Bedrock to South Canyon and Fence Fault

South Canyon is home to some good Redwall narrows, Indian ruins, Stanton's Cave, and the famous Vasey's Paradise waterfall.  The trouble with South is it's a long slog to the good stuff from the usual trailhead.  Bedrock canyon allows a far faster route into South that's quite convenient for day hikers.

The first 300' off the Bedrock rim requires some class 3 and class 4 scrambling down cliff ledges.  The views are stunning though and the hiking is easy by off-trail Grand Canyon standards once the first 300' are behind you.  Once in the bottom of Bedrock Canyon its only a hundred yards to the South Canyon junction.  When you encounter the first pouroff in South Canyon head canyon right to a bypass trail that stays high until intersecting a minor drainage that allows access to the bed of South Canyon.  Follow the use trail to the head of the Redwall slot about 30 minutes downcanyon.  At the Redwall the trail switches over to canyon left and parallels the top of the Redwall to the mouth of South Canyon then heads up river a few hundred yards before descending a break through the Redwall to river level.  Walk the bench downstream to the mouth of South Canyon.

The adventurous can go right down the South Canyon Redwall slot instead of taking the hiker trail.  It's a nice slot.  Bring a wetsuit in cool weather because you'll immediately encounter pools to wade.  Skilled climbers can downclimb all chokestone obsticles to the river but I would advise bringing a harness, descender, webbing, helmet, and 50' of rope in case some people prefer to rappel.  The last chokestone is particularly difficult and a rappel is required if you don't have a partner below to assist.  Once at the river hike up stream to intersect the hiker trail back to the top of the Redwall.  On the way you'll pass some Indian ruins on a bench above the river.  There is also a cave higher up that will allow the climbing crowd to get a peak through an arch back down into South Canyon.  Be careful not to fall here!

Just downstream of the South Canyon mouth is break in the Redwall that allows a climb to a use trail that leads downstream towards Stanton's Cave and Vasey's Paradise.  You can enter the cave a short ways before encountering steel bars.  Indian figures crafted from reeds were discovered here and dated to 3,000 years ago.  Just past the cave is the waterfall - can't miss it.  I would suggest admiring the waterfall from a distance.  There is alot of poison ivy there (only one of two places in all of Grand Canyon) and the rock at the base of the falls is slick.  If you slip in the river you'll get a risky ride down a rapid with no real exit.

The highly adventurous ready for an overnight can hike the top of the Redwall 1.5 miles upstream from South Canyon and then descend to a beach via the Fence Fault route.  Hike the beach up stream as far as you can and deploy your pack raft to cross the river.  There is a break in the Redwall on the Eastern side too caused by fence fault that will allow access to the top of the Redwall.  Then hike the old dam builder trail upstream 1 mile to the beginning of the Twenty-Nine Mile Canyon Redwall slot.  This slot is stunning and requires four rappels (and three serious downclinbs) to complete.  On the way you'll pass through the famous Silver Grotto cathedral.  You'll end up at the river with no where to go.  Inflate your pack raft and raft downstream to the mouth of South Canyon to close the loop.  Be sure to portage the Fence Fault rapid!!!  It's way too big for a safe pack raft decent.  And don't forget the wetsuit, PFD, and helmet!

Return the way you came up the Bedrock route.