Grand Canyon Hiking: The Best Trails for Every Skill Level

By Jocelyn Pion · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Grand Canyon

At Grand Canyon, the trails don't skirt the scenery. They plunge into it. The pattern is always the same from the South or North Rim: you go down, the heat rises, the colors change, and you have to climb back out on those same legs. That's both the park's appeal and its trap.

If you only do one hike, make it the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim. For a half-day, the 1.5-Mile Resthouse round-trip is enough (3.0 miles round-trip, 1,090 feet of elevation gain). You'll cross the canyon's first red sandstone layers and get back before the heat sets in. For a full day, Havasupai Gardens (about 9.3 miles round-trip, 3,060 feet of elevation gain) offers year-round water, shade beneath Fremont cottonwoods, and a view of the canyon from the bottom.

Two easy alternatives are the South Kaibab Trail (wider views, no shade or water, ideal for a short outing) and the Rim Trail (13 miles along the rim, flat, and accessible to everyone).

How to Prepare for a Grand Canyon Hike

You don't need a permit for a day hike, whether you're on a rim trail or heading down into the canyon. Any overnight stay below the rim, however, requires a wilderness permit ($10 application fee plus $8 per person per night). Reserve it through the Backcountry Information Center up to four months in advance.

The classic mistake is going too far, too fast. Summer temperatures at the bottom of the canyon climb above 104°F, which is 36 to 54°F hotter than on the South Rim. The NPS repeats it on all its signs: never go farther down than you plan to climb back up. If you're sweating on the way down, you'll be exhausted on the way back up.

Bring at least 1 liter of water for every hour of hiking in summer conditions. Fountains are available seasonally at the 1.5-Mile Resthouse and 3-Mile Resthouse on the Bright Angel Trail, and year-round at Havasupai Gardens. The South Kaibab Trail has no water sources, so carry everything from the start.

Safety and wildlife: Albert's squirrels on the South Rim and Kaibab squirrels on the North Rim beg for food near the trails. Don't feed them. Their bites can transmit diseases. California condors, reintroduced in 1996, regularly soar above the South Rim ridges.

Dogs are allowed only on the Rim Trail and in developed areas above the rim, and they must stay leashed. They're prohibited on every trail that descends below the canyon rim.

Spring (April–May) and fall (mid-September through October) are the ideal windows for descending into the canyon. Summer hiking is possible only at dawn. Our guide When to Visit Grand Canyon explains conditions month by month for each area.

The Best Grand Canyon Hikes, Area by Area

The South Rim has nearly all of the trails that are accessible year-round. The North Rim, higher at 8,400 feet and more remote, is open only from mid-May to mid-October.

South Rim: Trails Down Into the Canyon

Bright Angel Trail Route: round-trip · Distance: 3.0 miles (1.5-Mile Resthouse) / 6.0 miles (3-Mile Resthouse) / about 9.3 miles (Havasupai Gardens) · Elevation gain: 1,090 feet / 2,110 feet / 3,060 feet · Time: 2 to 6 hours depending on your destination · Difficulty: moderate to strenuous · Start: Grand Canyon Village, west of Bright Angel Lodge

This is the park's busiest trail, and it has earned that status. It descends in steady switchbacks through the canyon's geological layers, with two resthouses equipped with toilets and seasonal fountains. When we visited in May, families with children reached the first resthouse without trouble, while better-equipped hikers continued toward Havasupai Gardens.

Havasupai Gardens, formerly Indian Garden, is a good goal for hikers in good physical condition, as long as you start before 7 a.m. in summer and keep an eye on the return trip. The canyon bottom and the Colorado River are accessible from this trail (about 18.6 miles round-trip, 4,460 feet of elevation gain), but only with a wilderness permit or for guests staying at Bright Angel Campground.

South Kaibab Trail Route: round-trip · Distance: 1.8 miles (Ooh Aah Point) / 3.0 miles (Cedar Ridge) / 6.4 miles (Skeleton Point) · Elevation gain: 600 feet / 1,100 feet / 2,040 feet · Time: 1 to 4 hours depending on your destination · Difficulty: easy to strenuous · Start: South Kaibab Trailhead (shuttle only, no private vehicle parking)

South Kaibab doesn't give an inch: no shade, no water, and narrow ridges with 360-degree views. What it offers that Bright Angel can't match is total exposure to the landscape from the first few minutes. Ooh Aah Point (1.8 miles round-trip) is our pick for a short morning outing. The colors at sunrise are striking. Cedar Ridge (3.0 miles round-trip) is the right compromise for one to two hours of hiking and a real feeling of being inside the canyon.

Skeleton Point (6.4 miles round-trip) offers the first view of the Colorado River from this side. Save it for experienced hikers, cool weather, and at least 3 liters of water.

