Flagstaff Man Pleads Guilty For Conducting Illegal Group Backpacking Trips In The Grand Canyon

A Flagstaff man pled guilty earlier this month for conducting business operation hikes within the backcountry of the Grand Canyon without permits. Back in November of 2020, William Chandler Woods illegally advertised guided trips through the backcountry of the park under multiple company names such as Blue Marble Guides, Blue Marble Adventure Geotourism, Red Rock Culinary, and Canyons and Chefs. Woods also organized commercial-guided backpacking trips along the Colorado Plateau without a permit. Park staff contacted Woods to warn him of his illegal actions but Woods continued. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and Woods pleaded guilty on April 8th. Woods will be serving two years of supervised probation and is banned from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the Grand Canyon National Park for two years.