One Day vs. Overnight Rim to Rim

The Grand Canyon’s epic Rim to Rim hike – an iconic bucketlist trek that demands grit, perseverance, determination, and strength!  But before you ever step down into those iconic red rocks walls and cross over the mighty Colorado River, you’ll have to take on a different kind of challenge.  The planning and logistics challenge.  While there are many puzzle pieces to sort out when it comes to a Rim to Rim hike, one of the biggest questions you will need to answer from the beginning is: one day Rim to Rim OR overnight Rim to Rim?  

There’s no wrong answer, and both options offer their own unique experiences.  To help you determine the right choice for you, let’s look at the pros and cons of a one day Rim to Rim versus an overnight Rim to Rim.

 

One Day Versus Overnight Rim to Rim

 

When deciding, here’s some major factors to consider:

• Permits
• Fitness Level/Background
• Hiking Style
• Group Composition
• Personal Goals

 

PERMITS– you can’t stay overnight in the inner canyon (the 3 inner corridor trails) without a permit (or winning the lottery for Phantom Ranch), so obtaining one is kind of a make or break.  The process to get a permit is tedious and challenging.  If you don’t get one, your decision is basically made for you – a one day Rim to Rim hike.

 

FITNESS LEVEL / BACKGROUND – you need to be realistic in your fitness level and background.  One day Rim to Rim hikes are naturally more challenging to complete.  It generally takes more time to train for a one day Rim to Rim hike, so it’s a bit more of a commitment ahead of time.

 

HIKING STYLE – you should never feel bad about your own personal hiking style, but you should also allow it to help guide you into a realistic plan.  Do you want to take your time, enjoy multiple and lengthy breaks, snap tons of pictures, stop and check out every plant?  Not a problem, but an overnight Rim to Rim hike might be a better fit.  There’s a little bit more of a “timing buffer”.

 

GROUP COMPOSITION – what are the hiking styles, fitness levels, and personal goals of the whole group?  It needs to be aligned.

 

PERSONAL GOALS – is your personal goal to complete a Rim to Rim in under 12 hours?  Is your goal to spend several days exploring every nook and cranny of the trails?  Will you only be fully satisfied if you spend a night under the stars?  Your personal goals will help you determine between a one day Rim to Rim hike and an overnight Rim to Rim hike.

 

Pros and Cons of a One Day Rim to Rim Hike

 

PROS:

• Personal Accomplishment and Challenge – for endurance hikers and athletes, completing the Rim to Rim in one day is seen as one of the epitomes of hiking challenges.  It’s the sense of personal accomplishment in overcoming one of the biggest physical and mental challenges in the hiking world.

 

• Less Logistics – don’t get your hopes up too much, because there’s still plenty of logistics and planning to be had on a one day Rim to Rim hike, but at least you don’t have to play the lottery / permit game for camping.

 

• Less Gear and Lighter Pack – you’re packing just for the day, not for an overnight.  No camping or overnight backpacking gear, just day hiking essentials.  Here’s a specific packing list for a one day Rim to Rim hike.

 

CONS:

 

• More Physically Challenging – any time and any way you hike in the Grand Canyon is challenging, but the sheer magnitude of the distance, elements, and elevation gain of a Rim to Rim in one day ups the challenge factor significantly.  Tackling all of that at once requires a targeted Rim to Rim training plan.

 

• Only One Way Out! – if you experience issues like fatigue, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sprained ankles, cramps, etc., you’re kinda stuck dealing with it until you haul yourself out.  Versus being able to stop part way through and address issues, rest, etc., on an overnight Rim to Rim.

 

• Timeframe – your timeframe is tighter, and there’s more pressure.  If you encounter an issue, there’s the potential for it to set you back and cause you to have a very long, potentially riskier, Rim to Rim.  Timewise, there’s a lot less margin for error on a one day Rim to Rim hike.  You should always bring a headlamp for this reason, in case you find yourself hiking out later than you planned.

 

• Less Time to Enjoy the Hike – arguably you won’t have AS much time to enjoy your surroundings, even though I don’t really agree with this 100%.  It’s just what a lot of people say.  I’ve always had time to enjoy what I wanted to enjoy, take breaks, and take pictures on one day Rim to Rim hikes.  If your hiking style is peppered with numerous and lengthy breaks, lots of posed pictures, etc., then it’s true you may have a little less time to enjoy the hike.  But consider that whether you hike a one day or overnight, you still need to avoid hiking during the hottest parts of the day, most exposed parts of the hike, etc., so timing and pacing is going to be important no matter your hiking style.  Even if you are just hiking from the North Rim to Phantom Ranch for an overnight, you’ll still want to make decent time en route to avoid hiking in the Frying Pan and the Box in full sun, heat, and exposure.

 

• More Targeted, Intense Training and Conditioning – you’re going to need to train either way, but if you are planning to push through on a one day Rim to Rim hike and tackle everything it throws your way in just one day, you’re going to need to train a little more targeted and specifically.  Being generally “in good shape” can still be a struggle.  You need to specifically train for the distance, elements, and elevation gain.  If you hike 3x a week but your trails are all under 200 feet of elevation gain, you’re probably going to want to do more. Here’s a complete 16 week Rim to Rim Training Plan to get you started – including free training calendars, timelines, strength training recommendations, and more.

