Each year more than 250 people are rescued from the depths Grand Canyon National Park for reasons varying from dehydration and heat exhaustion to falls and hiking injuries. Due to its extreme depths and vast size, even the most experienced backpackers and hikers are told to exercise extreme caution. Despite its beauty, the Grand Canyon can be a very treacherous place.

Grand Canyon Backpacking Tips
Robust and experienced hikers visiting the Grand Canyon often make the mistake of believing that the only people at risk of getting hurt are those who don't know what they are doing and/or who are out of shape. This is positively untrue. As a matter of fact, most of the individuals who are rescued each year are healthy males between the ages of 18 and 30 who describe themselves as experienced hikers. Regardless of your previous experience, nothing about hiking in Grand Canyon should be taken lightly.

The biggest tip for hiking safely is to drink plenty of water. This might seem an obvious suggestion, but you would be amazed at how many people neglect it. Not only is it recommended to drink water during your hike, but before your hike as well. Another suggestion is to avoid hiking between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This time frame is considered peak heat. Instead, consider an early morning and/or early evening hike.

Most importantly, do not attempt to hike down to the river and back in one day. This is an unthinkable goal even for the most experienced of hikers. Too often, people attempting this hike underestimate the drastic rise in heat that accompanies the lower canyon depths. Heat stroke and dehydration are two of the most common reasons for fatalities in Grand Canyon National Park. Be smart! Don't let your hiking ego or excitement cause you to become just another statistic.

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