Type: Trail, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 9 / 10
Altitude: 6,860 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 11,000 ft / 11,000 ft
Dog Friendly: No
Jog-Stroller Friendly: No
Filed Under: Hiking, Running
Also commonly know to as the R2R2R. This run is not frequently done, but usually you can find a few people attempting it any April or October weekend. You can go earlier in the year (than April), but you may have problems with limited daylight hours and possible snow on the North Rim. Go much later in the year and you may have to deal with extreme temps in the canyon. I am unfamiliar with attempts and optimal times in the fall months.
The two possible starts to the run are South Kaibab Trail (6.4 miles to the Bright Angel Campground) and Bright Angel Trail (10.3 miles to the Bright Angel Campground). I suggest the Bright Angel Trail. The South Kaibab is shorter (thus steeper and tougher on your quads), but it has no water.
Starting on the South Rim (elev. 6,860 feet), if you take the Bright Angel Trail, the first sign of life you will pass after the initial 3 miles of switchbacks will be Indian Springs (with water and bathrooms) at 4.5 miles. Near Indian Springs (elev. 3,800 feet), take a few minutes to stop and read the sign that warns, ?do NOT attempt to hike from the rim to the river in a single day.? OK, you?ve been warned. From here the trail takes a more gradual descent for approximately another 3.5 miles to the Colorado River. Once you reach the river, you will traverse a sandy trail section for approximately 1.7 miles that looms above the Colorado River and eventually crosses the river at a large steel suspension bridge. Once you cross the bridge, you will come to a stone house and corral, and then 3-5 minutes later you cross another small wooden foot bridge. This is a good place to cache any food, clothes, headlamps or other gear that you don?t want to carry with you for the next 5-7 hours. Better make sure that your food containers are critter proof. Continuing on past the foot bridge, just around the corner is Phantom Ranch (elev. 2,440 feet), the only tourist facilities in the canyon bottom. Depending on what time you left the trailhead, you will probably catch a bunch of campers just waking up as it is starting to get daylight. The next 14.2 miles on the North Kaibab Trail will eventually dump you on the North Rim.
The first 6 miles (of the 14.2 mile North Kaibab Trail) are nice and gradual, and you barely notice any elevation gain. You will run through a very narrow slot canyon, sometimes only about 50 feet wide (just enough room for the Bright Angel Creek that flows through and the smooth well maintained gravel trail). Now the magnitude of the Grand Canyon begins to sink in as you run past 1.2 ? 1.7 billion year old rock formations like the Grand Canyon Supergroup (sea sediment) and the Vishnu Group (metamorphosed sea sediment). While in the Grand Canyon, there are many times where you cannot even see the rim. Due to the many layers of rock formations and the different rates at which they have eroded, it almost feels like you are in a canyon within a canyon.
The next water stop is Cottonwood Campground (elev. 4,000 ft, 6.9 miles to North Rim). Here the trail get a bit less traveled, rockier and steeper. The valley also widens and, for the next 6 miles, you will be running through what appears to be a wide valley instead of a ?grand canyon.? There are lots of interesting flora and fauna that can be spotted in this section including flowering agave cactus, prickly pear cactus, claretcup cactus, sagebrush, brittlebrush, pinion, juniper, yucca, scorpions, lizards, jays, ravens and a snake or two if you are really lucky.
Just when you are thinking you are getting close to the North Rim, the trail will get a little steeper and turn left (west) for the final long climb to the rim. This is usually where most people stop running and start power-hiking. After a mile or two you will come to a small house with a basketball net. Yes, there is a private residence in the canyon, and sometimes it is occupied by park personnel or trail crews. In the yard just off trail, is a small spigot next to a group of small trees. Take a few minutes to fill up here as it will likely (depending on the time of year you attempt the run) be the last water to be found until you get back to this point on your return. There are two other water points, but they are usually turned off until after the first of May when all freezing danger has passed from the North Rim. Just past the house you will see a waterfall cascading down the right side of the canyon which seemingly comes out of nowhere. This waterfall is the single water source for the entire Grand Canyon, North Rim Lodge and all civilization on the South Rim.
What lies next is my favorite section of the trail. At times the trail seems to be hewn out of the solid rock cliff wall. That?s because it is, and at places a 1000+ foot drop awaits any slips or missed turns on the trail. Be careful (especially on your return) through this section. As the trail goes farther, it gets progressively steeper turning at numerous switchbacks and even going through the small Supai Tunnel (2 miles from rim). Just after passing the tunnel, you will find more bathrooms and water (usually turned off until May 1) . Over the next mile and a half, you will begin to notice different ecology as the temperature drops and the trail will take you through spruce, fir and aspen.
Congratulations, you have reached the North Rim (elev. 8241 feet). Now you only have another 24 miles to run. The bad news ? you still have about 4,800 feet of climbing to do. The good news ? the next 13 miles will be one of the best runs in your life. The route back down to the river is almost entirely downhill on beautifully runnable trail. You really get to enjoy all the effort it took to get to this point.
