Hayduke Trail — Section 12
8 days · 283.7 mi · strenuous · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Hayduke Trail — Section 12 is known for
A huge Grand Canyon stretch of the Hayduke Trail covering the guidebook's Sections 12 and 13: from Horseshoe Mesa down to the Tonto Trail, across the river on the corridor trails past Phantom Ranch, then west along the north side to Deer Creek, down the Colorado to Kanab Creek, and up Kanab and Hack Canyons. The North Rim-to-Hack Canyon portion alone is published at 87 miles; expect remote, rugged canyon travel with long dry stretches over roughly a week or more.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 6,952 ft to 27,211 ft over 283.7 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 85.1 mi · 30%
- Downhill 114.7 mi · 41%
- Flat 82.7 mi · 29%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Hayduke Trail — Section 12?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Hayduke Trail — Section 12 scores 79/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much elevation gain is on the Hayduke Trail — Section 12?
The Hayduke Trail — Section 12 climbs roughly 37,940 ft total — about 134 ft per mile, topping out near 8,615 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.