footing as to be careful.
Contouring different rock layers, followed by a steep descent, dropping more than 6,000 feet in just a few miles down to the Canyon floor and Colorado River. As you go down, the temperatures rise dramatically. From starting at the top in below freezing weather, to arriving at the bottom where you are greeted by 115 degree stagnant air.
It took us many many hours to make it to the bottom of the Nankoweep Trail, something like five or six hours to go just a handful of miles. To then feel totally drained by the oppressive heat at the bottom. We sat in the shade for hours, unable to move until temperatures dropped just a little.
This isn't the Kaibab Trail, or the Bright Angel Trail. Running the Nankoweep like on a Rim to Rim to Rim hike just wouldn't be possible. There are no water spigots like on the Rim to Rim, you have to carry it all yourself, and know what you need. You won't see hundreds of others doing this, and frankly you likely won't see anyone else doing this. It's remote, it's difficult, and there is no one to help you.
From here we hike to the Colorado River where we will have to hitch a ride from some rafting parties to get to the other side! On the southern side of the Colorado River is another trail which we need to get to, and praying on the help from rafters is the only way to get to it.
We want to cross near the confluence of the Little Colorado River, and just hope that we can get there before all of the rafting parties for the day have passed us. We've heard stories of other Hayduke Trail Thru Hikers getting stuck here for a day or two, with no rafters coming by to help them.
Some notes that may be helpful:
The rafters do about 20 miles per day
only a couple groups pass per day
mid morning is the best time to catch them, or catching them for lunch
they have likely never given a ride across a river to a hike before
hikers frequently want their food!
some have been waiting 15 years+ for a permit
trip goes for about 16 days, some do it in 6 motor
they all pee in the colorado river
they all drink from the colorado river
they are told not to pickup anyone except for crossing
they raft from 10 till 3
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[@JupiterHikes]

Thank you to the rafting parties! The raft magic and the ride across was really special. We would all very much like to grow up and become rafters ourselves now

[@johnganshow5536]

Mt Humphrey's 12,633, Just climbed it several days ago...You guys are having a fantastic trip down there in the GC...

[@KimberlyGreen]

Rafting parties ... the ultimate trail angels on the Hayduke. So *thank you* to Ken, Bill, Buddy and the other rafters that supported the gang!

[@jhonyermo]

Impossible Beauty. Glad you found some great rafter buddies.

[@ChristyHikes]

Jupiter,I usually can be long winded with my posts regarding your epic journeys. This time all Ill say is utterly amazing

[@dirtrider0220]

It was great to see you when my wife and I finished the AZT. You also met you the year before near picket post. So happy to see you finished the hayduke. You have inspired my wife and I. We are planning doing the AT next year.

[@dovh49]

My great grandmother would go down the Colorado with Georgie White when she was in her 80s. I've never river rafted on the Colorado, but my wife and I did a rim to rim a few years ago. It's pretty brutal there! I can't imagine being down in there for 200 miles.

[@adventurousbec]

Wow, that is quite the grand canyon!

[@celiareed1402]

Mount Humphreys is 12633 feet. Amazing to see it from GC.

[@hibiru6868]

What an epic time you're having!

[@tracykooken2606]

let tthe cayoneering begin 😊 !!!

[@paisleyfamily5972]

Spectacular. I need to go back there

[@davidstrauss4808]

This is so, so beautiful and special. What an amazing trip.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Your Hayduke series is so good, been enjoying every episode!

[@DivineMojo]

Incredible. Have enjoyed your journey, thanks for sharing!

[@stpetie7686]

Thanks again for the upload. I enjoy the vicarious hiking.

[@colbypark1311]

Stunning and what a fun aspect of the trail to get hitch with rafters!

[@georgewyse8378]

I hiked part of the AZT, then switched to the Nankoweap trail and descended part way. I didn’t have permits for for GCNP so turned around and camped back on top. It was a great hike, wish i could have continued. A friend doing the Hayduke got a ride from the rafting guides, great people.

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

The Grand Canyon is Special…Thanks for video

[@AbleHammer]

Now that was very cool. And very informational! I learned a lot!

[@rschreck876]

I was going to mention the book right before you did!

[@robinowen3058]

Wonderful video, such an adventure!

[@kylesmamawat443]

Amazing

[@trakyboy5128]

Don't come strolling in with expectations !! Be thankful gracious and humble. My sister used to run some of those boats and work for a company who had several. The attitude some people have I found to be astonishing when she told me some of those stories about backpackers 😮😡. Start early & end early that's my motto down there. Makes for happier trip. Liquor ranger media area and even have time to hang out with someone if you got one.

[@Rkolb2798]

Trying to decide which group is more crazy 😊

[@mrnobody3276]

I used to want to do things like this.

[@wanttogo1958]

Which tributary to the Colorado did you all have to wade shortly after being let off on the opposite shore by the rafters? The color of the water was very different from the Colorado.

[@LeahJones-m9f]

It’s the little Colorado River, super pretty and really cool to see the confluence.

[@Colby168]

Humphrys Peak is what it’s called…Not Mt Humphrys 😊. Arizonians get offended for some reason when people call it Mt Humphrys. And I can vouch for how surprisingly cold the river is. Take your breath away uncomfortable. Like doing a cold plunge. Glad you got a ferry across first day.

[@matrixsurvivor3216]

Your thoughts on the Missing411? Any stories to share?

[@heatherrogerson26]

Would it be too dangerous/hazardous to hike late/afternoon night? Just to get some relief from the heat/sun.

[@LeahJones-m9f]

Depends on the section. Some of the route through the canyon is on established trails (Nankoweap, Beamer, Tonto, Kaibab etc) but a chunk is off trail on terrain that’s either unsafe or difficult to traverse in the dark. Either you’re in brushy, loose areas or navigating the ledges river-side and need to see a ways ahead to pick your route and not get cliffed out. I came down Nankoweap mostly in the dark by moonlight / headlamp and it was fine, but would be very sketchy to do the river-side hike from Nankoweap to the LCR at night.

[@christopherch7307]

👍🐿👍

[@heartattackhiker3527]

I'm wondering if you could cross on your air mattress? I know wouldn't feel comfortable doing it myself, however I have floated across a small river before.

[@LeahJones-m9f]

It would be very hazardous. The Colorado’s a big river and even if you pick a slower section with a long run out above rapids it’s very cold, moves fast and has a pretty strong current. I’ve rafted / kayaked it and swum some of the big rapids and would never risk going in with just an air mattress.

[@woodchip2782]

I’d die over there. I can trip on my shadow…🥴

[@sharonthomas4856]

why don't you use poles????????

[@PatRiot-le7rd]

One more piece of gear to break, or be forgotten, or to otherwise lose.