Great Outdoors - San Diego
Grand Canyon Advanced Backpacking Adventure
Tanner/Beamer Trail
November 6 – 11, 2024 (Wednesday-Monday)
Six lucky adventurers will be backpacking the Tanner/Beamer trail in the Grand Canyon from November 6-November 11, 2024 (including one night at the rim the evening before). This is an advanced 35- mile hike with around 7,000 feet in descent and ascent. You will have stunning canyon views all day every day that change with the weather culminating in the confluence of the Colorado River and the blue-green waters of the little Colorado River. Note I have led over 20 backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon and have done the Tanner part of this trail previously.
Details: The easternmost trail to the Colorado River on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Tanner trail follows a ridgeline from Lipan Point to the Colorado River and descends 5,000 feet in just over 7 miles. It provides stunning views East and North up Marble Canyon. The Beamer Trail runs 4 miles along the Colorado River Eastwards then an additional 6 miles up on the Tapeats plateau, about 600 feet above the River to the confluence of the Little Colorado River, stained bright blue-green by travertine. At the confluence, the Hopi believe humans first entered the Earth from the underworld through the Supapai, a cone-shaped mineral Spring. Prospector/Miner Ben Beamer lived here in the late 19 th century and we will visit his rock cabin.
Here is a beautiful YouTube video of the route:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We8lHAZ4Edo
Here is a backpacker.com article about the route:
https://www.backpacker.com/trips/grand-canyon-national-park-tanner-and-beamer-trails-to-little-colorado-river/
Here is the National Park Service Trail Descriptions:
Tanner Trail (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Beamer Trail (nps.gov)
Note: that the Tanner / Beamer trails are part of Grand Canyon’s network of wild, “unmaintained” routes: considerably more difficult than the popular Bright Angel and Kaibab trails. Hikers should be in good physical condition, prepared for a challenging wilderness hike and use good trail judgement: lets be safe and have fun.
There are no mule trains, hotel facilities or resthouses on the trails and we will be unlikely to see more than a handful of other hikers. Small sections of the trails are washed out and require light climbing over rocks. Some sections are quite narrow and exposed to sheer drops. There is a pit toilet near where the Tanner trail meets the Colorado River (where we will spend the first night) but otherwise human waste will need to be buried (away from water or trails) and toilet paper packed out. The only water source on the trail is the Colorado River, which needs to be filtered. On the first day down, we will each stash 2 liters of water to use on the way up in addition to four liters we each should carry.
Temperatures in the inner canyon range from 40-70 degrees in November and we’ll need to be prepared for cold nights. Though precipitation in this desert park is infrequent, we should be prepared for rain and snow (I’ve experienced both in the Grand Canyon, though it usually does not last more than a few hours). Microspikes and poles may be needed for ice on the upper reaches of the trail. These cost about $20 and are usually available at the park camping supply store. No fires are allowed on the trail.
We will camp at Mather Campground on the South Rim the night of Wednesday, November 6. It will be cold but we will have a campfire. Be prepared for sub- freezing temperatures. If poor weather is forecast, we may switch to staying in a nearby hotel. All hikers are asked to arrive the night before to acclimate to the elevation and ensure we don’t start late.
The itinerary is as follows:
Wednesday, November 6
Arrive at GCNP stay at Mather campground (all hikers must arrive the eve of Nov 6 to acclimate to altitude and prepare)
Thursday, November 7
9 miles, Tanner trail to Tanner Rapids on the Colorado River;
Friday, November 8
4 miles to Palisades (on Colorado River).
Saturday, November 9
Long day hike (14 miles) to confluence and back.
Sunday, November 10
Back to Tanner rapids (4 miles), return part of the way up the Tanner trail in late afternoon (2-5 miles).
Monday, November 11
Exit the canyon via Tanner trail 5-7 miles. End of hike around noon.
