The Grand Canyon has been drawing visitors from all over for more than a century, and it is impossible to be prepared for the awe and amazement you will feel when you visit the canyon carved by the Colorado River. What are the different ways to enjoy this view? There are many options to choose from for how to visit the Grand Canyon:
- You can get around by car or shuttle and get off near the various viewpoints located along the scenic Desert View Drive (in the case of the South Rim);
- You can visit the canyon on foot, walking either along the rim of the canyon or descending to the bottom via long, strenuous trails;
- You can observe it from above on a helicopter or plane tour, some of the most popular tours available;
- Or you can also explore it the old-fashioned way, that is, by… riding a mule!
That’s right, on a mule. While the first three options might have been anticipated, the idea of visiting the Grand Canyon on the back of a mule must certainly sound unconventional!
Contents
A brief introduction
Normally we would associate horses with the Wild West, but what you may not know is that mules were used to transport goods. Slow yet strong and stable, the mule is a hybrid of donkey and horse that is capable of completing the arduous journey from the canyon rim to the river and back.
As you may have guessed, “Grand Canyon Mule Rides” are not a recent tourist invention. In fact, the first organized tours of the park dating back to the late 1800s consisted of carriage rides (to the canyon rim) or mule rides (to the canyon floor). To this day, mules carry not only tourists but also some materials from the bottom to the top of the canyon and back (mail, trash, food, etc.). In 1904, British entrepreneur Fred Harvey bought the exclusive concession of mule tours to the Grand Canyon, which now belongs to Xanterra Travel Collection, a tour operator that offers two very different kinds of tours (we will see them shortly).
Grand Canyon Mule Rides: Price and other Information
Here are some very important tips and rules that apply to hiking:
- Mule rides are available year-round. The price ranges from $170.28 to $1164.83 per person depending on the tour.
- There are not many mules, and mule rides are in high demand. The rangers’ advice is to book on the official website 15 months in advance, especially if you go in summer (in winter you should find availability even without booking). Make sure to confirm your reservation a couple of days before the tour in the manner specified by the tour operator. If you go to the Grand Canyon without a reservation, you will be put on a waiting list valid for the next day, but that is a risk I do not recommend you take.
- Don’t assume that hiking on a mule is easy. You need to be in good shape and not suffer from vertigo, and you must always remember that no matter how highly trained they are, mules can always have unexpected reactions or behaviors.
- To participate in a mule tour, you must be at least 4’8 tall and weigh less than 198 lbs (including clothes) to descend to the river, and no more than 225 lbs (including clothes) to hike down the slope.
- The minimum age is 9 years old.
- Minors under 17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
- Required attire: Long-sleeved shirt or sweater, long pants, wide-brimmed hat (in summer), closed shoes, and sunglasses. Obviously in the winter it will be necessary to wear additional layers, including sweatshirts, sweaters, waterproof pants, gloves etc.
- No backpacks are allowed during the mule ride. If you are on a long hike to the canyon floor, you are permitted to bring a bag with overnight necessities. The rest will be taken care of by the tour company.
- If you bring a camera, you will have to carry it around your neck. A phone may also be used as a camera, but it must be carried around your neck as well and cannot be used to perform other functions during the trip.
- If you have to arrive very early at the meeting point and are looking for accommodations in or near the park, click the link below to view the options:
Tour options
There are two tours available: 2-Hour Canyon Vistas Mule Ride and the Overnight Ride to Phantom Ranch. Here are details for the two tours:
2-Hour Canyon Vistas Mule Trip
As you can tell from the name, this tour includes a 2-hour mule ride (3 hours total) and takes place entirely along the South Rim of the canyon. In other words, on this tour you do not go down inside the canyon. Instead, you will only view it from above.
From March 1 to October 31 tours depart at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The rest of the year there is only one tour at 10:00 a.m. Check-in is always at the meeting point an hour and a half before the tour. The cost is $177.72 per person (including tax).
The tour usually has about 20 participants and departs from Yaki Barn, which can be reached by shuttle for free. You will ride the mule for 4 miles on the East Rim Trail. There are 6 stops along the way, where the guide will pause to give information about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the area.
More information can be found here.
Grand Canyon Mule Ride to Phantom Ranch
This will be a very difficult yet undoubtedly unforgettable adventure, with an overnight stay at the rustic Phantom Ranch, which, for those who don’t know, is the only option found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
After checking in (remember, at least 90 minutes in advance, preferably the day before!), you will go to the meeting point at Bright Angel Lodge. After a brief training conducted by your guide, you will set off on an approximately 5.30-hour descent (with breaks and a picnic lunch) down the Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch, where you can rest, go for a swim in the river and have a delicious steak dinner. After an overnight stay and breakfast, the next day you will return to Grand Canyon Village by hiking up the trail in just under 6 hours.
The tour costs $1,231 per person, but discounts are available for additional participants: 2 people pay $2,233.76, and from the third participant onwards, the discount is greater. Rate includes:
- lodging at Phantom Ranch
- Packed lunch, ranch steak dinner and breakfast
- guided hike
As I have already mentioned, it is not possible to bring a backpack. However, you can pack a bag with spare clothing, a swimsuit for swimming in the river and essentials for an overnight stay. A duffel bag can be provided upon request and at extra charge.
More information can be found here, but a video can help you get a feel for the experience:
