The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show

hiKin
  • 5.0 (143)
  • FITNESS

Welcome to THE home of Grand Canyon hiking. If it happens below the rim—from short day hikes to Rim2Rims and beyond—you'll learn all the tips and tricks to have your safest and most memorable Grand Canyon experience. Host Brian Speciale brings you stories of triumph, tragedy, and trail-won wisdom—told by first-timers, seasoned vets, and Canyon insiders alike. But don't just take our word for it; here's what our listeners say: “I am continually inspired by the guests and the vulnerability of everyone to share their story—so others can learn and make their own.” Whether you're planning Rim2Rim or just dreaming of hiking the Grand Canyon, this is the podcast that prepares you—mind, body, and spirit. “An invaluable resource.” "Brian and the community he has curated is such a welcoming place and wealth of information." “It’s the perfect mix of inspiration, realistic caution, and tips for success.” 🎧 New episodes weekly 👣 Join the conversation in the hiKin Grand Canyon private group on Facebook

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep106 — Grand Canyon Rim-to-River Breakdown (Part 2): Bright Angel, South Kaibab & More

    In Part 2 of our Rim-to-River Breakdown, we turn to the Grand Canyon’s corridor trails and the classic rim-to-river routes most hikers take. Brian and Eric Nelson break down the Tanner Trail as well as the traditional South Kaibab to Bright Angel route, discussing distance, elevation, strategy, and what makes each experience unique. If you’re planning your first rim-to-river hike, this episode will help you understand your options.*****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    43 min

  2. MAR 18

    Ep105 — Grand Canyon Rim-to-River Breakdown (Part 1): Choosing Your Route

    Most Grand Canyon hikers stick to the corridor trails—but there’s an entire world of rim-to-river routes beyond Bright Angel and South Kaibab. In Part 1 of our Rim-to-River Breakdown, Brian and Eric Nelson explore the off-corridor routes from the South Rim, including Hermit and New Hance. From trailfinding challenges to the isolation of seeing no one all day, this episode dives into what makes these routes some of the most adventurous hikes in the canyon.*****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    44 min

  3. MAR 11

    Ep104 — Life on the Grand Canyon Trail Crew: The Toughest Job You'll Never See

    What’s it really like to work on a Grand Canyon trail crew? In Part 2 of our conversation with Grand Canyon Trails Supervisor Adam Gibson, we go inside the day-to-day life of the crews who build and maintain the canyon’s trails. From moving 400-pound stones by hand to living weeks at a time deep in the canyon, Adam explains why trail work is both a craft and a lifestyle—and why you truly have to “like to suffer” to do it.*****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    48 min

  4. MAR 4

    Ep103: BREAKING: Grand Canyon Trail Supervisor Shares First Assessment of North Kaibab

    For the first time since last summer’s Dragon Bravo Fire, the National Park Service has spoken in depth about the true condition of the North Kaibab Trail. In this exclusive interview, Grand Canyon Trail Supervisor Adam Gibson shares what he saw firsthand on Upper North Kaibab — debris flows powerful enough to erase stone structures, hydrophobic soils accelerating runoff, and elevated risk that could reshape Rim-to-Rim hiking for years. This is the clearest picture yet of what’s happening behind the scenes, what reopening realistically looks like, and why uncertainty may define the 2025 season. If you care about North Kaibab, this is essential listening. *****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    56 min

  5. FEB 25

    Ep102: The South Rim Six Pack Challenge: Are You In?

    Come along as Brian attempts the South Rim Six Pack Challenge — hiking the first mile down and back up six different Grand Canyon trails in one day. From Tanner and New Hance to the corridor trails, the episode covers route finding, winter conditions, logistics, and what it really takes to make this kind of challenge work.*****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    34 min

  6. FEB 18

    Ep101: Role Reversal: Dr. Myers Turns the Mic on Me — And Asks the Question That Broke Me

    This episode is a role reversal. After a Grand Canyon hike, on the drive back to Flagstaff, Dr. Tom Myers (Mr. Grand Canyon) takes over the mic and interviews Brian. There is no trail breakdown, no route discussion, and no gear talk. Instead, Tom asks Brian direct questions and lets the conversation unfold naturally. Topics covered include: How the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show startedBrian’s background before the podcastAn anecdote involving Charles BarkleyA discussion of Brian's Shark Tank appearanceBrian responding emotionally during part of the conversationThe episode is conversational and unscripted, with Brian answering questions he usually asks others. Sometimes, the best conversations come...are on the drive home. *****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    44 min

  7. FEB 11

    Ep100: A First Big Grand Canyon Hike At 77

    Be ready to be inspired. Recorded on a South Kaibab Rim-to-River hike, this episode follows Jerry Crank as he completes his first big Grand Canyon hike at 77 years old, alongside his son Jeff. Jerry talks about training, pacing, heart-rate management, weight loss, and what it took to climb back out the same day.*****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    50 min

  8. FEB 4

    Ep99: Is Grandview An Off-Corridor Hike You're Ready For?

    With rim-to-rim still off the table, Brian heads off the corridor once again—this time down the historic Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, joined by lifelong canyon hiker Joe Adlhoch, better known in the community as Facebook Joe. What starts as a “simple” day hike quickly proves otherwise. Grandview wastes no time, dropping more than 1,000 vertical feet in the first mile and never really letting up. Built in the late 1800s to access Pete Berry’s mining claims, this trail is steep, narrow, rugged—and surprisingly easy to follow for those ready to respect it. Along the way, Brian and Joe explore: The dramatic cribbing and cliff-hugging construction of GrandviewAbandoned mining relics and the story behind Horseshoe MesaRadiation warning signs, historic mine shafts, and canyon ghosts of the pastWhy Grandview feels familiar to South Kaibab hikers—but hits very differently on the way back upA quiet, sobering reflection on Margaret Bradley and why the canyon must never be underestimatedOut on the edge of Horseshoe Mesa, standing atop the Redwall and looking down at the Colorado River far below, the canyon delivers one of those moments no camera can capture—it's one it forces you to earn. The episode closes with Coach Arnie’s training tip, this time focused on the often-ignored hero of canyon hiking: the big toe—and why foot strength, gait, and intention matter more than most hikers realize. Steep. Historic. Quietly humbling. This is the Grandview Trail. *****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.***** Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free. ***** Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.  ***** To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie. ***** Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club. ***** The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be. ***** For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms: YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

    41 min
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5
out of 5
143 Ratings

About

Welcome to THE home of Grand Canyon hiking. If it happens below the rim—from short day hikes to Rim2Rims and beyond—you'll learn all the tips and tricks to have your safest and most memorable Grand Canyon experience. Host Brian Speciale brings you stories of triumph, tragedy, and trail-won wisdom—told by first-timers, seasoned vets, and Canyon insiders alike. But don't just take our word for it; here's what our listeners say: “I am continually inspired by the guests and the vulnerability of everyone to share their story—so others can learn and make their own.” Whether you're planning Rim2Rim or just dreaming of hiking the Grand Canyon, this is the podcast that prepares you—mind, body, and spirit. “An invaluable resource.” "Brian and the community he has curated is such a welcoming place and wealth of information." “It’s the perfect mix of inspiration, realistic caution, and tips for success.” 🎧 New episodes weekly 👣 Join the conversation in the hiKin Grand Canyon private group on Facebook

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