On your return you will basically retrace your footsteps back to the trailhead on the South Rim picking up water at the campgrounds and gathering your cached food (if you had left any and the critters don?t get it). Chances are that you will complete this section in the heat of the day, so take caution and hydrate, eat and take on electrolytes. As it can get unbearably hot, a small bandana dipped in the creek is indispensable at this point, and chances are you will be glad you brought one. You did bring one didn?t you? Over the last six miles to the river, the canyon will begin to narrow again and you can take advantage of the shade it provides. If you have taken care of your body, you will have evaded any signs of heat exhaustion and can pick up the pace as you run back through Phantom Ranch and the gawking hikers who spent all day hiking there from the South Rim.
Take a few minutes at the river to get some water and food down as well as take in the sights of the mighty Colorado River. Shortly after crossing the river, you will be done with the running portion of your adventure. Shift into power-hike mode as the remainder of the trip is all uphill. At Indian Springs, the last 4.5 miles and 3,060 vertical feet of the trip seems to take forever as you climb steeply up the last 3,500 feet to the South Rim. There is water and bathrooms available at two locations on the last few miles (three-mile resthouse and one-and-a-half mile resthouse). These places make good intermediate goals as by now you are probably getting pretty tired and the rim does not seem to get any closer. Sooner or later you?ll pass by the Kolb Studio and the South Rim Trailhead. Congratulations, you can stop now.
The trailhead for the Bright Angel Trail (the most popular starting point) is located within the Grand Canyon National Park just west of the Bright Angel Lodge and the Kolb Studio. Depending on what time you start the run, it will probably be dark. So, if you get a chance, check out the location of the trailhead in the daylight so it will be easy to find when you start running. It is marked by a small sign at the edge of a gravel parking area behind a few small cottages. It is not hard to find in the daylight, but can provide a small unneeded challenge when you want to get started early in the morning.
The South Kaibab Trail is located off Desert View Drive near Yaki Point. (See a map for more details.)
Comments
tradkelly said ...
According to some reputable sources (hee) the total is 13,100', making this almost a double Pikes Peak marathon. I'm expecting the National Parks Topo! database any day, and will upload maps and profile information when it arrives.
This is a fantastically beautiful and fun run. I had no idea what to expect on my first ultra, but it was less difficult than I expected. Yes, the ten miles at the end sucked hard, but it was a worthwhile adventure run that I'm always going to look back on fondly. I'd recommend this to anyone who can run half- distances with no problems, and wants a full day of adventure.
Camping is free just outside the South Rim entrance station and the town of Tusayon (sp?), on FS roads. Makes it easy and cheap to get to the parking lot for your super-alpine start.
johnnyx said ...
I'd be curious to know the exact elevation change for the full 48-mile RRR. I wouldn't disagree that it might be more like 13,000+ feet rather than the 11k estimates I've heard/read about. Heck, it felt like 113,000 feet!
It's now nearly 2 months after my first and only RRR completion (Nov 6th), and I'm almost recovered... The back of my knee (PCL, maybe?) seems to have stretched out and is slowly getting better. (Probably from screwing up my form while running w/ cramping calves!) I'm finally running again and am up to a whopping 6 miles w/o too much pain. The things we do.... I'm ready to try again in the Springtime!
2hotnAZ said ...
Hats off to anyone who can even complete this one. I've hiked Bright Angel and Kaibab trails. This has to be some of God's finest work, it is beautiful!
...BUT...if this is only 8.5/10 difficulty, then you are truly amazing trail runners. Well done!
amclean said ...
With respect the the elevation change, we got a hair over 14,000 up/down on altimeter watch when we just did it. Conditions were great until top of North Rim where there was still some snow, and then the entire way up South Kaibab where we were pounded with rain/hail and snow (April 28th). We walked a bit more than half and still came in at about 14:30. The calves suffered way more than anything else. What a run!
abogado said ...
October 21, 2005, started at 2:00 in the morning. I was not in the greatest of shape, and this was my first ultra, but I had completed a sub-4 marathon three weeks before. Started from North Rim. This late in the season, going out and coming back, missed many views in the North Rim area as we did this in the dark going and returning. The return in the evening up the North Rim was grueling, but not to my running partner.
Next time, I'll carry less water. Plenty along the trail. Two litres are sufficient to have.
johnnyx said ...
Well...it's that time of year again...well, the time of year we decided to give it another go anyway.
We're headed up there again on 4/29 to do R2R2R. Should have about 4 or 5 of us going (a dozen or so total doing various distances that day) and plan to start around 3 or 4 am to see if we can finish in the daylight. Gotta get in a few more longer runs though or I'm toast!
jenndean said ...
Looking for people to do rim2rim2rim 10/06
I'm looking for a couple of people to run the rim2rim2rim the weekend of October 7th this year...posibly someone who has done it before. This will be my first ultra, but I'm a good marathoner and have been training hard. E-mail me if you're interested. Thanks!
Jay said ...
Any experience doing R2R2R in May? (say..the middle of May?). Is the temp on floor still bearable at that point? Any guidance would be appreciated.
