Hance Creek Trail

Best Time to Hike to Hance Creek

Fall and spring are the best windows — summer heat in the inner canyon is severe, and the upper Grandview Trail can hold snow and ice in winter.

Trail Tips

• Hance Creek is one of the more reliable water sources along this stretch of the Tonto Trail, with a live stream in the drainage, though hikers should always treat water and check current conditions before relying on it.
• This is backcountry travel, not a casual walk — budget for a multi-day trip, not a single long day.
• A backcountry permit is required for camping at Hance Creek.

Getting to Hance Creek

From the Grandview-Tonto junction, the route runs east along the Tonto Trail to the creek drainage. Grandview Trail does not reach the Colorado River; Hance Creek and the surrounding Tonto Trail segment are typically part of a multi-day backpacking route, not an out-and-back day hike.

What to Expect on Hance Creek Trail

Hance Creek sits deep in the eastern inner canyon, reached by descending the Grandview Trail from Grandview Point on the South Rim, passing the old copper-mining ruins of Horseshoe Mesa, then picking up the Tonto Trail. This is a designated backcountry camping area (use area BE9) rather than a rim-accessible day-hike destination — steep, rocky, and largely unmaintained trail below the rim.