Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona

Take a Virtual Hike with Shay Summers to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon

Hiking & Backpacking

Visitors may hike along the Rim Trail or below the rim on a number of inner canyon trails. All hiking at Grand Canyon is strenuous, due to altitude (the South Rim is 7,000 feet above sea level) and extreme temperatures (up to 120 degrees F in the inner canyon).

A trip from rim to river and back is a two-day trip for most; visitors may spend the night at Phantom Ranch (with advance reservations) or camp at Bright Angel Campground, adjacent to Phantom Ranch (with a Backcountry Permit). Phantom Ranch is also accessible by mule (a two-day trip). The park offers free programs throughout the year. The concessionaire offers a variety of activities (mule trips, bus tours, river rafting etc.) throughout the year.

Most of the park's life-threatening emergencies are day hikers who are unprepared and less experienced than backpackers heading out for at least overnight. A good rule of thumb for canyon hikes is that it will take you twice as long to get back up as it took you to get down.

Permits are not required for day hikes below the rim. Unless you are staying at Phantom Ranch, all overnight trips below the rim require an backcountry permit. Bring plenty of water (one gallon per person per day).

Trails

South Rim

Rim Trail: 9 miles round trip - Follows the rim from Yavapai Point to Hermit's Rest.past the usual South Rim attractions. Paved from Yavapai Point west to Maricopa Point; unpaved portions are narrow and close to the edge. Shuttle bus available back the other way - 5 hours.

Bright Angel Trail:19 miles round trip - This, the most popular trail in Grand Canyon NP, begins on the South Rim just west of Kolb Studio, and descends 4400 feet to the Colorado River. Itinerary includes Three Mile Resthouse, Indian Garden, Two foot bridges across the river to Bright Angel Campground (where Bright Angel Creek, flowing down from the North Rim, meets the Colorado River). Hikers can follow the River Trail for 1.7 miles to reach the South Kaibab Trail. (Many day hikers choose to go only as far as Indian Garden.) - 12 hours.

South Kaibab Trail: 6 miles - Begins on the South Rim at Yaki Point and descends 4,620 fee to the Colorado River. Because of the lack of water and steepness of this trail, rangers recommend hiking down this trail and using Bright Angel trail the return trip the next day. next day (19 miles round trip) 12 hours.

Royal Arch/South Bass: 45-mile loop - Very Difficult route begins requires rappeling during the descent. Spectacular trail lower Royal Arch Canyon, one of the most stunning places in Grand Canyon NP - 5 days.

Tonto Trail: 72 miles. - Parallels the South Rim intersecting both Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails. It starts in Red Canyon and travels through Hance, Cottonwood, Grapevine and Lonetree canyons. It crosses the Tonto Platform about 3000 ft below the South Rim. 10 days.

Boucher Trail: 22 miles round trip - Steep, strenuous 2,400-foot descent to Boucher Creek. the rim. Includes scenic promontory below Yuma Point - 16 hours over 2 days.

Dripping Springs Trail: 1.5 miles. Boucher Trail ends at Dripping Springs trail near the top of Hermit Canyon. You turn left and soon reach Hermit Trail, which takes you to the rim.

Hermit Trail: 17 miles round trip, - Strenuous, but easy to follow trail with good campsites -12 hours.

Grandview Trail: 6 miles round trip - The trailhead, at 7,400 feet, is the South Rim's highest. Passes an abandoned copper mine and a year-round spring. Can be snowy and icy in winter and early spring - 6 hours.

New Hance (Red Canyon) to Kaibab: 6 miles round trip, - South Rim's most difficult trail with constant twists, turns and switchbacks. Great vistas, and shaded campsites 12 hours in two days.

Tanner Trail: 16 miles roundtrip - Starts at Lipan Point, about 2 miles west of Desert View on the east end of the park. It takes at least 6 hours to cover the Tanner Trail's and there's no water. Rather than returning back on the Tanner, you might prefer to hike west from the river on them Escalante Trail an extension of the Tonto Trail.

Beamer Trail: 21 miles round trip - Isolated, gentle trail is easy to follow and has wonderful scenery. Starts on the east side of Tanner delta running south along the the Colorado to its confluence with the Little Colorado - 2 days.

North Rim

Thunder River Trail: 10 miles - Indian Hollow trailhead into the canyon past Thunder Spring, gushing from a limestone cave

Bill Hall Trail: 3.4 miles - One of the easiest and most picturesque climbs to the rim.

North Bass Trail: 27 miles. Challenging route, cross country and marked by cairns. 4 to 6 days.

North Kaibab Trail: 29 miles round trip, - Trailhead at Roaring Springs Canyon descends to the Colorado River with a 5800 foot elevation change. 36 hours.

Widforss Trail - 9.8 miles round trip. Among the finest plateau hikes in the park during summer - 5 hours.

Ken Patrick Trail: 6 miles round trip - Gentle hike along the rim through forests with views of Navajo Mountain. 3-4 hours.

Uncle Jim Trail: 3.9 miles round trip - Good summer hiking along North Rim through conifer forest,with spectacular views. Good campsite for those with a backcountry permit. 2 to 3 hours.

Clear Creek Trail: 18 miles round trip - North Rim's answer to South Rim's Tonto Trail travels a spine along the inner canyon,Great canyon views, but shadeless and land hot during summer. 10 hours.