Brutal and Beautiful: Backpacking Grand Canyon's Thunder River and Deer Creek 

I like the style of your hiking vid. I am a Minnesota Flat Lander who has taken newbies on 9 6-night trips to the bottom of the “Big Ditch.” Proud to be part of “The GC Backpacking Club.”

Man that looked awesome! Sorry to have missed it. Next time for sure!

I've done this one a couple of times with my grandsons. It's my favorite grand Canyon hike

Deer Creek Falls are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Looked freakin' epic. I've been eyeing this one for a while now.

"Sorry, Mama." Yeah, there are things we don't talk about. Also, this is my all time favorite in the GC, but I haven't done Elves. p.s. The Patio (well, its nearby composting toilet) was where a hummingbird nearly killed me. Those little Cessna's are not shy!

What a perfect way to sit on the lanai while enjoying Sunday morning coffee as it rains! Thank you for the vicarious thrills!!

Hiked out of here 4 years ago today - we looped it in the opposite direction. Really enjoyed seeing the sights again today. Thanks

Had to watch this again since I just got back from there. Awesome hike, should be on every Backpacker's bucket list. Thanks for the video I watched it half a dozen times before we went.

Probably one of your best videos so far I love those waterfalls, makes me want to go to Arizona even more! Thanks for risky your life for this amazing video. Lol

Thanks, it's been 44 years since I hiked to that special hole in the wall and it has changed quite a bit, things change, especially the Canyon...

Epic adventure! I love you finished with Tower station IPA from Mother Road brewery...my favorite beer. Cheers!

What an amazing adventure!! Thanks for sharing Eric.

Great trip Eric, thank you for posting this video!!!

So beautiful, and we all know photos and videos don't do reality true justice. Also didn't know it snows over at the Grand Canyon, so cool.

Both of those areas are the most beautiful

Grand Canyon , Great Hiking ........ beautiful , like to see more videos ....... congratulations from Sri Lanka .

awesome video! looks like you cant be afraid of heights for this one

We did it last week (11/12/2021) . Incredible adventure. I think was the reverse route. Great video.

I spent 7 days down and back with a friend in 2009. Lifetime best hike ever, and that's saying something.If you don't riak death it's not an adventure.

Loved your video. I really want to do the Thunder River hike, but am concerned about how many people we may run into. Did you meet many river rafters in October?

Great video!! Just hiked 3 nights and 4 days in the canyon to. We did the hermit trail down and back out and camped at hermit rapids, granite rapids and monument. Amazing trip

Good video.

Did this in November. We caught a ride with a rafting trip so We didn’t do the connector from Tapeats to deer creek. Going back in one week, this time we are doing the hike.

I have hiked the Bill Hall-Tapeats-Deer Creek trail 3 times. No other trail compares.

Wow that looked amazing once my back is better I will have to add this to the bucket list we’re / what loop did you due Eric I will have to show my wife this video it’s amazing to see thank you for sharing this Eric

Awesomel trip ! :) Which campsites did you use ?

Hi Eric, have you ever hiked in a area where this a lot of hunting. Any suggestions on keeping your self safe.

If my brothers see this, it was a great adventure. (what kind of dinosaur would you want to be?)

I'm guessing you guys descended from Monument Point, then joined the Thunder River trail (turned left at the junction of the Thunder River trail and Bill Hall trail. Then dropped down to and followed the Hayduke Trail to Tapeats creek, followed Tapeats crk to the Colorado River, then contoured along the canyon above the Colorado at about 2500 ft elevation or so to Deer Creek. Then climbed up Deer Creek and rejoined the Hayduke Trail, followed it to the junction with the Thunder River trail, then backtracked back the way you came. The Thunder River source was really cool. I didn't realize it came right out of the canyon wall: just like the Roaring Springs that gush right out of the canyon wall as you ascend the North Kaibab trail to the North Rim. Thanks for sharing. How did you get to Monument Point? Did you take the following roads from US hiway 89A?: NF 422A to Ryan Ryan to West Side West Side to NF 425 NF 425 to NF 292 NF 292 to NF 292A NF 292A to parking lot near Monument Point. I'm using CalTopo (free version) for the above information.

Oh man, so f*ing rad! This is my exact itinerary in May! Did you guys stay up on that cliff trail on the way back from Deer Creek Falls or do the creek crossings trail?

curious.. you stashed water containers, but never saw you retrieve them? If you hiked/scrambled a loop, howor when did to "go back" or loop around to get them? EPIC scenery for SURE! :D

Great video Eric 👏🏻👏🏻

cool trail...looks challenging. How do you compare the trail to the other well-known trails in the GC?

How many rockslides did you have to navigate on this route?

What brand of hooded shirt are you wearing in this video?

Read up on this trail and found your video. Is that part towards the end where you go last the sketchiest part of the entire hike? How wide would you guess the foothold area was?

im curious, did you guys get back to your water stash or did you do another route?

If I may ask - any tips for this trail as far as wayfinding and such? Friends and I are planning on doing this one in April next year for my 40th. We've backpacked before but curious to know if you had to do any significant trailfinding/exploration to follow the trail. Thanks!

I tried walking backwards into that Deer Creek falls, just kept pushing me back out towards the river.

Snow already in the grand canyon?

How treacherous is the route just to the thunder river spring?

How are you liking the alcohol stove im thinking about getting one now!? Seen it in your last video with the Infuzed water bottle.

When did you do this hike?

Any chance that the campsites have trees or features to hammock camp?

I’d like to see this on a map. Do you use All Trails? Send a link please.

How much did your pack weigh?

Some sketch trail. I would’ve turned back…