Only 1% of Grand Canyon Visitors Have Seen This Part of the Landmark — Here’s How to Visit

In 2023, 4.7 million visitors traveled to Grand Canyon National Park, making it the second-most visited national park in the U.S. But here’s the catch: only about 1 percent of those visitors venture below the canyon rim.

It’s strange when you think about it. People travel across the country (or the world) to peer across and into the canyon without ever stepping foot inside it. And Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute, a tour operator specializing in leading Grand Canyon adventures, wants to change that. 

“I’ll never forget my first trip to Grand Canyon in 2007. At 9 years old, I was camping with my family at Mather Point, and the sight of the canyon left me speechless. Then my dad told me we were hiking down into it, and I was terrified,” Noelle Ritzman, a day tour and logistics specialist at Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute, told Travel + Leisure. 

“But as we descended the Bright Angel Trail, my fear started to fade. The farther we went, the more amazed I became by the canyon’s colors and the beauty of the landscape,” Ritzman added. “The best adventures often begin with fear or uncertainty, but they end up leaving us inspired and changed.”

These ventures into the great Grand Canyon are often completed in winter and spring when the temperatures are cooler and the crowds are minimal. The institute-led trips below the rim range from the beginner-friendly, 6-hour “Meet the Canyon” tour to a 10-day “Hermit to South Bass Backpacking” trip.

The views and history that await travelers willing to venture below the rim are complemented by the leadership and knowledge of your guide, many of whom, Ritzman noted, “have lived, worked, and studied at Grand Canyon.” She added, “While they’re full of fascinating facts, it’s their ability to help visitors connect with the landscape and understand the cultural and natural significance of the Grand Canyon that truly sets them apart. Their insights go beyond the surface, fostering a deeper appreciation for both the natural wonders and the rich history that define this iconic landscape.”

In addition to the beginner-friendly “Meet the Canyon” day tour, which runs weekly between March 6 and May 29, there are a few bigger below-the-rim excursions with the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute that are planned for this winter and spring. 

Phantom Ranch Hiking Tour (Feb. 11-14, 2025): A trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and a stay at the legendary Phantom Ranch. 

Hermit to South Bass Backpacking: Deep Canyon Exploration (March 23-April 1, 2025): A 10-day backpacking traverse of the western Tonto Trail, one of the longest trails in the canyon.

Havasupai Gardens: Canyon Backpacking Classics (April 6-9, 2025): A multi-day trip designed for families and beginners that introduces you to backpacking in the Grand Canyon.

Horseshoe Mesa Backpacking: Canyon Stories (April 14-18, 2025): A 5-day trip that Ritzman called their “most immersive trip happening this spring,” leading you “through one of the most remote and breathtaking locations in the park.”