Hike Escalante Butte and Cardenas Butte Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

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While Grand Canyon National Park is known for its wide, graded trails designed for mule and heavy foot traffic, the Tanner Trail feels more like a traditional backcountry route. It’s well-constructed, but rockier and more rugged. This trail provides the most convenient access to Escalante Butte and Cardenas Butte, both of which are visible from the parking area at Lipan Point, where the Tanner Trail begins. Both perches are located beneath the rim, so as most Grand Canyon peaks require, I’d have to descend a bunch first before accumulating any vertical gain.

The Tanner Trail is located just before the parking lot, which I reached after some morning views into the canyon. It feels a bit like cheating to get the best view of the day before doing any work. The hike began by dropping from the South Rim, passing through forest along the somewhat steep and rocky trail. Escalante Butte poked its white-capped bouldery summit into view, my first peak of the day. Farther down, the trees thinned, giving way to a more open slope with limited views deeper into the Grand Canyon.

From the saddle at the southern base of Escalante Butte, I started up its steep ridge. The ascent was mostly Class 2, with hints of a social trail and a couple of short Class 3 sections to keep things interesting. I picked my way through chunky sandstone until the ridgeline bent west. Here, I stayed close to the crest, or directly on it, and soon I was staring up at the summit block. The summit of Escalante Butte is comprised of two large boulders separated by a crevice. I quickly found that the taller boulder requires a tricky Class 5 move if climbed directly, but I was able to walk into the crevice, scramble up the left boulder, and then jump across to the taller summit block. A jump? I guess we’d call that Class 4, another situation the YDS doesn’t really account for.

After Escalante Butte, I descended north toward Cardenas Butte. The descent was mostly easy hiking with a short Class 2 section. The ridgeline ascent toward the peak included a few small cliff bands to overcome, and the final stretch to the summit offered multiple options for navigating various obstacles. Mine was Class 3, but you can make it easier or harder, depending on preference. From the summit of Cardenas Butte, I looked down at the Colorado River, a winding ribbon of greenish-blue far below.

I decided to backtrack a bit to rejoin the Tanner Trail, where I descended a bouldery slope directly south, Class 2/2+. From there, it was just a matter of reascending a bit under 2000 feet to reach the South Rim once again.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Escalante Butte

6536 ft

856 rise

Cardenas Butte

6281 ft

481 rise

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A view west from Lipan Point before starting.

View north toward Escalante Butte (center) from Lipan Point.

Tanner Trailhead.

Descending the Tanner Trail through mostly forested terrain. Escalante Butte and Cardenas Butte seen on the left.

Farther down, the trees fade and the trail continues to switchback.

View back up toward the South Rim.

Approaching the base of Escalante Butte.

A shot back up from Escalante Butte's southern saddle.

Ascending the south ridge, Class 2 with a couple of short Class 3 moves mixed in.

I picked my way through weaknesses in the chunky sandstone.

A Class 3 move up a crack.

View back. The Tanner Trail came down the steep, grassy slope in the center.

Escalante Butte ahead.

Some more Class 2 along the way.

Escalante Butte Class 4 summit block seen ahead. I headed into the crevice between those two massive boulders, then scrambled up the left one.

A jump across the crevice to reach the taller boulder (I guess we call jumps Class 4?)

Escalante Butte, view north toward Cardenas Butte.

View back up as I descend north.

Cardenas Butte ahead.

A couple of short Class 2/3 cliff bands along the way.

Nearing the base of the summit stretch.

A view back toward Escalante Butte.

A Class 3 move along the crest proper, though you can probably find any number of ways up to the summit.

Cardenas Butte, view toward the Colorado River.

On my way back on the Tanner Trail, view toward Cardenas Butte (right). I descended from it using the steep, bouldery sandstone slope right of center.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!