Horseshoe Mesa Loop

Start at Grandview Point and descend Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, about 3 miles each way. From the mesa, take the west descent to Cottonwood Creek, follow the creek to the Tonto bench, then head east to Hance Creek and climb its steep route back to the mesa. Return to the rim on Grandview. The lower circuit adds about seven miles; if you want a shorter hike, the six-mile out-and-back to the mesa leaves it out.

The first miles are steep and exposed, with worn ledges, vertical steps and switchbacks cut into the canyon wall. Watch your feet where sandstone slabs are set edgewise as rough cobbles, and where historic log cribbing supports the trail above drops. At Coconino Saddle, the view opens east into upper Hance Creek; then steep switchbacks descend through the Supai before a gentler traverse reaches the mesa. Short washouts and rockslides can make that traverse uneven. Wet or icy ledges are especially dangerous, and winter ice can make this trail unsafe.

The mesa is more than a turnaround. You pass a standing masonry structure and traces of the copper workings that brought this trail into being. In February 1893, mule trains began hauling ore to the rim on a rough track then known as the Berry Trail. The copper deposits were reported to average 30 percent copper. Rusted tools, cans and other mining remains are protected; leave them where they are. Mines and caves are closed, and the mine openings are unsafe.

The west descent toward Cottonwood is steep and loose, with badly washed sections above the creek. The route eases near the creek, then climbs back to the Tonto bench. That traverse is comparatively level but open and almost entirely unshaded; don't expect a constant view of the Colorado River. The Hance side is the hardest part for many hikers: its loose, exposed climb passes through the Redwall, where a slip can have serious consequences. Signed junctions are not universal, so pay attention at the mesa and creek intersections.

There is no water between the rim and Horseshoe Mesa. Hance Creek is listed as year-round, but the Page Spring is unreliable and Cottonwood springs can dry in hot weather; treat creek water and don't plan the hike around a spring. There is no water at the mesa campsites. Overnight stays require a backcountry permit and use of designated mesa sites. Pets aren't allowed below the rim; service animals are. Park at Grandview Point on Desert View Drive. The upper lot is the designated overnight parking area.