South Rim: Along the Rim

Rim Trail Route: one-way (shuttle back) · Distance: up to 13 miles from South Kaibab Trailhead to Hermit's Rest · Elevation gain: nearly none · Difficulty: very easy · Start: any shuttle stop on the South Rim

The Rim Trail follows the canyon edge along the entire length of the South Rim's visitor area. The surface is paved or compacted for nearly the whole route, with sections accessible to wheelchairs. Must-see viewpoints along the way include Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and Pima Point near Hermit's Rest. It's also the only trail in the park where dogs are allowed.

North Rim: Elevation, Forest, and Solitude

The North Rim opens every year around May 15. At 8,400 feet, surrounded by firs and spruce, it receives about one-tenth as many visitors as the South Rim.

Bright Angel Point Trail Route: round-trip · Distance: 0.5 miles · Elevation gain: minimal · Time: 20 to 30 minutes · Start: Grand Canyon Lodge (North Rim)

A paved trail leads from the lodge to a promontory suspended above the canyon, with a sweeping view of both arms of the Transept and the South Rim in the distance. It's ideal when you arrive or at the end of the day.

North Kaibab Trail Route: round-trip · Distance: 1.4 miles (Coconino Overlook) / 4.0 miles (Supai Tunnel) / about 9.3 miles (Roaring Springs) · Elevation gain: 420 feet / 1,390 feet / 3,160 feet · Time: 1 to 6 hours · Difficulty: easy to strenuous · Start: North Kaibab Trailhead (a morning shuttle from the lodge is recommended)

This is the only official trail that descends into the canyon from the North Rim. Roaring Springs (9.3 miles round-trip, 3,160 feet) is a full, strenuous day. At the end, a natural spring bursts noisily from the cliff. Supai Tunnel (4.0 miles round-trip) is a good morning destination for hikers in good physical condition. The entire North Kaibab connects with the Bright Angel Trail at the bottom of the canyon. This junction is part of the Rim to Rim, about 22 miles, usually completed in 2 to 3 days with a wilderness permit.

Easy and Family-Friendly Hikes

For families with young children or hikers without experience with elevation gain, three options work well:

The Rim Trail between Mather Point and Yavapai Point (about 1.2 miles) connects two major viewpoints, with no elevation gain and a shuttle ride back. It's also the only option if you're bringing a dog.

The Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse (3.0 miles round-trip, 1,090 feet) works for kids as young as 8 who are in good physical condition. Start before 8 a.m. in summer and bring enough water. With children, follow this safety rule: turn around while they're still feeling strong, not once they're exhausted.

The Bright Angel Point Trail (North Rim, 0.5 miles round-trip) is different. There's no technical difficulty, it starts at the lodge, and it offers an immediate, spectacular view of the canyon.

Strenuous Day Hikes

For hikers used to long outings with substantial elevation gain, two demanding day hikes stand out:

Bright Angel Trail to Havasupai Gardens (9.3 miles round-trip, 3,060 feet) is the classic full-day hike on the South Rim. Start before 6 a.m. in summer and before 7 a.m. in spring. Carry at least 3 liters of water and refill at the seasonal fountains. The valley bottom, with its spring and cottonwoods, is an unexpected visual reward in this landscape of stone.

South Kaibab to Skeleton Point (6.4 miles round-trip, 2,040 feet, no water): bring at least 4 liters and start very early. The views of Bright Angel Canyon and the Colorado River from Skeleton Point make the effort worthwhile. Avoid this trail between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in summer.

For multi-day trips with an overnight stay below the rim, you need a wilderness permit. Reserve it through the Backcountry Information Center up to four months in advance. The Rim to Rim (South Kaibab plus North Kaibab, about 22 miles) is the park's signature undertaking, usually completed in 3 days with a night at Bright Angel Campground.

Access, Trailheads, and Parking

South Rim parking fills up by 8 a.m. during the busy season, from March through October. The practical solution is to park at Visitor Center Plaza, where there's a large free lot, and use the park's free shuttles.

Three routes serve the main trailheads:

• Orange Route (Kaibab/Rim Route): serves South Kaibab Trailhead. Private vehicles aren't allowed on this section.
• Red Route (Hermit Road): serves Hermit's Rest and the western viewpoints from March through November. Private cars are prohibited during this period.
• Blue Route (Village Route): serves Grand Canyon Village and the Bright Angel Trailhead.

At the North Rim, parking is available at Grand Canyon Lodge. A paid shuttle connects the lodge with North Kaibab Trailhead early in the morning. It's recommended so you don't have to walk 1.2 miles along the road before you even start hiking.

For shuttles and traffic in the park, see the Getting Around Grand Canyon guide.

When to Hike in Grand Canyon

The short version is spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) for any descent into the canyon. Summer hiking is possible only at dawn because temperatures at the bottom climb above 104°F. Winter hiking is possible on the South Rim, though trails can be snowy or icy and microspikes are recommended. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May.

Our Grand Canyon seasonal guide covers conditions month by month, including temperatures by area and the busiest periods.

Which Hike Should You Choose?

For the whole park, lodging, access from major cities, and budget, our Grand Canyon guide has everything covered.

Frequently Asked Questions