Tanner Trail

Beginning June 22, 2026, Lipan Point and Lipan Point Road on Desert View Drive (Highway 64) will temporarily close to all visitor use to allow for critical rehabilitation and maintenance work of the overlook. The closure is expected to remain in effect through December 23, 2026. During the closure, the Tanner Trail will remain open. Visitors accessing the Tanner Trail must park at "No Name Point," located approximately 1,000 feet west of Lipan Point Road along Highway 64. From there, hikers will need to walk to the Tanner Trailhead. Parking along Highway 64 near the Lipan Point Road intersection will not be permitted. This historic trail is the primary access for hikers into eastern Grand Canyon. It ranks as one of the most difficult and demanding developed trails in the park. The Tanner Trail is steep , rarely maintained , and not a recommended first hike into the canyon . The only source of water is at the Colorado River. In general, Grand Canyon is infamous for summer heat and the Tanner Trail is noted for being unusually hot. The summer sun rises early and sets late in this wide-open area. The absence of water produces sparse vegetation and little shade. River runners call this part of the Grand Canyon "Furnace Flats". Avoid this trail during warm/hot weather over 95 degF (35 degC). Trail Description Strongly consider talking with a park ranger before attempting this hike. The trail is steep and no water is available until the river . Expect to hike and climb over unstable footpaths and boulder fields. Your best option for a day hike would be to the 75 Mile Creek Saddle. To reach just this point, be prepared for 1.6 miles (2.6 km) over a descent of 1,700 feet (518 m). Hiking beyond the 75 Mile Creek Saddle is exposed and can be extremely hot. There are no water sources along the trail until the Colorado River, a 9 mile trek (14.5 km) and elevation change of 4,650 feet (1,417 m) each way. The elevation at Lipan Point is 7,350 feet (2,240 m) and at the Colorado River it is 2,700 feet (823 m). However, the Colorado is often silt laden and can be difficult and time-consuming to purify. If you choose to hike down what remains of a pioneer-era trail, you will head immediately down the gully east of Lipan Point. The upper section of the Tanner Trail is narrow, badly eroded, and can be difficult to follow, especially after a storm. The trail stays on the slopes east of the bottom of the gully through the Toroweap Formation and switches to the west side at the top of the Coconino Sandstone. ockslides in the Coconino Sandstone have covered the original trail in places, forcing hikers to improvise short sections. The trail descends steeply across the slope west of the bed of gully nearly all the way to the 75 Mile Creek Saddle. A prime canyon view at the saddle is the reward for a couple of miles of notably unstable hiking. The reward comes with a price - hiking out of the canyon from even here is one of the more rugged, steeper climbs in the park. Hiking bey