Route Overview

South Bass Overnighter is a rare opportunity for bikepackers to camp on the edge of Grand Canyon's South Rim in an area excluding cars. The route provides a tour from Grand Canyon Village out to remote Havasupai Point by way of pinyon-juniper woodlands and sage-filled grasslands.

The route starts in Grand Canyon Village at the Backcountry Information Center before heading out towards the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument/Kaibab National Forest along the historic Grand Canyon Railway through thick ponderosa woodlands. The route then heads out towards Pasture Wash via vast sage savannahs that transition back to juniper-pinyon woodlands interspersed with ponderosas. Riders take chunky doubletrack through these woods to reenter Grand Canyon National Park where they pass by the abandoned ruins of the Pasture Wash Ranger Station before making their way out to remote South Bass and its namesake trail. Next, it's over to Signal Hill and its historic lookout tower. Finally, a ride out to Ruby and Havasupai Points provides solitude and stunning views of Mount Huethawali and the Grand Scenic Divide. After camping rimside, bikepackers return through the woods before riding the Greenway into Grand Canyon Village to finish the loop.

Route Highlights

• Camping rimside at South Bass, Signal Hill, or Ruby Point.
• Seeing Fossil Mountain and the Grand Scenic Divide from Havasupai Point.
• Viewing Mount Huethawali from South Bass.
• Traveling across grasslands in the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni NM.
• Climbing the Signal Hill Lookout Tower.
• Checking out abandoned Pasture Wash Ranger Station.
• Riding up verdant Coconino Wash.
• Biking along and under the railroad tracks near Apex.

Recommended Tire Size: 2.3"-2.8"

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Riding Seasons:

• BEST TIME: Late April - Early June
• BEST TIME: September - October
• Potentially Possible: Late June - August
• Not Possible: November - Mid April

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Surface Color Guide

• Purple = Improved Dirt Surface (Frequently Maintained, Usually Smoother)
• Red = Rugged Dirt Surface (Infrequently Maintained, Typically Rougher/Rockier)
• Brown = Primitive Dirt Surface (Rarely/Never Maintained, Particularly Rocky/Rutted/Eroded)
• Blue = Vehicular Pavement
• Green = Paved Bike Path
• Yellow = Hiking Trail (must park bike and hike/walk)

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Surface Conditions and Route Difficulty

• Physical Difficulty: 4/10* (Regular rolling terrain with sustained climbing)
• Technical Difficulty: 5/10* (Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for riders with intermediate off-road experience.)
• *Based on Bikepacking Roots' Rating Scales

South Bass Overnighter mostly sticks to forest service dirt roads. These roads can be smooth and broad such as FR 328 out to Pasture Wash. The roads found deeper in the heart of the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument quickly become less-maintained doubletrack that feature sections of washboard, ruts, and limestone rock. There are sections of less-maintained rutted-roads out by South Bass Trailhead and Havasupai Point; the National Park Service rarely upkeeps these roads. In addition, the boundary fence road along the westernmost portion of the route is rocky and primitive in places. Riders can expect portions of doubletrack heading up Coconino Wash to be grassy and overgrown depending upon the season. The Greenway is a wonderful paved multi-use path that extends from Tusayan through the heart of Grand Canyon Village.

If any rain/snow is forecast, most of the unpaved route will become peanut butter/death mud and impassable in places. Leave No Trace and avoid riding at these times until the route dries out. In addition, flash flooding from precipitation is a possibility in washes or low areas - stay safe and stay out of those locations during monsoon rain dumps.

The technical difficulty of the route is due to the abundance of 4x4 roads that South Bass Overnighter utilizes. The route travels a mix of wide, maintained 2WD USFS dirt roads, limestone chunky 4x4 doubletrack, and pavement bike greenway. A lot of the roads are serviced yearly by the National Forest Service, but some rarely have work done and can become rutted/eroded in wet conditions.

The physical difficulty is mostly due to the climbing. Most of the route is found on the regularly rolling terrain of the Coconino Plateau that stretches between Flagstaff and the South Rim. Riders can expect to climb and descend regularly across hills and drainages. The ride out to Havasupai Point/South Bass requires ascending one-way up a road to the Rim.

Noteworthy Climbs

1. The climb to South Bass and Havasupai Point from the bottom of Pasture Wash.
2. Climbing up the Greenway to the South Rim Village from near Tusayan.

