Your Grand Canyon Hiking Guides

Two Guides. One Desert.

We didn't start a company; we just refused to leave the canyon. Epic Trail Adventures is our way of sharing the landscapes that changed our lives.

From the ocean to the canyon.

I began my backpacking journey in 2015 while section-hiking the Arizona Trail, where I developed a deep appreciation for the rhythm and simplicity of life on the trail. What started as a personal challenge quickly grew into a lasting passion for wilderness travel and connection to the natural world.

I grew up in Hawaii, where I spent much of my time in the ocean surfing and snorkeling. After moving to Arizona in 2011, I found myself drawn to finding remote water in the desert. That search led me into the backcountry and ultimately into backpacking, where I discovered a new way to explore and connect with the landscape.

I have been guiding in the Grand Canyon since the spring of 2021 and hold certifications in Wilderness First Responder, CPR and First Aid, and Leave No Trace. My approach to guiding is grounded in safety, awareness, and respect for both the environment and the individuals I lead.

Outside of the canyon, I serve as Chief Operating Officer for a global learning and development company focused on HR professionals. My professional background in leadership, team development, and operations carries into my guiding style, helping me create thoughtful, well-organized, and supportive experiences for every group I lead.

I am especially drawn to the transformative power of the Grand Canyon. I believe that stepping away from the noise and demands of everyday life allows people to reconnect with themselves in a meaningful way. Time in the backcountry brings a heightened sense of presence, where each step, breath, and moment matters.

In addition to backpacking, I enjoy the occasional ultra run, with my longest distance being 100 kilometers. I also take on challenging canyon days and have completed rim-to-rim-to-rim in a single day.

I'm known for a calm and steady leadership style that helps guests feel both capable and at ease, whether they are new to backpacking or experienced hikers. I aim to create space for challenge, reflection, and connection, guiding them not just through the landscape but through an experience that stays with people long after they leave the canyon.

When I'm not guiding, I enjoy backpacking with my family, my husband Enrique (co-founder), and my teenage daughter and son, continuing to share my love of the outdoors and the lessons it offers.

Laurie Baggarly

Co-Founder & Adventures Lead

Enrique Rubio

Co-Founder & Technology/Platform Lead

From Caracas to the canyon.

I was born and grew up in Venezuela. Always hyperactive, always outdoors. Just like most kids born in the early 80s in Venezuela, I spent most of my leisure time outside with my friends until late at night when my mom would yell from the 11th floor where our apartment was: "ENRIQUE!!! It's time to come back!!!" Obviously, she had to yell that 5 or 6 times before I would come back.

44 years later… I work full time in my company Hacking HR, a global learning platform and community for HR leaders. I am an electronic engineer with a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University, and I am also a Fulbright scholar.

But I am also fun… 😊 I am a competitive ultrarunner and have completed multiple 50ks, 50 and 100 milers. I adore the mountains and canyons.

So, I am a nerd who loves the outdoors.

In 2020 I moved to Flagstaff. Best decision ever. This is by far the best place I ever lived in all my life, and where I met my wife, Laurie. Actually, funny story: I met her after I found a cellphone in the Grand Canyon while running. It was lost by someone in her hiking group, and when she came back to Flagstaff, somehow she tracked me down and I returned the phone… and that was a while back and here we are!

We both love the outdoors and spend so much time running and hiking and camping, in places we have been multiple times, or in new places.

Laurie and I are excited to share our passion for the outdoors with others through our new company: Epic Trail Adventures (ETA).

Laurie is the adventures girl. She leads our outdoor expeditions, and I am managing the technology and doing project management in the backend (oh yeah? You didn't think that this required project management? Well, it does!… The engineer in me to the rescue!!!).

The only question I have for you is: what's your ETA?

And a trusted circle of guides.

Depending on the adventure, the season, and the group size, Laurie partners with a handpicked roster of experienced local guides. Every one of them is someone we've personally hiked with, trust completely on technical terrain, and who shares our small-group, leave-no-trace approach.

That means whether you're traversing the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, descending a remote South Rim corridor, or exploring a quiet North Rim route, you'll always be in the hands of a guide who knows that specific landscape intimately - not someone reading a route off a printout.

Our Guiding Philosophy

We aren't trying to be the biggest outfitter in Arizona. We just want to be the best.

Intimate Scale

We cap our groups at 6 people. No exceptions. Large groups destroy the quiet and make wilderness feel like a theme park.

Uncompromising Safety

The desert is stunning but harsh. Both founders hold advanced wilderness medical certifications and carry satellite communication.

Leave No Trace

We travel over rock and sand with deep reverence. We pack out everything, protect cryptobiotic soil, and respect indigenous heritage.