Grand Canyon end of January

With a group of trad-packers, I spent a few days eastward along the Tonto from Hermits (iirc) to Indian Gardens. There were seeps at most of our campgrounds for water during a dry March . I wouldn't call them creeks but we were never without water. January is wetter in AZ but check the weather. Once we had to go down to the Colorado itself on a trail from the Tonto, fun in itself.

I find this site one of the best for GC trail info. He also has a trip report there of the western Tonto but in April.

http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/bc/gc_tr_tt.htm#t6

Standard Park Service position is that there is no water on the Tonto Trail. Period. Of course, this is not always true… but what IS true is that there is very little "reliable" water on that trail.

If there has been recent rain, you may find "potholes" periodically, and little side canyons may have small seeps or run-offs at their deepest parts. Sometimes you may have to go down to the Colorado (super-muddy these days) to get water, and sometimes the side canyons you pass through may have water (although some canyons have brackish water that can make you sick, even if you purify it).

In other words, water availability is SO dependent on recent weather that it makes it extremely difficult to plan. A friend of mine who has section-hiked the entire Tonto Trail frequently brought huge amounts of water, or went in advance and left some water caches for his later use.

http://toddshikingguide.com/Hikes/Arizona/GrandCanyon/Canyon3.htm

January may be problematic insofar as snow can make the South Bass TH difficult to access.