Passage 2 - Red Butte and the Red Butte Overnighter

Passage 2: Red Butte and the Red Butte Overnighter take 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. Red Butte is a sacred site for the Havasupai so make sure to ride with respect. In addition, this area helped spur the creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni NM in August 2023 to prevent further uranium mining on lands near the Grand Canyon.

This route is best ridden in Spring (Late April - Early June) and Fall (September - October), although it is possible to ride it during summer (just be ready for heat and monsoons). An Arizona State Lands permit is required, so make sure to purchase and carry one with you. Passage 2 can be ridden as a day ride or turned into an Overnighter.