Grand Canyon Crossings (AZ)

Arizona, US

Distance

22.1 mi

The Rim-to-Rim (R2R), R2R2R, and R2R2R2R2R (! aka 2xR2R2R) have been huge classics for many years. A speed record here really counts as a world-class performance, as many of the best mountain runners have tested their mettle in the Canyon. The fastest times are typically set by running the North and South Kaibab Trails.

Note that the R2R is typically run N to S, since the North Rim is about 1000' higher than the south. However, some FKTs have been set as part of the R2R2R, and therefore in the other direction. The R2R2R has basically always been run starting and finishing on the South Rim (Yaki Point). This is because the North Rim is usually closed (inaccessible to vehicles) during times of the year when the weather is favorable (cool enough) to do this.

Davy Crockett has an excellent, detailed historical look at the history of Grand Canyon crossings on the Kaibab and Bright Angel trails, complete with many cool photos.

The R2R2R via the South & North Bass trails has its own Route Page here: R2R2R-alt

*** Belt Buckle Route! ***
Rickey Gates and partner Elizabeth Thorp have created a series of custom belt buckles commemorating some of the most iconic and hotly contested FKT routes! The R2R2R certainly qualifies. Each buckle is awarded to the FKT holder, and passed on when that FKT is superseded. Currently this buckle is held by Jim Walmsley for the men and Cat Bradley for the women.

GPS Track

Rim_to_Rim_FKT_3_19_23_with_Ida_Nilson_Kristi_Knecht_3_19_3_20_3_21_.gpx659.83 KB

FKTs

Male

Supported
Jim Walmsley	5h 55m 20s	2016-10-05
Rob Krar	6h 21m 47s	2013-05-11
Allyn Cureton	7h 51m 23s	1981-11-09

Unsupported
Lars Arneson	6h 38m 42s	2020-11-20
Dakota Jones	6h 53m 38s	2011-11-05
Dave Mackey	6h 59m 56s	2007-11-10

Unknown
Kyle Skaggs		7h 37m 0s	2006-11-10

Female

Supported
Taylor Nowlin	7h 25m 58s	2018-11-21
Ida Nilsson	7h 29m 16s	2018-11-16
Cat Bradley	7h 52m 20s	2017-11-15
Bethany Lewis	8h 15m 51s	2011-11-06
Darcy Piceu	8h 25m 26s	2011-04-23
Krissy Moehl, Devon Crosby-Helms	9h 12m 0s	2011-04-19
Cindy Suplizio	10h 28m 0s	1985-11-03
Valerie Doyle	10h 53m 0s	1982-11-07

Unsupported
Katie Arnold		9h 15m 0s	2013-10-27

Male

Unsupported
Tim Freriks		2h 39m 28s	2017-10-01

Supported
Jim Walmsley		2h 46m 8s	2016-10-04

Unknown
Rob Krar	2h 51m 30s	2012-05-25
Jared Scott	3h 6m 10s	2011-05-27
Allyn Cureton	3h 6m 47s	1981-10-04

Female

Unknown
Alicia Vargo		3h 19m 23s	2017-11-08

Supported
Bethany Lewis		3h 47m 0s	2011-11-06

Male

Supported
Michael Greer		22h 18m 8s	2020-10-31

Unknown
Jim Nelson		22h 48m 0s	1999-11-06

Female

Supported
Crystal McGee		1d 4h 11m 26s	2020-10-31
Chrissy Parks		1d 4h 48m 24s	2020-10-18

Male

Supported
Christof Teuscher		1d 17h 18m 0s	2018-10-25

Self-supported
Jason "Ras" Vaughan		2d 20h 10m 0s	2013-05-07

Male

Supported
Christof Teuscher		2d 10h 10m 0s	2018-10-26

Stephanie Ehret on the Hermit-Boucher Loop

This route on the old FKT site

http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/13/grand-canyon-az

Comments

On Wed, Oct 24, 2018, I will start for a solo quadruple double-crossing attempt of the Grand Canyon. That’s 8 crossings, or more concisely: R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R.

More info and tracking at http://www.christofteuscher.com/aagaa/news-grand-canyon-r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r-attempt

Honorable mention: Just 2 days after Ida Nilsson's excellent R2R2R FKT, Sandi Nypaver ran within less than 4 minutes of that time (and 19min under Cat Bradley's previous FKT)!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1973697316

"7:33:05, happily taking second to Ida Nilsson's 7:29:16", she said.

Here's Sandi's excellent & detailed report: https://www.runinrabbit.com/blogs/rabbit-chatter/sandi-nypaver-fkt-grand-canyon-rim-to-rim-to-rim

I will be attempting a quadruple double-crossing, or R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R, of the Grand Canyon on October 2nd. You can view more or track me on elcuatrorun.com

As I posted on Instagram @burroslocos on January 10, 2019. I will be attempting to set new FKT times for x2,x3,x4 and x5 R2R2R during the week of September 26 - October 3rd. 2020. You can follow along at :

https://maps.findmespot.com/s/VMTN

On Wednesday November 4th Peter Daw and myself will start an unsupported sextuple crossing of the grand canyon, or 3XR2R2R. We will each be carrying all of our own food and gear the entire time, and won't be accessing our vehicle at any time, accepting any assistance from anyone, or caching anything. We will each follow the style and standard set by Ras during his OKT/FKT, including accessing any park water taps along the trail, and carrying out our trash.

Only 1 double crossing completed as that's the risk of team fkt. I'm starting a solo self supported attempt on Nov 19th.

Starting an unsupported r2r2r attempt from South Kaibab the morning of Nov 20th. Should be fun!

Going to do an unsupported r2r2r attempt starting from South Kaibab around 7am December 9th. Here’s the link!

https://share.garmin.com/wotipkmw

Does this site (or elsewhere) track any masters records on some of the more popular routes? I've looked with no luck. No problem if not, thanks for your time and efforts in all of this. It's great!

Hey Adam - No age group times/records are recorded against any route on this site. I don't know of any other site that does. Hope that helps you.

All the best

Jase

Fastest Known Time
Region Editor - AUS/NZ/JAPAN

Insta - jasetrim

Strava - Jase Trimmer

Route: Grand Canyon Crossings (AZ)

FKTs

Comments