Guided Grand Canyon Basecamp Hiking Tours
Carved by the Colorado River over roughly the last 5 million years after tectonic uplift, the walls of The Grand expose 1.8 Billion years of Earth’s history. For geologists, it is an indispensable part of piecing together what has happened on the North American continent during that time. It records such events as the “Cambrian Explosion”, a time in which animals seemed to suddenly (in geologic and evolutionary terms) proliferate quite rapidly. Its walls record volcanic eruptions, violent earthquakes, ancient seas, deserts, lakes, and civilizations. Each stratigraphic layer records millions of years, and each step into the canyon records about 60,000 years back in time.
To be in The Grand is to truly be confronted with the depth and scale of geologic time. We confront you with the grand scale of decision. Our guided Grand Canyon Hiking and Backpacking tours are full-service with top–of-the-line gear, great food, and expert geologist/guides.
Grand Canyon basecamping Tours
Our Grand Canyon BaseCamp trips allow you to explore all the wonderful things this mighty canyon has to offer by day, then relax, eat great food, and take it all in in our private camp site with toilets, showers, and comfortable sleeping arrangements. Feel free to contact us with any questions, or to create your own Grand Canyon BaseCamp adventure.
South Rim BaseCamp
From our private camp site in the Coconino National Forest, we will hit all the highlights of the South Rim from iconic corridor trails to side canyons and beyond. Upon your return to camp, you will understand the perks of being a geologist.
North Rim Basecamp
A visit to the more isolated North Rim is truly a unique and wonderful adventure. Here you will experience completely different views of the wondrous Grand, embark on time travel geologic adventures below the rim, and enoy the creature comforts we all love.
Why Go Guided?
So much of the true wilderness experience comes from being able to understand and interpret what you are seeing. Why are those rocks red? How did this canyon form? What is that tree? What cultural significance are those petroglyphs? Our expert guides will not only keep you safe, relaxed, and intrigued, they will also be able to answer almost any question you have about the landscape you are seeing.
A trained geologist is a person who can interpret millions of years of Earth’s history simply by staring at a rock outcrop for a few minutes. Anyone can read a book about The Grand Canyon, Zion, The Painted Desert, or Death Valley, but seeing it up close and personal is a completely different and extraordinary experience. Our guides will give you knowledge and the intimate experience of truly knowing where you came from.
In addition to our geologic knowledge, our trips also give you the fundamental ability to immerse yourself in the landscape without worrying about food, water, camping arrangements, transportation, driving directions, or any logistical issues that invariably accompany adventure. Let us handle the details, all you need to do is enjoy the ride.