Where in the Grand Canyon should I camp where I won't be joined by a huge crowd?

Question

I don't care about distance, really, just planning on a backpack, and I have five days at my disposal, in March. I want to go somewhere with the most solitude possible, but still beautiful and fun. I'm 17 and my hiking partner is 16, and we live in Colorado and are used to backpacking.

I don't care about distance, really, just planning on a backpack, and I have five days at my disposal, in March. I want to go somewhere with the most solitude possible, but still beautiful and fun. I'm 17 and my hiking partner is 16, and we live in Colorado and are used to backpacking.

I want to camp INSIDE the canyon, near the floor... I was looking at the Clear Creek Trail and the Ottoman Amphatheater, but it looks pretty popular for that time of year.

Answer 1

Most of the backcountry of GCNP is pretty empty. Once you get out of what's officially described as the Corridor- Hermit Trail to The S.Kaibab - You can pretty much have the Canyon to yourself.
All below rim camping is highly regulated by the Back Country Reservations Office [ the BRO ] and requires a permit- which you have to buy and attach to you pack
Get a copy of the Sierra Club book Hiking The Grand Canyon for more info.
There is a consistant 30 degree difference between rim and river and this can make equipment selection a little weird in March.
You are gong to start your hike in a Ponderosa pine forest and end it on the Sonoran desert -all of which happens in 6 miles and 4600'
I remember once I spent a week on the Tonto platform getting nice and sunburned , hiking in shorts and a Tee shirt, On the uphill run on Boucher I ran into a major no bs snow storm that got worse as i gained altitude. I had spent a lot of time in the Canyon so i was ready for it
.
The biggest single problem you are going to have wil be getting next to a reliable water source.
The Colorado is not as acessible as you may think. So you are ging to have to rely on other sources.
Since you're a newbie and I don't want tp place you in danger
Try the Tanner Delta area- park at Lipan Point and use the Tanner trail to the Rio
watch out for postholing if the upper sections are covered in snow

You can also take Boucher Trail all the way to the river- a great trail in good weather but the upper sections are really exposed and can be an adventure in bad weather. On the uphill run you may want to do a dry camp above the Redwall and finish the hike in the morning light
Take a shuttle to hermits rest and then down the hermit and follow signs for boucher -
start early and spend your first nightt at Boucher camp
Between now and then famiiarize yourself with Grand Canyon geological terms. This is more than an esoteric excersize; most guide books give directions in terms of geological formations.
be careful and remember the canyon's been here for 6 million years it's not going anywhere.
more stuff:
The reason that Clear Creek may be crowded is that once a year due to snow melt Cheyava Falls starts flowing . Cheyava is the highest waterfall in the Park and as such getting to see it in full- flow is a major event on one's hiking calender. Access is to Cheyava Falls is via Clear Creek.
To get there , you will need to go down to the Rio on the S.Kaibab- a quadracep killing trail-
pick up water at Phantom ranch and then head back up to The Tonto platform and make a dry camp in a wash somewhere between Sumner Butte and Clear Creek.
You cannot make Clear Creek either to or from the S. Rim in one day. You change way too much elevation and as a newbie you are going to lose time with navigational chores while hiking the Platform.
Two more possibilities and then you're on your own.
If you continue down river from Boucher along the Tonto . Slate Creek is a huge drainage and a neat spot to explore and it usually has water- check w/ the BRO
You can also cobble a loop hike together by going down The S.Kaibab , Tonto East to the End at hance rapids/ red canyon .
DO NOT GO UP The Red Canyon trail it has too many navigational problems for a first time canyon hiker.
To Exit
Back track to Hance Creek and then exit via an arm of the Grandview Trail , onto Horseshoe Mesa and then the rim. at Grandview Point.
Some more things - just because the map says trail doesn't mean that it is well defined or you can't get lost on it
You will spend time figuring stuff out ,
The Tonto in particular has a nasty habit of staying on the contour and dipping in and out of every little wash it runs across, when it does cross the head of a major drainage however it loses elevation quickly so watch out for that.
My personal rule of thumb fpr The Tonto on the S. Rim is 3 creeks per day - and it does work
Start at water and go to water.
have fun

Answer 2

OK, here is the thing. To camp in the canyon you need a permit. There are some NPS camp grounds in the park. One at Indian Gardens (4 miles down the Bright Angel Trail) and there is one at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. The only thing is, I don't know if they will give a permit to a 17-year-old. To camp any where else you need a Back Country Permit. You have to file where you are going, how long you will be and so forth.
In March the park is relatively dead and anywhere you camp will be sparsely populated. Be aware that in March on the rim it is cold (7000 feet and all) and it will get cold in the canyon over night and snow is possible.
Call the park vistors center at [phone] or go to the NPS web site. Here is the link to their camping info http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

Answer 3

The North Rim is less crowded due to its remoteness. From October through May, it's open for day use only & no services are available. And it may close altogether in case of inclement weather, which is common at 8,000 ft. above sea level. So, keep this in mind if you're thinking of going there. But if you're used to backpacking in Colorado, these things shouldn't bother you.
You'd have better luck finding open campgrounds on the South Rim, however. It shouldn't be too crowded in March, which is still in the off-season.
Have fun wherever you decide to go.