Russ Henkel said ...
I aam going to hike (nhoy run) the R2R2R Oct 12th of this year (07). Anyone out there interested in joining me. I will be starting out at S Kaibab at around 4AM and trying to finish in less than 21 hours. I will be 61 at the time, but should be in excellent shape at that time. I am a no nonsense hiker with a great sense of self and sense of humor. I did an up and down 5 years ago without real hiking shoes and no poles (it was a spur of the moment thing, during a visit to Sedona). Yes, I was hurting, but made it in 9 hours. This time, I will be ready. I say this to insure anyone that might respond that I will make it and I need anyone joining me to be equally self-assured with ample justification.
rigatonifp said ...
We did the R2R2R on May 20, 2006, and the weather was tolerable. We started at 4am, reached the North Rim at 10am, and finished just before 6pm. We hiked the Bright Angel Trail both ways, simply because of transportation issues to the South Kaibab trail head. Going back through the box (~ base of the north rim until Phantom Ranch) was very hot and mind numbing, but the final stretch up the Bright Angel Trail was not too bad, especially after Indian Gardens (the sun was starting to set at the rim by then, and other day hikers were all over). I carried three 20oz water bottles, a zip-lock bag full of powdered Gatorade, salt pills, and of the food I brought, I used 20 goos, and 6 oz of salami.
Doug Grant said ...
Just returned from R2R2R completed last week of May 07. This is a good time to try it I think. The lower canyon was in the low 90s during this time of year, and North isn't in danger of snowing in toward the end of May.
We were testing our fitness having never done this before, and took a break between the two.
We only ran the 7 mile section on from North between Cottonwood and Phantom, but finished in under 9 hrs. N to S rim.
Agree with bringing two quarts - unless the temp is over 100. There is no water coming down/up S Kaibob, but water is plentiful on N Rim Bright Angel, where most of the mileage is.
We used special salt / electrolyte supplement pills, and Gookinaid. Gookinaid does not have sufficient salt for extreme high temperature we felt. This combo worked well, and we were very energetic on the final hike up S Kaibob.
Michael said ...
anyone interested in doing R2R2R on Sept 29? 2 of us marathon runners are giving it a shot - hoping for 14 hours.
Sean said ...
Hi Michael,
I'm doing it on the 23rd, let me know if your plans change.
e.splinter said ...
JUNE 3 2007 -This was my first attempt at anything like this. I ran, walked, and crawled,(nearly)my way to finish in just under 19:00 hours. I began my run at 12:45a.m.to stay out of the sun and beat the heat as well as i could. Starting temp was 54 derees, however,things changed a bit on the return trip. It reached a sweltering 119 in the box canyon, finishing out the run in the upper 70s. This was my crash course in body managment; water-fuel-salt-heat+cold. I barely made it out under my own power, thanks to the help of some very generous runners I met on the trail..Thanks for the salt tablets! I\'ll be back again soon, only next time I\'ll be more prepared to handle the task at hand.
jminnicks said ...
10/5/2007, Completed my 4th rim to rim to rim (R3), best time was in 1999 at 16 hrs and 4 minutes. I follow the traditional route of the descent of the Bright Angel to Tonto East to South Kaibab to the River and up and down the North Kaibab and then the final ascent of the Bright Angel. The addition of the Tonto gives the participant the full forture of 50 miles. Due to previous knee operations, I do not run any portion of the trails and use trekking poles with a hydration pack consuming over 6,000 calories during the event. I have attemnpted 2 R4s in under 24 hours but wasn't successful in either. I may attempt one more before I turn 60 in 2009. It's a great event but hard on the toenails.
Mark said ...
I've done North Rim to South Rim in about 9 hours and want to try the RRR. I'm looking to join a group that is planning on doing this Spring 2008?
Jerry said ...
Looking for other R2R2R's for a mid Oct 2008 hike/run. I have done this 6x best time was just under 19:00. Would like to hook up with other adventure runners for this years R3.
johnnyx said ...
Did this again on 4/12/08 (my 3rd time doing R2R2R) - more of a powerhike the 1st half and jog/run/hike the 2nd half (~19 hrs total). Lots of rockslides on N Kaibab and a good foot of snow the last mile or so up the North Rim. As always, a hell of a workout and a great time with friends.
Thinking about another one in Oct/Nov...
Michelle said ...
A group of us are running a portion of Rim to Rim the first weekend in Oct. We will be running from the South Rim to the river and back (24 miles). Any suggestions or training tips would be great from those who have ran this course! Also, I see that some of you are looking for people to run with, even though we are not completing the full R2R2R you are welcome to start with us!
gordon said ...
We are doing the double crossing the second week of Oct. 2008. Anybody else going that weekend?
Dale said ...
We are looking at getting a small group to do the R2R2R on Oct 11, 2008
rungirlsl said ...
I'm interested in running R2R2R and can't seem to get anyone from the Los Angeles area to do it too. Is t here any way I could join a group of runners already going?
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