Home Album Guide to South Canyon Topo Story
| Distance: | 5.38 miles to the Colorado River |
| Difficulty: | Very Rigorous |
| Hike Time: | 2 days or more - a day hike would be a killer |
| Elevation: | 5580 to 2890 |
| Season: | Avoid Winter and use care during the Monsoons season. |
| USGS Maps: | Hike = Buffalo Ranch, Tatahatso Point, North Canyon
Point Access = Emmett Hills, Buffalo Tanks |
| Directions: From: Flagstaff |
Take US 89 north to Bitter Springs, turn left at the US 89A junction. Drive approx 36.25 miles on US 89A (0.8 mi past Mile Marker 559), turn South on FS road 8910 at the sign to the Rock House Wildlife Area. Drive approx 19 miles to the marked junction with FS road 632, turn left and proceed approx 2 miles to Buffalo Ranch. Turn right at the sign for the South Canyon Trial just before reaching the ranch and go 1.2 miles to the parking area. |
No permit is required for day hiking - Overnight camping requires a Backcountry Permit - The cost is $15 plus $5/ person/night. The area is normally available but will occasionally be filled - as it is a destination for anglers. The site will accommodate one group of 17. Call the Backcountry Information Office at (928) 638-7875 (1:00 to 5:00, M-F) or download the application from www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon. They do not accept email applications and it may take 2-3 weeks to process an application.
Permits are also available at the Lees Ferry Ranger Station, but it not staffed on a regular basis, so you have to flag down one of the Rangers as they are making their rounds etc. They will be glad to write the permit if the campground is open.
The roads are all well marked, making it easy to reach the parking area. FS road 8910 is a good dirt road, if you call 19 miles of shock bustin' wash-board a good road. The washes are subject to flash floods and the 1st wash, just 1.2 miles south of 89A, fills with deep sand. The last 1.2 miles is not quite bad enough to call a jeep trail, but close. All in all, don't take the family sedan - high clearance vehicles would be best and avoid wet weather.
This trail is not maintained and it is hard to follow. There is no water between the trailhead and the Colorado. As usual, I would treat or filter the water from the Colorado before consumption. This hike is very rigorous, dropping nearly 1100 feet in the first 1/2 mile from the trailhead - you should be in very good shape before attempting this access to the Colorado River in Marble Canyon.
Trekker