Arizona Canyoneering Map
Slot canyons and the Grand Canyon, in one 10-day loop.
10-day Arizona road trip built around slot canyons and the Grand Canyon: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend from Page, Buckskin Gulch and The Wave lottery from Kanab, the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails on the South Rim, and Sedona's red rocks on the way to Phoenix.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family’s trip.
34 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Antelope · Buckskin · The Wave · Grand Canyon · Sedona
5 of the stops on these 10 days.
Plan and book your 10 days in Arizona, one step at a time
How 10 days in Arizona split up
This 10-day Arizona road trip pairs the iconic slot canyons of the Colorado Plateau with the Grand Canyon South Rim. You base out of three towns, Page and Kanab for the canyons, Grand Canyon Village for the rim, then finish through Sedona's red rocks to Phoenix. As a rough guide, Phoenix and Scottsdale sit about 3.5 to 4 hours from the Grand Canyon's South Rim and roughly 2 hours from Sedona, so the whole loop threads together in one trip.
Day 1: Arrive in Page & Upper Antelope Canyon
3 stops · Day one
Day 2: Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs & Wire Pass
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: The Wave Lottery or Deeper Buckskin Gulch
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: Drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim & Desert View
4 stops · Day five
Day 6: South Kaibab Trail into the Canyon
3 stops · Day six
Day 7: Bright Angel Trail & the Rim Trail
4 stops · Day seven
Day 8: Hermit Road & a Grand Canyon Sunset
3 stops · Day eight
Day 9: Sedona Red Rocks & Scenic Byway
4 stops · Day nine
Day 10: Depart from Phoenix
2 stops · Day ten
Arrive in Page & Upper Antelope Canyon
Drive to Page, Arizona (about 4.5 hours from Las Vegas or Phoenix) and check in. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of Upper Antelope Canyon, famous for its shafts of light and easy, walk-through sandstone corridor.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~275 mi to Page · car required · DriveDrive to Page, Arizona, your base for the northern slot canyons. Page sits near Lake Powell and is roughly 4.5 hours from Las Vegas (LAS) or Phoenix (PHX). Stock up on groceries, water, and fuel here before heading into the remote Paria region.
- CROCKERBD / CC BY-SA 4.0Upper Antelope Canyon guided tour
~1.5 hr · Navajo permit included · activityExperience the famous light beams and sculpted sandstone of Upper Antelope Canyon on a guided Navajo tour, since the canyon is on Navajo Nation land. Book 3-6 months in advance for peak midday light, and expect crowds. Fees generally run $60-$100+ per person and include the Navajo permit.
Overnight in Page, AZSecond night in Page · lodgeSpend a second night in Page before heading west to the more remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs region. Consider a paddle or short cruise on Lake Powell if you have time in the afternoon.
Lower Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Start with Lower Antelope Canyon, a narrower, more adventurous slot that you descend on steel ladders. It feels more intimate and is usually a bit less crowded than the Upper canyon, though it is still a guided Navajo tour.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Uploaded by Meckimac / CC BY-SA 3.0Lower Antelope Canyon guided tour~1.5 hr · ladders & tight passages · activityExplore Lower Antelope Canyon, a narrower and more adventurous slot that you descend on steel ladders. It feels more intimate and is usually a little less crowded than the Upper canyon. Book 2-4 months ahead; fees run about $50-$80+ per person including the Navajo permit.
- User:Moondigger / CC BY-SA 2.5Horseshoe Bend Overlook
1.5 mi RT · ~150 ft · $10/vehicle · ViewpointWalk the short, exposed 1.5-mile round trip to the Horseshoe Bend overlook for the classic view of the Colorado River wrapping a sandstone butte. Parking is about $10 per vehicle. There is no shade, so bring water and keep well back from the unfenced edge.
- Overnight in Page, AZ
Second night in Page · lodgeSpend a second night in Page before heading west to the more remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs region. Consider a paddle or short cruise on Lake Powell if you have time in the afternoon.
Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs & Wire Pass
Drive west into the remote Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and hike from the Wire Pass Trailhead down through a tight slot to the confluence with Buckskin Gulch, one of the longest and deepest slot canyons on earth. The out-and-back to the confluence is about 3.4 miles.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive to House Rock Valley Road50-100 mi · dirt road · DriveHead west into the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The Wire Pass Trailhead sits about 8 miles south of US-89 on House Rock Valley Road, a dirt road that can be impassable when wet. Download offline maps; there is no cell service.
- Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch confluence
3.4 mi RT · slot canyon · permit required · HikeHike from the Wire Pass Trailhead down a tight slot to the confluence with Buckskin Gulch, one of the longest and deepest slot canyons on earth. A Recreation.gov day-use permit is required. Never enter if rain is forecast anywhere in the watershed.
John Fowler / CC BY 2.0White Pocket 4x4 trip (optional)Full day · high-clearance 4x4 or guide · activityWith a high-clearance 4x4 and experience, or a booked guide, spend the day at White Pocket and its swirled brain-rock sandstone. The roads are remote and challenging with no facilities or cell service. Go with a guide if you are not confident on desert 4x4 tracks.
Martin Kraft / CC BY-SA 4.0Overnight in Kanab, UTFinal night before the Grand Canyon · lodgeEnjoy a final night in Kanab after your slot-canyon adventures before the drive south to the Grand Canyon South Rim.
The Wave Lottery or Deeper Buckskin Gulch
If you did not win the online lottery, try the daily walk-in lottery for The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) at the Kanab Visitor Center. Only 64 permits are issued each day and demand is high, so results are announced around 9 AM and you must be present to apply.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Ken Lund from Reno, Ne / CC BY-SA 2.0The Wave walk-in lottery, KanabDaily ~9 AM · 64 permits/day · activityIf you did not win the online lottery, try the daily walk-in lottery for The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) at the Kanab Visitor Center. Only 64 permits are issued each day, results are announced around 9 AM, and you must be present to apply. Success rates are low, so have a backup plan.
- Lobineau / CC BY 2.5Hike The Wave (if you win)
6.4 mi RT · ~350 ft · unmarked · HikeIf you win the lottery, hike the challenging, unmarked 6.4-mile round trip to The Wave. There is no trail, shade, or water, so use the Recreation.gov photo and GPS route guide and carry 3-4 liters per person. Do not touch or climb on the fragile sandstone fins.
tsaiproject from Canad / CC BY 2.0Buckskin Gulch extended (backup)6-15+ mi RT · deep slot canyon · HikeIf you do not win The Wave, use your Paria day-use permit to go deeper into Buckskin Gulch from the Wire Pass Trailhead, for a longer and truly epic slot-canyon day. Be ready to wade cold water and carry a headlamp for the dark sections.
- Martin Kraft / CC BY-SA 4.0Overnight in Kanab, UT
Final night before the Grand Canyon · lodgeEnjoy a final night in Kanab after your slot-canyon adventures before the drive south to the Grand Canyon South Rim.
Drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim & Desert View
Drive south from Kanab to the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, entering via the East (Desert View) Entrance so you can work the overlooks along Desert View Drive as you arrive.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) / CC BY-SA 2.5Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim
~150 mi · 3 hr · $35/vehicle entry · DriveDrive south from Kanab to the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, entering via the East (Desert View) Entrance so you can work the overlooks on the way in. Entry is $35 per vehicle for 7 days, or use an America the Beautiful pass. Fuel up before the park.
DXR / CC BY-SA 4.0Desert View WatchtowerHistoric Mary Colter tower · ViewpointStop at the historic Desert View Watchtower, designed by architect Mary Colter, for panoramic views of the eastern Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Climb to the top, and use the gift shop and restrooms here at the East Entrance.
Emom13 / CC BY-SA 4.0Lipan Point & Grandview PointWide canyon & river views · ViewpointContinue along Desert View Drive, stopping at Lipan Point for views of the Colorado River, the Unkar Delta, and the canyon's geologic layers, and at Grandview Point for a historic perspective and a glimpse of the Grandview Trail.
Overnight at Grand Canyon South RimFinal rim night · lodgeYour final night at the Grand Canyon before turning south toward Sedona and the red-rock country.
South Kaibab Trail into the Canyon
Take the free shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead (no private cars) and hike down for the trip's best in-canyon views. Cedar Ridge is a great turnaround at 3 miles round trip and 1,120 ft of climbing on the way back out.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge
3 mi RT · 1,120 ft · shuttle only · HikeTake the free shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead (no private cars) and hike down to Cedar Ridge for the trip's best in-canyon views: 3 miles round trip with 1,120 ft of climbing on the way out. There is no water and little shade on South Kaibab.
