Description
Section-ride the entirety of the South Rim Capes of the Canyon over time or explore the region. These routes are designed for riders who:
- (a) Don't have enough time/money for the full routes in one continuous trip but instead want to section-ride the Passages over time.
- (b) Are new to bikepacking and feel more comfortable taking on shorter Passages of the routes.
- (c) Want to explore the Grand Canyon region on day rides.
- (d) Have narrow weather windows outside of the optimal seasons for riding the whole routes.
***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 and polished routes are fully featured below.
Finalized and polished routes are fully featured below.
South Rim Passages List
Passage 2: Red Butte
Passage 2: Red Butte takes bikepackers out on a loop ride to Red Butte in the heart of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument. Cyclists start outside Tusayan riding through montane woodlands of ponderosa pines before descending to savannah grasslands near Anita Station. Riders then approach the base of Red Butte and pass by a trailhead to its summit before ascending back into conifer forests up along Skinner Ridge. From here, it's a fun descent back towards Tusayan. The route sticks to mostly fantastic gravel roads and features several reliable wildlife tanks for water.
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Passage 5: Desert View
Passage 5 provides riders views of five different capes along the Grand Canyon. Bikepackers start at Grandview Lookout Tower and the Arizona Trail before descending through the pines off the Coconino Rim. Then, it's on to rocky doubletrack out to stunning Cape 1 Little Colorado River Gorge. The dirt transitions to pavement as riders join the highway and enter Grand Canyon National Park. A large climb proceeds up to Cape 2 Desert View where water, groceries, established camping, and the historic Desert View Watchtower wait. Capes 3 - 5 follow as the route parallels the Canyon edge back in a loop to where riders started.
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Passage 8: South Bass (Short Version)
Passage 8: South Bass is a rare opportunity for bikepackers to camp on the edge of Grand Canyon's South Rim in an area excluding cars. The route heads 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. The "Short Version" bypasses the ride through Apex along the Grand Canyon Railroad and cuts off a start and end in Tusayan.
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Passage 8: South Bass (Full Version)
Passage 8: South Bass 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. The "Full Version" includes a ride through Apex along the Grand Canyon Railroad as well as a start and end in Tusayan.
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*Based on Bikepacking Roots Route Rating Scale
