Monday, June 23, 2025

Grand Canyon South Rim - Dec 2025

Dec 10-12 Grand Canyon South Rim 

** Shuttle 8am-8pm Dec 1 onward, vistor center 10am

** bike rentals 10am- 4pm

To Phantom and back** subtract minutes from when actually start at SK trailhead
#LegMileageElevationG/LWaterMinTimeAvg PaceRest and Tactic
0Mather Point071187:00 AMmight park here or closer to trail head
0MP to SK Trailhead27260Y307:30 AMconservative in case want to take pics, stop for last bathroom stop at SK trailhead
1SK Trailhead to Ooh Aah Point0.96434-826N308:0020Walk down with Izzy; pics then head out
2SK Trailhead to Phantom6.26434 - 2545-3889Y809:2010hold back going down so don't blow legs out
4Phantom to Black bridge to the Tipoff2.72545-39471402N6010:2020
5Tipoff to SK Trailhead4.43947 - 72603313N10012:00:00 PM22no water for 7.1, 2hr 40 min
14.2
without Mather
16.2with Mather12:30:00 PM
18.2
with Mather on both sides

Grand Canyon Alerts (trail closures, water outages, weather)

Dec 10 - Sunrise 6.30-7am pre dawn; sun fully up 7.28am, Sunset 5.15pm

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Day 1 - Wed Dec 10 - Travel to the Canyon

9.20am flight; 7.30am at airport parking lot (need to check a bag in); pick Izzy up at 7.05am, depart house at 6.25am

Fly to Phoenix land 12.30pm, Rental car (booked through hotwire wed-sun - $263; Sixt confirmation # 9723141950); consider grabbing lunch or heavy snack at airport before leave or right when we 1st rent

Drive to Flag (2hr 15 min, 148 miles) depart 1.30pm, arrive by 4pm, east on the way or at airport

Running store (if needed) and Whole Foods for nutrition and fluids for am and Canyon (if needed)

Hit outdoor stores

Pizzicletta; Mother Road Brewing company; grab pizza to bring for dinner or eat on rim

Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (1hr 32 min, 79 miles) depart at 5pm, arrive 6.30pm

Check into Holiday Inn Squire Inn - 61878622 (reserved for Wed-Fri so no rush to check out after Canyon)


Day 2 - Thurs Dec 11 - Canyon Day

  • 5.55am wake-up; depart from hotel at 6.25am
  • drive and park at Mathers Point (Visitors center) - 6.45am
  • walk together to trail (2 miles); Izzy will need to walk 2 back or take shuttle when back up the trail head
  • South Kaibab Trail - 7.30am (might start sooner)
  • Text izzy when out (between noon and 1 but could be as early as 11am but as late as 4pm); pick-up at Mathers Point (visitors center)
  • Contingency; if you do not hear from me by 6pm, need to inquire with the Rangers and then stay at the hotel to wait.
  • Back to hotel, shower, pack, maybe lunch at mexican restaurant, depart around 3pm
  • Back to Flag around 5ish
  • Check into Embassy Suites - confirmation 94277564
  • Diablo Burger or Pizzicleetta dinner; Mother Road Brewing
  • See if any live music in Flag for evening, hang in downtown Flag

Day 3 - Fri Dec 12 - Flag/Sedona/Phoenix

  • Aaron 7.30-9am run from hotel: Mars hill trail
  • Embassy Suites breakfast; depart 10am
  • Coffee depart for Sedona at 11am
  • Arrive in Sedona 12.30; short hike of 90 min, grab sandwich to go
  • Depart Sedona around 2pm, 2hrs to Scottsdale, 126 miles
  • Scottsdale by 4pm
  • Izzy to airport for 6pm flight

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Aaron Pack/Provisions

hat, tech-t, light shorts, trail shoes, socks, tights, long sleeves, jacket, gloves and hat

pack poles, hand warmers, nutrition, extra jacket - check in luggage


For Pack:

  • Credit card, $10 cash, medical card, band-aids, small sunscreen, blanket
  • Phantom Ranch is open during daylight hours. Snacks, drinks and medical supplies 8am-4pm; credit cards and cash accepted, lemonade, apple, bar/candy
  • map, route directions - print
  • water filter
  • 6 soft bottles; 2 500ml on front chest, 4 in back


Fluids / Nutrition

  • 1 water bottle per hour; 500ml (17 ounces)
  • 700-900 calorie burn per hr
  • 200-300 digest an hour
  • eat approx every 90 min
Aaron - based on 6 hours
  • 4 tailwind - approx 180 calories each
  • 2 skratch energy chews - 160ish calories (19g carbs, 13g sugar, 35mg sodium)
  • 6 gels -approx 100 each: 600ish calories
  • 4 electrolyte packs (1000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mag, 10 calories each)
  • 4 bars (120ish each), nut/trail mix/peanut butter crackers, cherrios
  • supplemental and phantom ranch: 2 lemonades, apple, candy bar
Izzy - based on 2 hours
  • 3 bottles, 3 snacks, 3 skratch