Looking for a weekend bikepacking route on the Capes of the Canyon?
These are a selection of passages from both the South and North Rims that are perfect for a 2-3 day trip. They feature phenomenal views that highlight the full COTC and typically have water sources stationed at good distances. Dispersed camping abounds along these loops that take riders right back to where they parked. Each route begins and ends at accessible locations where a 2WD vehicle is possible to drive/park at the start.
All of these Overnighters are nearly direct copies from the Passages. These routes have been changed slightly to accommodate better starts/finishes and overnight parking. Honestly, all the Passages could be ridden as overnighters. These, here, are the gems.
These are a selection of passages from both the South and North Rims that are perfect for a 2-3 day trip. They feature phenomenal views that highlight the full COTC and typically have water sources stationed at good distances. Dispersed camping abounds along these loops that take riders right back to where they parked. Each route begins and ends at accessible locations where a 2WD vehicle is possible to drive/park at the start.
All of these Overnighters are nearly direct copies from the Passages. These routes have been changed slightly to accommodate better starts/finishes and overnight parking. Honestly, all the Passages could be ridden as overnighters. These, here, are the gems.
***NOTE: Overnighters are being updated. When a route is not finalized, it will say "ROUGH DRAFT" in the RWGPS map name, and it will not be fully detailed below. Finalized routes are fully featured below.
North Rim Overnighter List
South Rim Overnighter List
North Rim Overnighters
5. Bedrock Overnighter
Bedrock Overnighter is a 45 mile loop and out back to two capes along Marble Canyon at Cape 29 Bedrock Point and Cape 30 Twentyseven Mile Rapids Overlook. Bikepackers head across the grassy expanses of House Rock Valley, catch some good water at Buffalo Tank, and then can camp rim-side at several locations. There are short spurts of fine-grained sand in places, so larger tires might be appreciated. Beyond that, the roads are in great condition and quickly carry riders below the flanks of the North Rim.
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6. Buck Farm Overnighter
Buck Farm Overnighter provides bikepackers a slow ascent up from the grassy platform of House Rock Valley to a pinyon-juniper forest at the base of Saddle Mountain. Riders pass by Nankoweap Trailhead (arguably the hardest trail in Grand Canyon National Park) along a lollipop loop that passes by some solid water sources before hitting rim-side camping at Cape 28 Buck Farm Viewpoint.
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South Rim Overnighters
1. South Bass Overnighter
South Bass Overnighter is a rare opportunity for bikepackers to camp on the edge of Grand Canyon's South Rim in an area excluding cars. The route starts in the town of Tusayan before heading out towards Pasture Wash through vast sage grasslands that transition back to juniper-pinyon woodlands interspersed with ponderosas. Riders take a chunky doubletrack through the woods to enter Grand Canyon National Park where they pass by the abandoned ruins of the Pasture Wash Ranger Station before making their way out to Cape 21 South Bass and Cape 22 Havasupai Point. Make sure to get the required permits from the Backcountry Information Center to sleep on the rim and carry plenty of water because it's dry camping out there.
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2. Red Butte Overnighter
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*Based on Bikepacking Roots Route Rating Scale