Grand Canyon National / CC BY 2.0South Kaibab to Skeleton Point (optional)6 mi RT · 2,040 ft · very strenuous · HikeStrong hikers can push past Cedar Ridge to Skeleton Point for the first look at the Colorado River, a serious 6-mile round trip with about 2,040 ft of climbing out. Turn around by the time you have drunk half your water, and never try to reach the river and back in one day.
- Overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Final rim night · lodgeYour final night at the Grand Canyon before turning south toward Sedona and the red-rock country.
Bright Angel Trail & the Rim Trail
Hike down the historic, well-graded Bright Angel Trail, which has more shade and seasonal water than South Kaibab. The 1.5-Mile Resthouse (3 miles round trip) or 3-Mile Resthouse (6 miles round trip, ~2,040 ft) make natural turnarounds.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Bright Angel to 1.5-Mile Resthouse
3 mi RT · 1,130 ft · seasonal water · HikeHike down the historic, well-graded Bright Angel Trail, which has more shade and seasonal water than South Kaibab. The 1.5-Mile Resthouse is a natural turnaround at 3 miles round trip and 1,130 ft of climbing. Watch for mule trains and give them the right of way.
cogdogblog / CC BY 2.0Bright Angel to 3-Mile Resthouse (optional)6 mi RT · 2,040 ft · strenuous · HikeFor a longer hike, continue to the 3-Mile Resthouse, a significant descent and ascent of about 6 miles round trip and 2,040 ft. Pace yourself and carry plenty of water; hiking out is far harder than hiking down.
Rim Trail: Mather Point & YavapaiPaved · accessible · shuttle stops · ViewpointSpend the afternoon on the flat, paved Rim Trail, linking Mather Point and the Yavapai Geology Museum with easy shuttle access between viewpoints. It is a relaxed, accessible counterpoint to the morning climb and great for sunset.
- Overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Final rim night · lodgeYour final night at the Grand Canyon before turning south toward Sedona and the red-rock country.
Hermit Road & a Grand Canyon Sunset
Ride the free park shuttle along Hermit Road (closed to private cars most of the year), stopping at Maricopa Point, Hopi Point, and Pima Point. You can walk between some viewpoints for a quieter, ever-changing perspective on the canyon.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Grand Canyon National / CC BY 2.0Hermit Road viewpoints by shuttle7 mi · Maricopa, Hopi & Pima Points · ViewpointRide the free park shuttle along Hermit Road, closed to private cars most of the year, stopping at Maricopa Point, Hopi Point, and Pima Point. You can walk between some viewpoints for a quieter, ever-changing perspective on the canyon. Check the NPS shuttle schedule first.
- Dietmar Rabich / CC BY-SA 4.0Sunset at Hopi Point
Prime wide-canyon sunset · ViewpointSave the evening for a Grand Canyon sunset from Hopi Point, one of the best wide-canyon viewpoints on the South Rim. Arrive 30-45 minutes early to claim a spot, bring a layer, and know that shuttles run frequently after dark.
- Overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Final rim night · lodgeYour final night at the Grand Canyon before turning south toward Sedona and the red-rock country.
Sedona Red Rocks & Scenic Byway
Drive south through Oak Creek Canyon on AZ-89A to Sedona and its world-famous red-rock country. Stretch your legs on an easy-to-moderate hike like the Bell Rock Pathway or Fay Canyon to a natural arch.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Postdlf / CC BY-SA 3.0Drive to Sedona via Oak Creek Canyon~100 mi · 2 hr · AZ-89A · DriveDepart the Grand Canyon and drive south to Sedona, famous for its red rock formations. The AZ-89A route down Oak Creek Canyon is a scenic highlight in itself, so allow time for the pull-offs. Traffic in Sedona can be heavy, especially on weekends.
Josep Renalias / CC BY-SA 3.0Bell Rock Pathway or Fay Canyon2-3 mi RT · red-rock views · HikeStretch your legs on an easy-to-moderate hike in Sedona's red-rock country. The Bell Rock Pathway offers easy access and iconic views, while Fay Canyon is a mostly flat hike to a natural arch. A Red Rock Pass is required to park at most trailheads.