Host: Clinton Trout
Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/tanner-and-beamer-trail?=i&sh=nf5t1c
Length: ~35 miles – very strenuous
Elevation Gain: ~7,000 feet
RSVP: RSVP and pre-payment of $60 per permit and $3
Meeting Location: Mather Campground, South Rim, Grand Canyon
Meeting Date & Time: Wednesday, November 6 before 10PM
Parking: Parking at Mather Campground and Lipan Point
Cost: $60 for permit +$3 for camping ($63)
Time Commitment: Six days / 5 nights including overnight at Mather Campground
Dogs: Prohibited
Trail Details:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/tanner-and-beamer-trail?=i&sh=nf5t1c
What to Bring
● Backpacking Backpack
● Shelter – Backpacking Tent, pad, sleeping bag
● Cooking gear (stove, gas, utensils) (We’ll coordinate in advance for sharing)
● Six liters of water (two for stashing on Tanner trail, these should be labeled
with your name, date left (November 7) and date of expected retrieval
(November 10)
● Water purification method (We’ll coordinate in advance for sharing)
● Food – meals/snacks
● Ten Essentials
● Phone/camera
● Warm/cold weather clothing, poncho/rain jacket
● Any prescription or other needed medications
● Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunblock, lip block)
● Will most likely need microspikes/poles
● *Feel free to contact me with questions. We will arrange sharing in advance.
Cell Phone Service: No reception
Health Problems/Allergies: It is the responsibility of participants to carry on their person a record of significant allergies, medications and medical history in the event of a medical emergency. Discuss any medical concerns with a trip leader if you wish.
Contact/Question - If you have any questions not addressed by the information above or on our registration page, please feel free to contact the trip leaders: Clint Trout at clintworldwide@outlook.com
Grand Canyon Backcountry Regulations
All participants should know and obey the following regulations. The trip leader and/or participants can be cited for violating these regulations.
1. A backcountry permit is required for all overnight backcountry use and MUST be in the trip leader's possession while in the backcountry. Permittees must abide by all trail closures and activity or use restrictions.
2. A backcountry permit is valid only for the trip leader, campsites, dates, and number of people specified on the permit.
3. Carry out your trash. Burning, burying, or leaving trash or toilet paper is prohibited.
4. A backcountry permit is void if on any night another group affiliated to yours (i.e. same club, organization, group of friends, etc.) is using the same campground or use area. More than one group from the same organization or affiliation camping in the same designated campground or use area per night is prohibited.
5. Commercial Use Authorization is required for commercial use of the backcountry.
6. Wood or charcoal fires of any type are prohibited. Sterno or fossil fuel backpack stoves are permitted.
7. Use of biodegradable or any other type of soap in creeks is prohibited, and hikers in at-large areas are encouraged where possible to leave room for wildlife and protect water quality by camping at least 100 feet away from natural water sources other than the Colorado River.
8. Feeding, touching, teasing, or intentionally disturbing wildlife is prohibited.
9. Throwing or rolling rocks or other items down hillsides or mountainsides, into valleys or canyons, or inside caves is prohibited.
10. Leaving a trail or walkway to shortcut between portions of the same trail or walkway, or to shortcut to an adjacent trail is strictly prohibited.
11. Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing from its natural state any plants, rocks, animals, mineral, cultural or archeological resources natural features, or signs is prohibited. Walking on, entering, traversing, or climbing an archeological resource is prohibited.
12. The use of motorized vehicles or wheeled devices, such as bicycles, motorcycles, baby buggies, and similar vehicles, on trails below the rim is prohibited.
13. Overnight private stock use requires a backcountry permit. Use is restricted to trails and campsites designated for stock. Other domestic animals or pets are prohibited below the rim.
14. Traps and nets are prohibited. A valid fishing license is required for all fishing.
15. Because of their sensitive and sometimes dangerous nature, entry and/or exploration of any caves or mines must be approved in advance through Grand Canyon National Park.
There are additional backcountry permit conditions for holders of a Commercial Use Authorization, for more info visit www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-cua-regs.htm