Noteworthy Primitive, Rocky Surfaces

1. The Boundary Fence out to Pasture Wash.
2. The doubletrack leading to Coconino Wash.
3. FR 2501 that parallels FR 328.

Parking

The route is intended to be ridden in a counterclockwise direction. Park overnight in the parking lot at the Backcountry Information Center for free. You'll also want to run into the BIC to talk to a ranger in order to get an overnight permit for backcountry camping out at South Bass, Signal Hill, or Ruby Point.

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Water and Food

Water Reliability Scale

• 1 = unreliable
• 2 = seasonal;
• 3 = mostly reliable;
• 4 = definite source

Water is scarce along this route. The Kaibab National Forest is considered the driest national forest in the United States. Although the South Rim receives an average of 15.56 inches of moisture a year, most quickly percolates through the porous rock of Kaibab Limestone that makes up the upper layers of this area. Within the canyon, water exits through numerous springs, but up on top, it's a dry area. Plan to carry several liters of water, sometimes enough to last at least 24 hours and more than you think you'll need should you arrive at a source and find it dry.

Definite water can be found in the town of Tusayan and in Grand Canyon Village within GCNP. Beyond that, water is mostly found in dirt cattle tanks, metal cattle tanks, and Arizona Game and Fish Water Catchments (Wildlife Tanks). Wildlife tanks can be chock full of bugs and algae in the summer, but are safe to drink with treatment/purification. AZGFD Wildlife Tanks help provide water to wildlife in the ever-drying environment of the southwest under climate change. There is no camping within 0.25 miles of AZGFD Wildlife Tanks (or other water sources). This route requires riders to dry camp, especially out at South Bass, Ruby Point, or Signal Hill. Be prepared to load up at water sources so that you can camp far away from them.

Food resupplies are located in Tusayan or in Grand Canyon Village.

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Fees and Permits

• Kaibab National Forest has no fees.
• Grand Canyon National Park requires a fee for entry. No cash, credit/debit only. ($35 for a vehicle; $20 for a bicycle).

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Important Information

Hunting Season: Starts in September and goes through December. Hunters will mostly be seeking deer and elk. Expect to see more trucks, backcountry campers, ATVs, and individuals on foot. WEAR ORANGE and make yourself visible as you ride. Be smart and be seen during hunting season. Wildlife Tanks may have more hunters scoping them out.

Black Bears: There are black bears which means you need to properly store your food at night using a bear-aware method.

Dark Skies: Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. This means that you can expect to have anywhere between Bortle Class 1 - 3 night skies overhead (even better night viewing during a new moon). The Bortle Class Scale is used to rate night skies on their clarity and lack of light pollution. A Bortle Class 1 is the darkest possible and there are several locations along these routes where, should you camp, you will have this level of darkness. Here, night skies will be virtually unimpeded by artificial light.

Fences: There may be "cowboy fences" on this route which consist of barbed wire wrapped around vertical wooden branches that are strung across roads. They can be opened by removing a loop of wire on one side. Most importantly, leave fences as you found them; re-close them if they were closed.

Hantavirus and Plague: Bubonic plague and hantavirus are frequent enough amongst the rodent population that you should avoid their saliva, feces, urine, and direct bodily contact. Be careful when entering old cabins and caves where droppings are plentiful and ventilation is limited. These are prime areas for possible contraction of these diseases.

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South Rim Capes Specific Bike Access

FR 3223 in the Kaibab National Forest has a "Foot Travel Only" sign. Kaibab National Forest says bicycles are allowed on this section and any section saying "Foot Travel Only."

FR 335 in the Kaibab National Forest includes a section of Private Land owned by GCR Acquisitions, LLC/Xanterra near mile 237 at Apex, just west of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. There will be a sign saying "Not a Public Highway - No Trespassing." I talked to Xanterra and bicycles are allowed to cross this private land. DO NOT leave the road, camp, or explore the area - their permission for bikepackers only allows travel on FR 335 to cross their private land. This is marked on the Ride with GPS map.

FR 328 crosses a small section of private land. These roads have been designated legal for travel by the Kaibab National Forest Motor Use Vehicle Map (MVUM). Just make sure to stick to the road and do not camp in these areas marked on the RWGPS map.

DO NOT take Pasture Wash Road into the Havasupai Reservation to access South Bass without a permit from the Tribe directly; respect their wishes about their land. Remember to ride with respect. Instead, take the Boundary Road doubletrack on the EAST side of the fence (inside the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni NM). The west side of the fence is Havasupai Tribal Lands. See the map attached here.

