Grand Canyon guides
 

I am interested in hiking the Grand Canyon next year and have found numerous hiking companies which provide guides, equipment, etc. I would appreciate feedback on how to determine reputable from "not-so" reputable. Is there a 'rating" of these services somewhere? Also, I'd very much apreciate opinions on going without guides, possibly using mules for the gear. (My brother has been trying to get reservations at "the ranch" for over a year to no avail so we believe that option is out.)

I would think that any company registered to take people hiking in the park is "reputable", but I don't know about the quality of their trips (food, etc.)

You certainly don't need a guide if you are experienced at hiking and have the gear. You can send you gear down on mules if you are willing to pay $60 each way. You need reservations for that, but they are not hard to get. You also need a permit to camp overnight in the canyon, and those can be hard to get, but not if you apply at the first opportunity. We just did this trip 2 weeks ago; you might consult my trip report (in progress right now) for information on the permits.

Thank you so much for your reply. One of us is a marathon runner, one has done some hiking & has some gear, the other 6 are "newbies", (albeit, training to get in shape), ranging in age from late 30's to mid-60 years old. We have no gear. I am reading, with great interest your report of your trip.

If you want to hike the corridor trails, Bright Angel, South Kaibab on the South Rim or the North Kaibab on the North Rim, you won't need a guide. Go to the NPS website, it has all the information you need on going to, staying at and hiking in the Grand Canyon. If you can get reservations at Phantom Ranch, you can dayhike down and you won't need all kinds of camping equipment. Plan on one day down and the next day out. Call Xanterra about reservations. What I do is call them with dates in mind. I book what they have and build the rest of my trip around that. So make the PR reservations first, then other hotels, planes etc. I have asked for any date say in July and I can usually get one 4-5 months in advance. If you need more specific dates you need to book further out.

here are some links that you can use:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/

http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

With that size group, you will never get into Phantom Ranch unless you take a mule trip. You will need to camp. I would definitely recommend using the duffle service.

No one in our group had equipment either. Most of us were able to borrow sleeping mats, sleeping bags, tents, even backpacks. We did purchase trekking poles, a backpack with a camelback sleeve to hold a 100 oz camelback--I gave these to my husband for his birthday and Christmas. REI had a backpack on clearance that was great. There are places where you can rent equipment too.

My husband also bought gel toe guards for all the hikers--protects toenails on the trip down. A picture of a hiker cutting off his broken toenail on one of the websites grossed everyone out.

One of our hikers had hiked previously with a guide. The main thing the guide did, he said, was make them stop every half hour, eat something salty and drink water.

When you get your hiking permit, the NPS send a CD and a packing list that is helpful.

Call now and get your dinners reserved. They will tell you what dates dinners are available. We originally didn't have the same seating for dinner. Half the hikers were eating at the first and half the second seating. We were able to change that 4 days before we arrived. Then you can plan your trip. If hikers decide not to hike, you can cancel your reservations.

Don't hike down in the summer. It is too hot. The Spring and Fall are when you want to hike. Our group hiked down the last weekend in March. Temps at the rim were in the high 60s. Phantom had a high of 80, dropping to about 38 at night. They lucked out with absolutely perfect weather. The day before they hiked down however, there was 0 visibility because of fog and snow---go figure. It's all luck.