Hiking in Sedona and the Grand Canyon

Welcome to Arizona – home to the Grand Canyon and the start of your 4-day trekking trip. After breakfast this morning, we’ll hit the ground running with our first hike of the trip in Sedona. We’ll kick things off near two of Sedona’s most prominent and beautiful landmarks, Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. From here, we’ll climb the stairs into the layered shelves of red rock sandstone, where we’ll stop to appreciate and learn about the different types and uses of desert plants in the area. Halfway into the hike, we’ll reach Cathedral Rock, a nearly 1000-foot-tall sandstone monolith that towers above. For lunch along the way, your guide will prepare a tasty picnic lunch and share some of the native and indigenous history of the area – you’ll learn how this very spot was once a fertile hunting ground. After lunch, we’ll complete our hike among the towering cliffs, sheer pinnacles and pristine canyons of Sedona. After a day spent on your feet, we’ll make our way to our first night’s accommodation, where you’ll get a chance to kick back and relax before a tasty group dinner in Sedona.

It’s time to lace up your hiking shoes; we’ve got another spectacular hike ahead of us today – Mitten Ridge. We'll step back in time and walk the old wagon roads to a red rock saddle that offers exceptional views to reward you for your hard work. You’ll get your heart rate up with uphill steps and breathtaking vistas paired with panoramic views of the canyons that wind below. Your local leader will give you the inside scoop on T.C. Schnebly, who organised the town’s first post office and his wife Sedona, the town’s namesake. After a day on the trails, we’ll retire to our accommodation to rest and relax before digging into a well-earnt Southwest dinner tonight.

You’ll be up bright and early this morning to check out of your accommodation, fuel up on breakfast and hit the road for a scenic drive up the northern roadways and Oak Creek Canyon to the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon. That’s right; today is the day – the Grand Canyon awaits. Our first hike in the Grand Canyon will be down a trail that descends the spine of a spectacular ridge and offers those iconic Grand Canyon views as the cliff drops off on both sides and in front of you. This trail serves up some of the best panoramas of the canyon; it’s the perfect introduction to the hikes in this area. After our first hike, we’ll have the chance to explore some of the South Rim’s museums and shops before returning to our accommodation for the afternoon. You’re in for a real treat tonight as we head to the rim for dinner overlooking the depths of the Grand Canyon.

For the final hike of the trip, we’ll follow an ancient trail through the Bright Angel Fault that meanders into the depths of the Grand Canyon, far below the rim. On your descent, your leader will fill you in on all the geological and ecological phenomena that make up the landscapes here. Along the hike, you’ll stop to tuck into a delicious picnic lunch with views better than any 5-star restaurant could deliver. With full bellies and fuller hearts, you’ll make the ascent back to the top of the canyon and be blown away by the cliffs that tower above. As you hike, you might feel a sense of accomplishment as you reflect on the trek you’ve just completed. Once you’ve reached the top of the rim, we’ll make our way back to Sedona via a stunning drive through Oak Creek Canyon. You’ll arrive at your accommodation for the evening when your trekking adventure will come to an end.