General Access and Tribal Nations

Bikes are STRICTLY forbidden below the rim in the inner gorge of the Grand Canyon. DO NOT RIDE YOUR BIKE DOWN INTO THE CANYON - you will get fined, it is illegal, and you will hurt the perception and opportunities of other bikepackers on this route. There are certain trails on top that are also off-limits to bikes; this route expressly avoids them. No cross-country travel in Grand Canyon National Park; practicing Leave No Trace means staying on established trails, roads, and paths.

Finally, respect tribal land and do not ride without permission in the Havasupai Nation. This route stays explicitly within land domains where riding is public and legal. Although it may approach boundaries with the surrounding tribal nations, you should never ride onto the reservations without securing tribal government permission. Doing so otherwise is disrespectful and unlawful. I must note that although this route stays on "public lands," the formation of Grand Canyon National Park involved the forced removal of the Havasupai, and they have endured legal battles to keep their vastly smaller chunk of land out of their historical precedent. Know the land you are riding on is traditionally theirs, know their current reservation boundaries are smaller than where they historically inhabited, and know where you are riding to keep yourself both legal and respectful.

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Camping

There is no dispersed camping within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. Mather Campground in Grand Canyon Village has a fantastic hiker/biker site for walk-ups arriving by foot or bicycle. The hiker/biker site is shared with other cyclists and backpackers and costs $6 per night per person. Mather Campground is conveniently located next to the Post Office (M - F, 8 - 3:30 pm), the General Store, the Public Library, Yavapai Lodge + Tavern, and a bus stop.

If you want to stay at the backcountry campsites above the rim at South Bass, Signal Hill, or Ruby Point, you will need to reserve backcountry permits through the GCNP Backcountry Information Center. These permits require a walk-up at the BIC. As these sites are not accessible by vehicle, there is a high chance of achieving a walk-up permit. However, you can check site availability online by doing the following:

1. Head to Recreation.gov for Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits.
2. Click “Check Availability” under Available Permits on the right hand side.
3. Choose the button tab “Above Rim Areas - South Rim” at the top.
4. Examine the following options:
   1. SE1 - Signal Hill - Campsite
   2. SE2 - Ruby Point - Campsite
   3. SE3 - South Bass Trailhead - Campsite - Large or Small Group
5. If you see a "W", a walk-up permit is available at the Backcountry Information Center for overnight camping. Make sure to stop there in-person on your ride out of Grand Canyon Village.

If you want to backcountry camp anywhere else above the Rim in Grand Canyon National Park, you'll need to navigate to the same link above and make sure to choose the proper Use Area. This Use Area Map will help you determine which zone is appropriate for your intended backcountry campsite.

Outside of GCNP in the the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument/Kaibab National Forest, excellent and numerous dispersed camping abounds. Make sure not to camp in the noted Private Properties and pay attention to boundary lines between the National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park.

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Sample Route Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Use it as a rough guide for your own planning purposes. Feel free to use it, adapt it, or don't use it at all and make your own plans. Plan your trip on this route based on your own strengths, comfort, experience, wants, and needs.

Day 1

• Mileage: 35 Miles
• Elevation Gain: 1700 Feet
• Water: Wildlife Tank - Carry enough water to dry camp overnight.
• Resupply: None
• Camping: South Bass, Ruby Point, and Signal Hill are the only three campsites allowed for rim-side camping out past Pasture Wash. All require reservations from the Backcountry Information Center beforehand that can only be obtained by walk-up. Make sure to grab a permit before heading out on the route. Hit up all the viewpoints before settling in to camp at South Bass for the night as my preference.

Day 2

• Mileage: 45 Miles
• Elevation Gain: 2200 Feet
• Water: Wildlife Tanks; Tusayan; Grand Canyon Village
• Resupply: Tusayan, Grand Canyon Village
• Camping: Finish! If you want to stay at the hiker/biker site at Mather Campground, plan to bike in here and then ride the rest of the way back to your car tomorrow (this leaves 2 more miles of riding for tomorrow and 2 less miles of riding for today)

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Other Route Options:

Looking for a longer route, other overnighters, or a day ride at the Grand Canyon? Check out these nearby options below:

• South Rim - Capes of the Canyon
• Grand Canyon Overnighters
• South Rim COTC Passages

*South Bass Overnighter is made from Passage 7: Hermits Rest, Passage 8: South Bass, and Passage 9: Apex from the South Rim - Capes of the Canyon.