Tanner Trail Grand Canyon Run

I got to scratch my Grand Canyon itch again last Thursday and, as always, scratching that itch felt GOOD!

When choosing which trail to run, I focused on doing something new (as I usually try to do...) and get on a trail I haven't been on before that goes rim to river. Since the S. Bass and Tanner are the only ones that I hadn't been to the river on (from the S. Rim anyway...) and I didn't have time to 4x4 out the lengthy dirt roads to the remote S. Bass Trail, Tanner Trail became the obvious choice.

S. Bass would have to wait for another adventure...maybe I'll tick that one off during a Tonto Loop with the Boucher Trail or all the way to the end of the Tonto, finishing on New Hance (S. Bass and New Hance are the traditional start and end points for the full Tonto traverse).

The Tanner Trail had been recommended to me many times by running friends as a great 'off the beaten path' run in the Grand Canyon as it is lesser known than the typical tourist trails (S. Kaibab, Bright Angel, etc.) and is much more rugged (unmaintained by the park service).  Although, despite some super steep and scrambly sections, the trail is known to be mostly runnable with some really great, smooth sections and the more wide open views and geology of the east Grand Canyon give the runner very different views and general feeling than the rest of the canyon.

Sounded like a great run to me!

So, I made this run the typical, get up super early, start running at first light, get down to the river and back up to the rim in good time and then book it back to Flagstaff to work in the afternoon or evening. This schedule has offered me the only way to squeeze out so many of my runs in at the Grand Canyon. I don't have the luxury of going when ever I want, hang out at the rim afterwards to soak it all in and down brews with my buds...I gotta work!

That being said, I made it to the trailhead a bit before light (about 6 am) and parked among the other 10 or so cars that were waiting to get their photos of the sunrise. I took the time I had, before there was enough light to run, to stay bundled in the car to stay warm (it was below freezing still outside...) and get my stuff together. As the sun started to give light to the canyon and the tourists started emerging from their cars to set up their tripods I stripped down to shorts, gloves and a couple long sleeves, put on my Nathan pack and walked the 100 yards of pavement to the trailhead. It was time to run.

I love this part of each and every Grand Canyon run...when my first few steps hit the earth of the trail and I start running down, down, into the canyon. It feels like coming back home every time...home to wonder, excitement, fear, pleasure, pain, adventure, self-reliance and all the other primitive sensations that give me my intense connection to this amazing canyon. This home, the Grand Canyon, gives me every one of these sensations with every run below the rim. Every run.

(View of first light in the canyon from the parking lot)

(First light)

(Tanner Trail Head)

Once on the trail, I was able to get in a good running rhythm and get warmed up for about 2 minutes until I plunged down steep switch backs and rubble in the initial steep gully descent of the trail. I pretty much had to resign myself to walking mixed with short sections of jogging until I made it down to Tanner Canyon Saddle and easier terrain. No big deal really as I wasn't trying to break any records (as if there was one for this trail anyway...). I just wanted to get out and run a new trail.

(View I will never get sick of... First light hitting the walls of the canyon.)

(Getting closer to Tanner Canyon Saddle and easier ground)

 Once I got through the initial gully descent the trail improved dramatically and I was able to run at a comfortable pace along rolling terrain for the next many miles to the next serious drop through the red limestone layer. I made sure to savor this great section of trail, jogging along and looking at the many fantastic boulders (I made it this far on the Tanner almost 10 years ago? to boulder with friends a couple times...a lot of work for bouldering...but awesome), taking photos and generally absorbing the magnificent surroundings.

(The first boulder I ever climbed on along the Tanner trail way back when....ahhh the memories. There is an amazing V7ish sit down problem on the front right side of this boulder that we did.)

(Another amazing Joe's Valleyish boulder along the trail that we did problems on back in the day.)

(Again, another great boulder along the trail.)

(First light on the trail)

(View back up to the rim, looking east toward the Desert View Watch Tower. Look closely and you can see it on top of the rim.)

 After all the joyous running along this great bench, I had to again slow down to a walking and sometimes jogging pace as I dropped down, steeply, through the limestone layer. Once I made it through the limestone the trail rewarded me with excellent, soft downhill single track all the way to the river as I dropped down through the Tapeats layer and a red sandstone layer. I would have to say that this was by far my favorite section of the trail. Just wonderful running!

(Dropping through the Tapeats)

(Great running through a beautiful red sandstone layer all the way to the river)

 The shore of Tanner Rapids was a place I would have liked to spend the day at. I hit it about the same time the sun was so I had to leave to head back up to the rim right as I got sun on my face! Arg... I did get to sit on a rock and absorb the place for about 15 minutes though. What a great 15 minutes. Just a wonderful beach to hang out at. Looked like a great place to camp too...maybe Susan and I will find ourselves camping here some day.

(Looking down stream from Tanner Rapids)

(First light about to hit Tanner Rapids)

(Tanner Rapids)

(Spot where Tanner Creek dumps into the Colorado River during spring run off)

 The trip back up was a ton more work but pretty enjoyable as I got to bask in the sun allowing me to finally strip down to a short sleeve shirt. I will admit though, that this trail makes you work for it. When ever I think I might do a trail that will be easier in the canyon I am reminded that each and every trail in the Grand Canyon is going to gain at least 4,500 ft on the way out and it is not going to be easy, especially these 'off the beaten path' trails as they are super rugged compared to S. Kaibab and Bright Angel. Super rugged. I like 'em that way but, wow, not easy.

(Working hard going back up through the Tapeats and Red Limestone layers)

(Looking up at the final climb to the car after the wonderfully flat running above the Red Limestone layer)

Once back up on the rim, I got in a quick look out over the canyon before dashing back home and the realities of every day life. I really tried to savor the view and looked down into the canyon to retrace my route on the Tanner Trail. All in all, it was about 18 miles with just over 5,000 feet of elevation gain and the same loss and I covered the distance in 5 hours on the nose.

What great experiences and memories I accumulate down in the Grand Canyon... As I scanned the canyon from the rim, I reminded myself to try and never take for granted the fact that I get to explore this unbelievably wonderful place.

I am a very lucky person.