Grand Canyon Crossings (AZ)

Arizona, US

Distance

44 mi

Vertical Gain

10,500 ft

This is a Premier Route (R2R2R). To claim an FKT on this route, you must meet a high standard of documentation and verification. See details here: https://fastestknowntime.com/premier-routes.

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 Each buckle is awarded to the FKT holder, and passed on when that FKT is superseded.

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
Allison Baca	7h 31m 15s	2025-04-29
Addie Bracy, Corey Conner	8h 6m 41s	2021-05-13
Katie Arnold	9h 15m 0s	2013-10-27

Mixed-gender team

Unsupported
Mike Nanaszko, Brittany Kelley				11h 54m 54s	2024-11-09

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

Supported
Kimber Mattox				3h 11m 57s	2022-05-21
Bethany Lewis				3h 47m 0s	2011-11-06

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

Unsupported
Shawn Cheshire		Para athlete		10h 58m 35s	2024-05-23

Male

Supported
Jeff Browning	17h 55m 14s	2022-04-22
Drew Frehs	19h 29m 15s	2021-10-18
Michael Greer	22h 18m 8s	2020-10-31

Self-supported
Meng Zhao				21h 37m 39s	2021-05-23

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

Female

Supported
Mallory Brooks	1d 1h 29m 45s	2021-05-08
Crystal McGee	1d 4h 11m 26s	2020-10-31
Chrissy Parks	1d 4h 48m 24s	2020-10-18

Self-supported
Erin Ton	1d 1h 53m 14s	2022-10-30
Jacqueline Howard	1d 9h 27m 1s	2021-10-10
Sheila Huss, Gina Harcrow	1d 16h 25m 11s	2021-04-11

Mixed-gender team

Unsupported
Marie VanZandt, Oscar Tavera				1d 8h 12m 19s	2024-05-12

Male

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

Self-supported
Brandon Worthington				2d 7h 58m 30s	2021-09-20
Jason "Ras" Vaughan				2d 20h 10m 0s	2013-05-07

Male

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

Self-supported
Brandon Worthington				3d 2h 32m 30s	2021-09-20

Male

Self-supported
Brandon Worthington				3d 21h 51m 9s	2021-09-19

Supported
Paul Hooge				4d 16h 17m 7s	2021-05-24

Male

Self-supported
Christof Teuscher				5d 10h 24m 17s	2024-10-23

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

I'm going to attempt 2*(R2R2R) FKT today afternoon 4:00 PM local time.

You can track me at

https://share.garmin.com/mzR5

I will be attempting multiple crossings up to ten (5 r2r2r), or until I’ve had enough. I plan to start early May 20th from the North Rim. I will be doing this without human support, but using my vehicle and campsite on the North Rim to restock and rest.

I can be tracked at:

https://share.garmin.com/findhooge?fbclid=IwAR37UrfDPkYRzKAWKPTqqfhUCyN…

I completed 5 R2R2R (10 Crossings) in 4 days 16 hours 23 minutes. I’ll submit my data and a recap to the moderators soon.

You have my attention Paul. ?

Hi all,

I will be attempting r2r2r x 5 self-supported from my car at the North Rim later this week (likely Thursday 9/16/21) I will be trying to set 3 FKT’s in the process. R2r2r trip’s 3, 4, and 5.

Nods to both Jason and Paul!

Paul would be curious to know that during his r2r2r x5 this spring I was “Everesting” Mt. Morrison in Golden, CO without knowing exactly who started idea… or that r2r2r x5 was a thing- great minds!

Hopefully the canyon will provide its unique brand on inspiration for me on this journey.

https://share.garmin.com/roguejackalope

I have borrowed my friends tracker, so those interested may follow along.

Gina Harcrow and I will attempt an unsupported FKT of R2R2R x2 on Saturday, 4/9/2022 starting at approximately 4:45 AM on the South Rim, South Kaibab Trail. Here is a tracking link: https://share.garmin.com/sheilahuss. We will not cache, use our vehicle, stash anything, or accept any assistance from anyone - and it will be painful, but we will bypass Phantom Ranch lemonade in the heat of the day to keep our attempt unsupported.

I'm not sure why I didn't make my screen name my actual name - Sheila Huss.

I will attempt Supported 2xR2R2R (South Kaibab-North Kaibab route) on Friday, April 22, 2022. Starting at 12:01am. You can live track me at: https://share.garmin.com/GoBroncoBilly

Time to head back to the canyon!! Looking for R7 but want the R5 (back) in the process. R5 would be self supported this go. Cheers 🥂!! Https://Share.Garmin.com/vertygirl

Self-supported sextuple (6x) double Grand Canyon crossing FKT attempt: 6xR2R2R = R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R

Start at the north rim on Wed, Oct 12, 2022.

More info: https://www.christofteuscher.com/aagaa/news-sextuple-double-grand-canyon-crossings-attempt-6xr2r2r-r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r

Tracking: https://maps.findmespot.com/s/M872

On Saturday, October 29th I will be running R2R2R. If the plan goes accordingly and I am feeling good (or as good as possible at that point haha), I will attempt the self-supported female FKT for 2xR2R2R after.

Going for a 2nd self-supported sextuple (6x) double Grand Canyon crossing FKT attempt: 6xR2R2R = R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R

https://www.christofteuscher.com/aagaa/news-2nd-sextuple-double-grand-canyon-crossings-attempt-6xr2r2r-r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r

Start on Oct 31, 2023...

On Saturday, December 9th I will be attempting to set the supported R2R2R FKT in the Grand Canyon. I will be using a GPS watch and carrying a Garmin Mini inReach for tracking. I will be borrowing the Mini inReach from Cordis and Abby Hall. The link for the inReach is https://share.garmin.com/pigduck

Happy Trails!

- Zach Miller

Zach's data. 6:11. Second fastest ever:

https://www.strava.com/activities/10354851456/overview

Going for a 3rd self-supported sextuple (6x) double Grand Canyon crossing FKT attempt: 6xR2R2R = R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R2R

https://www.christofteuscher.com/aagaa/news-3rd-sextuple-double-grand-canyon-crossings-attempt-6xr2r2r-r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r2r

Heading out later today for a 2x R2R2R Grand Canyon solo unsupported female attempt. Leaving 36 hrs early due to impending NR snow storms on Wednesday. Trying to get ahead of the bad stuff.

Tracking link: https://share.garmin.com/human

Update: Came off the trail after one R2R2R due to bad weather fcst (4-8" snow, lows in mid teens). First segment was great, approx 7hr moving time and 2hr of rest breaks. When I departed, Thurs weather looked good and Wed looked bad. Tried to adjust my timing on 2nd lap by killing more time at rest stops, with the hope that Thurs fcst remained good and the snow storms would stop by mid Wed. However when I got into cell service, Thurs looked terrible on both rims. Any small NR mishap in these conditions and offseason could be fatal, so I stopped my effort. Legs and feet feel great, definitely will try this again sometime soon.

Planning to go for the unsupported R2R2R fkt tomorrow morning, 4/29. I will be carrying 2 GPS watches to record the effort. Excited to enjoy the canyon experience regardless of how it goes!

Allison Baca

Route: Grand Canyon Crossings (AZ)

FKTs

Comments