New Hance Trail
The New Hance Trail begins from the eastern side of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and descends over rocky, unstable, challenging terrain to the Colorado River below. This hike is demanding, has no shade, and requires careful routefinding. It’s useful as a means to an end to get from the river to the rim or vice versa, but we don’t necessarily recommend choosing it over more enjoyable, safer hikes like the Grandview Trail Loop. Expect moderate traffic on this trail.
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Route Description for New Hance Trail
New Hance Trail dips down from the eastern side of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and ends at the bank of the Colorado River. It’s a trail freight with rocks, loose footing, and tough routefinding. If you’re one of those hikers who like to push their limits, this might be the route for you. For the rest of us, we don’t generally recommend this route as more than a means to an end. If you want good views, there are better ones to be found on safer trails. We recommend trying the nearby Grandview Trail.
If you need to use this route, be prepared! It’s not shaded at all and can get extremely hot. The footing is questionable and rocky, and getting off the route can put you in precarious spots. Download a GPS route and practice careful routefinding.
The route drops off from the rim through extremely tight switchbacks before beginning a descent past Coronado Butte. Keep right away from the stream to descend the edge of a mesa and make a still-steep descent to another arm of the creek. Once you’re in the canyon, things get a little more manageable. The route ends where it reaches the river.
Getting to the New Hance Trail Trailhead
The trailhead for New Hance Trail is off E Rim Drive.
Route Information
New Hance Trail Elevation Graph
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