Only 1% of Grand Canyon Visitors Have Seen This Part of the Landmark-Here's How to Visit

"Visitors hoping to explore the lesser-known lower reaches of the Grand Canyon can do so on expert-led day hikes and backpacking trips with the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute. In 2024, over 4.9 million visitors traveled to Grand Canyon National Park, making it one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. But here's the catch: only about one percent of those visitors venture below the canyon rim."

"I was camping with my family at Mather Point, and the sight of the canyon left me speechless. Then my dad told me we were hiking down into it, and I was terrified, "But as we descended the Bright Angel Trail, my fear started to fade. The farther we went, the more amazed I became by the canyon's colors and the beauty of the landscape, "The best adventures often begin with fear or uncertainty, but they end up leaving us inspired and changed.""

Over 4.9 million visitors traveled to Grand Canyon National Park in 2024, but only about one percent descend below the canyon rim. Expert-led day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips provide opportunities to explore the lesser-known lower reaches of the canyon. Trips operate mainly in winter and spring for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, and range from six-hour beginner tours to 10-day backpacking routes such as Hermit to South Bass. Guides frequently possess deep local experience, having lived, worked, and studied at Grand Canyon, and guide leadership enhances understanding of the landscape, views, and history encountered below the rim.

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