 

Pros and Cons of an Overnight Rim to Rim Hike

 

PROS:

 

• Lessened Physical Challenge – don’t hear “easy”, just slightly less of an all at once physical challenge.  It’s still tough, but because it’s not all at once, the endurance factor is slightly less. The chance to stop, rest, and refuel on an overnight Rim to Rim hike makes it more manageable in certain ways.

 

• Still Only One Way Out, But….– if you encounter an issue, setback, fatigue, dehydration, etc., you’re still gonna have to get yourself out, but at least you’re able to stop part-way through to assess, rest, troubleshoot, refuel, or whatever else may help you overcome the issue and be more ready to go the next day.

 

• Timeframe – slightly less pressure, and a little more margin for error.  You’ll have a little more flexibility in your plans as far as when you need to depart, what your pace looks like, etc.

 

• More Time to Enjoy the Hike – overnight Rim to Rims do give you a little more time and flexibility to hike your own hike, slow down and soak it up, and not feel as pressured.  Wanna spend half a day at Ribbon Falls?  You can do so with more peace of mind on an overnight Rim to Rim.

 

• Less Targeted, Intense Training and Conditioning – you absolutely should still train, but the cardio and endurance requirements of training for a one day and an overnight Rim to Rim are different.  You’ll need to conquer what back to back hiking days look like, but you won’t need as targeted training to knock the whole thing out at once.  The fueling and hydration strategies of a one day versus a overnight Rim to Rim hike also look different.  

 

• The “Canyon Night” Experience – the corridor trail campgrounds and Phantom Ranch can be magical places to experience.  Plus there’s the night sky and the night life that only exists down in the canyon at night.

 

CONS:

 

• Personal Accomplishment and Challenge – I’m not diminishing the accomplishment of an overnight Rim to Rim AT ALL.  It’s simply less of an endurance specific accomplishment for those specifically looking for that type of event.  If you thrive on all day long endurance events, you may feel more at home with a one day Rim to Rim hike.  At the end of the day, the sense of personal accomplishment and challenge is YOURS, and yours to weigh.  I get annoyed at those who downplay the accomplishment of an overnight Rim to Rim, the same way I get annoyed at those who say trail runners can’t possibly enjoy a Rim to Rim when they’re running it.  As a trail runner myself, I’ll tell you that there’s few places that would be more exhilarating to run at than the Grand Canyon. You know what pushing yourself looks like, and you know what a personal accomplishment looks like.

 

• More Logistics and Permits– there’s a TON of logistics no matter what, but if you’re camping on the corridor trails, you gotta get that permit / win the Phantom Ranch lottery.  And that can be an added hassle.

 

• More Gear and Heavier Pack – you’re gonna need to bring along those backpacking essentials now.  And that’s gonna mean a heavier pack, which is probably going to feel the most torturous when you’re hauling it up either rim.

 

One Day Rim to Rim or Overnight Rim to Rim? How Do YOU Decide?

 

You Might be a “One Day Rim to Rimer” if….

• You’re a seasoned and experienced endurance hiker, ultra trail runner, or overall endurance athlete.  
• You prefer hiking with a lighter pack
• You prefer “fast” hiking and meeting a personal best time or challenge
• You know your pacing well and what to expect from yourself when hiking lengthy downhills, uphills, and flat sections
• You have a well practiced hydration and fueling plan
• You’re familiar with significant elevation gains and losses, as well as lengthy distances in one day
• You’re comfortable with less margin for error and know how to handle some of the unexpecteds.  
• The logistics overwhelm you and you want one less thing.
• You’ve got some experience scaling massive amounts of elevation gain all at once, whether that’s from uphill mountain climbing training on 14’ers, or other similar canyon treks.

 

You may be an “Overnight Rim to Rimer” if……

• You want less pressure in terms of timeframe and pace, with a more “soaking it up” experience
• You want that “Canyon Night” experience
• You’re conditioned to carrying a heavier pack and have all your backpacking essentials
• You appreciate more opportunities to rest, recover, recharge, and reset
• You feel more comfortable with a little more “buffer” and a little more margin for error
• You’re cool playing out the permits / lottery puzzle piece.

 

At the end of the day, neither option is wrong or better.  They are simply different paths to reaching the same life changing goal.  Either way you tackle it, the Rim to Rim hike is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable hikes you’ll ever do in your life.  It’s the reason so many people finish and immediately start planning their next canyon adventure.  The key to either attempt is intentional planning, knowing yourself, and preparing responsibly.  And keeping your sense of patience for the logistics that come with either option.  Just know that in the end, it will be worth it to be one of the elite few Grand Canyon visitors to experience it all from Rim to Rim!

 

*Planning your 1st Rim to Rim hike?  I’ve got all the resources you need all in one place – plus 1:1 Consults and Training Plans!

• 1st Timers Guide to Hiking the Rim to Rim in One Day
• Complete Rim to Rim Packing List
• 16 Week Rim to Rim Training Plan
• 1:1 Coaching Consults and Plans for the Rim to Rim Hike – RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE!
• The Rim to Rim Visual Guidebook for 1st Timers
• The Rim to Rim Landmarks Guide: North to South
• The Rim to Rim Landmarks Guide: South to North
• 9 Myths About Training for a Rim to Rim Hike
• How to Handle the Heat in the Grand Canyon
• The Toughest Parts of the Rim to Rim Hike

 

 

 

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