Hike the New Hance trail in Grand Canyon national park, Arizona.
We were up in the Grand Canyon on a busy July and we were looking for a secluded day hike (not easy!). Incredibly, we were able to find one at New Hance. Hiking 2.8 miles to the start of the Redwall layer makes for an enjoyable (and secluded) day hike.
One of the reasons for the excellent solitude on the New Hance trail is the trailhead is poorly marked. This is an unmaintained trail and for experienced Grand Canyon hikers only. From the gated forest road, walk East along the rim drive for 0.6 miles until you see the "no parking" and "Tow away zone" signs. If the signs aren't obvious enough, you are not allowed to park at the trailhead start. From the "no parking" pullout, turn North and walk along the now visible trail deeper into the forest towards the hidden South Rim. After a few hundred feet of walking, you'll see a sign clearly marking the start of the trail.
The trail can be tricky to find at times, so you'll have to use those route finding skills. It's a very steep descent as well, almost as steep as the South Kaibab trail, which is the steepest trail to the depths of the Grand Canyon. It's a rocky descent, so use care. I fell once and my friend fell twice along this trail.
Very quickly, you'll be greeted with views of the Coronado Butte and the inner Grand Canyon. This trail follows a contour of Red Canyon, eventually reaching the Colorado River at Hance rapid. For this day hike, we stopped at the start of the redwall layer. If you're not sure where the redwall layer is, when the trail starts to leave the bottom of Red Canyon it's time to consider turning around. At least, you'll be greeted with some great views of the inner Grand Canyon from this excellent viewpoint.
Someday I hope to take this trail all the way to the river. Enjoy!
