Choose a hike that all members of your group will enjoy.
Prepare for the hike before you arrive.
Be sure to check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on trail conditions and situations affecting the backcountry.
Trouble on the Trail
Occasionally emergencies occur in the backcountry. Never abandon someone who is in trouble! Call for help, use your signal mirror, or send a message with another hiker. Almost all emergencies can be avoided with proper planning. Please remember that fatigue is not an emergency.
Rangers are prepared to respond to problems of all kinds and will, if available, provide a necessary and appropriate level of assistance. Evaluate your situation rationally and thoroughly before requesting help.
Did You Know?
Within the Grand Canyon, the rugged, V-shaped Inner Gorge rises darkly from the Colorado River. The broad shelf above it is the Tonto Platform, which spreads like a green blanket across both sides of the canyon. the Inner Gorge achieves a depth of over 1200 feet (366m)