South Canyon Trail to the Colorado River

South Canyon Trail to the Colorado River is a remote 6.5-mile point-to-point route from Marble Bench's rim to a river beach. Allow about 7 to 8 hours one way; it drops roughly 2,700 feet, and much of the route is cairned, loose canyon travel rather than a built trail. There is no road at the river. Unless your river itinerary has a confirmed pickup, return the same way: about 13 miles and 14 hours in all, an exceptional day. Overnight camping below the rim requires a backcountry permit; day hikes do not.

From the parking area, follow the rim southwest for about 90 yards to a cairned chute. Tight switchbacks and short loose-rock downclimbs lead to a limestone outcrop, then the route traverses toward a red-and-white slickrock gully and drops by more steep switchbacks to the canyon floor. The official one-way mileage is a guide; the exact line varies through the rough drainage.

Below the rim, expect boulder hopping, brush and route-finding for the easiest line down the wash. Two 15- to 20-foot pour-offs are bypassed on cairned routes along the south, or right, side. After Bedrock Canyon joins from the north, a 40-foot dryfall comes about 125 yards downstream. Its cairned shelf bypass runs roughly 220 yards along the south side before dropping back into the creek bed.

At the gray Redwall Limestone narrows, cairns climb around the north side over loose ground and small ravines, then cross the Supai layer. The view opens toward the Colorado and Vasey's Paradise. A steep final descent includes a 12-foot climb-down to a ledge, a shelf above the river and a scramble through a break in the limestone to the beach. Raft parties often use the beach's lower end; the upper stretch is narrower. From the shore, include foreground boulders with the river and high walls to show the canyon's scale. Rocks at Vasey's Paradise can be slick and slope toward the river.

The Redwall here is naturally gray, despite its name. The route crosses the Supai layer before the river view. Vasey's Paradise was named in 1869 for a botanist who traveled with Powell through the Rocky Mountains the year before. Gated Stanton's Cave has yielded 4,000-year-old split-twig figures and remains of a giant teratorn, an extinct condor-like bird with a wingspan of about 12 feet. Leave the cave closed and archaeological material alone.

The approach is about 22 miles of dirt road from US 89A, so rain can make the drive impassable. The canyon is usually dry; carry enough water to reach the Colorado. River water may be silty and needs settling before treatment, with a backup purification method. Pets are not allowed below the rim. No trailhead water, toilets or food service were confirmed.