- Brady Smith; Coconino / CC BY-SA 2.0Red Rock Scenic Byway (Hwy 179)
~15 mi · overlooks & galleries · DriveCruise the Red Rock Scenic Byway on Highway 179, with continuous views of Sedona's formations, many pull-offs, and art galleries. It is the gateway to several popular trailheads if you want to add another short walk.
- Brady Smith; Coconino / CC BY-SA 2.0Overnight in Sedona, AZ
Hotels, resorts & B&Bs · lodgeEnjoy an evening in Sedona with dining, shopping, and stargazing. Options run from budget to luxury resorts, and a spa treatment is an easy way to unwind after the canyon hikes.
Depart from Phoenix
Enjoy a last Sedona morning, maybe a short hike or some gallery browsing, then drive south to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) for your flight home, about two hours away.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Brady Smith; Coconino / CC BY-SA 2.0Final Sedona morning
Short hike or shopping · ViewpointEnjoy a final morning in Sedona, perhaps a short hike or some last-minute souvenir shopping, before the drive south to Phoenix.
Drive to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)~120 mi · 2 hr · return rental · DriveDrive south to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for your departure, about two hours from Sedona. Allow extra buffer for traffic near the airport and time to return your rental car. A breakfast stop in the Verde Valley breaks up the drive.
Book the 9 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Arizona
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Arizona
Essential permits & desert safety for this trip.
Flash floods are the real danger
Slot canyons like Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass, and Antelope are extremely dangerous in rain, even from a storm miles away. Check the forecast for the entire watershed and postpone if there is any chance of rain. Monsoon season (July-September) has the highest risk.
Every canyon needs a permit
Antelope Canyon is guided-tour only on Navajo Nation land (book 3-6 months ahead). Paria Canyon / Buckskin Gulch need a Recreation.gov day-use permit (about $6 per person via the Wire Pass Trailhead). The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) is a competitive lottery, four months out online or a daily walk-in in Kanab. The Navajo Nation backcountry permit for areas like Waterhole Canyon is reported at $15 per person for 2026 (up from $8) and is mostly booked online, with a separate technical permit (about $12) required from the Navajo tribal parks office to rappel Waterhole. The Grand Canyon charges a $35/vehicle entrance fee.
Go in spring or fall
March-May and September-October bring mild temperatures and fewer crowds. Summer regularly tops 100°F in the canyons with real heatstroke and flash-flood risk, and winter can bring snow and ice to the Grand Canyon and cold standing water in the slots.
You need the right vehicle
A standard 2WD car handles most of this route, but remote spots like White Pocket in the Vermilion Cliffs absolutely require a high-clearance 4x4 and experience on unmaintained dirt roads. At Phoenix Sky Harbor a standard SUV rents for roughly $50 a day and a true 4x4 like a Jeep Wrangler for around $100 a day, so budget for that if you plan to reach White Pocket on your own, or book a guided tour for those areas if you are not equipped.
Carry more water than you think
Bring at least 3-4 liters per person per day and more for the Grand Canyon corridor hikes and The Wave, where there is no water, shade, or reliable cell service. Turn around when you have used half your water.
Respect tribal land & Leave No Trace
Much of the Page area is Navajo Nation land; follow tour and access rules. Pack out everything, stay on designated routes, and do not touch or climb on the fragile sandstone formations at The Wave and White Pocket.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Everything you'll actually want to know before a Arizona trip.
Excluding flights, expect roughly $1,500-$2,500+ per person. That covers mid-range hotels or campgrounds, permit and tour fees (Antelope Canyon, Paria day-use, The Wave), the Grand Canyon entrance fee, food, and fuel. Camping lowers the cost; in-park lodges and extra guided tours raise it.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 9 nights, sites held for you
- Any permits secured before you fly
- Gear rented locally and waiting at the site
- The route pinned to your phone before you leave
- Everything in Camped
- Rooms booked for every night, one base where the route allows
- Dinner reservations on the nights that need them
- A rain-day plan written before you go
- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide for the trip
- Airport pickup and every drive handled
- All the gear rented and waiting, so you pack clothes and nothing else
- Weather turns and they rewrite the day while you are still at breakfast
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Builds every custom itinerary herself and leads guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests. Based in Seattle.
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
What other travelers are saying
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One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
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How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family's trip.