Day Hikes
South Rim
Rim Trail
Rim Trail in winter. The section from Yavapai Point to Bright Angel Trailhead is cleared in winter. Click on the image for a larger view.
The Rim Trail follows the South Rim for nearly 12 miles from Hermits Rest to Pipe Creek Vista. It is an excellent trail to start with as elevation changes are limited to 300 feet, and the Village, Hermit, and Kaibab Trail shuttles stop at all the major viewpoints along the trail. You can walk between shuttle stops and make the hike as long or short as you want. In addition, portions of the Rim Trail are paved and graded to be handicap-accessible. For details, see the Rim Trail Description.
Upper South Kaibab Trail
O'Neill Butte on the South Kaibab Trail. Click on the image for a larger view.
A great day hike is from the South Kaibab Trailhead (accessible only via the Kaibab Shuttle) to Cedar Ridge, a distance of 1.5 miles one-way. There are panoramic views of O'Neill Butte and the canyon as the trail comes out onto a ridge. Remember, the return hike is all uphill and much harder. There is no water along the trail. Do not attempt to hike to the river and back in one day!
Hermit Trail
This unmaintained trail starts from Hermits Rest at the end of the Hermit Road. Good destinations are Santa Maria Spring, which is 1.4 miles one-way, and Dripping Spring, which is 2.7 miles one-way. Neither spring is reliable, so carry your own water. Both destinations offer excellent views of Hermit Canyon. Do not attempt to hike to the river and back in one day!
Grandview Trail
Hiking the Grandview Trail. Click on the image for a larger view.
This trail starts from Grandview Point on Desert View Drive. Horseshoe Mesa, 3.0 miles each way, is a great destination. The Grandview Trail is unmaintained and is much rougher and slower going than the Kaibab or Bright Angel trails. You can easily spend a few hours exploring the historic mining district. Caution: Stay out of old mine shafts.
Kaibab National Forest- Tusayan Ranger District
Arizona Trail- Coconino Rim
A section of the 800-mile Arizona Trail follows the Coconino Rim southeast from Grandview Fire Lookout on the Tusayan District of the Kaibab National Forest. To reach this trailhead, drive east on Desert View Drive to the Grandview Point junction. Continue 2.0 miles east on Desert Drive, and then turn right onto the Coconino Rim Road. Drive this dirt road 1.2 miles. You'll see the Arizona Trail trailhead on the left, just after crossing the park boundary into the national forest.
Follow the Arizona Trail east from the trailhead. The trail wanders through the pleasant mixed forest of ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, and juniper as it loosely follows the Coconino Rim. A good destination for a day hike is a point 3.1 miles, one-way, from the trailhead, where the Arizona Trail reaches a sharply-defined, eastward-facing section of the Coconino Rim with excellent views.
Arizona Trail- Coconino Rim Map
For more information on the Arizona Trail, see the Arizona Trail Association.
North Rim
Transept Trail
Transept Trail near Grand Canyon Lodge. Click on the image for a larger view.
The Transept Trail follows the rim of Transept Canyon from Grand Canyon Lodge to North Rim Campground, a distance of 1.4 miles one-way. The trail is nearly level.
Widforss Trail
The Widforss Trail starts from a trailhead on the west side of AZ 67 just north of the NOrth Kaibab Trailhead. across the road from the North Kaibab Trailhead. The trail winds 4.4 miles through along the west rim of the Transept to a point on the North Rim overlooking Widforss Point.
Ken Patrick Trail
This trail connects Point Imperial with the North Kaibab Trailhead, a distance of 10 miles. If you plan to hike the entire trail, it is best to hike it one way with a car shuttle. The trail skirts the rim after leaving Point Imperial, then crosses the Point Imperial Road and wanders through the forest to the North Kaibab Trailhead.
Uncle Jim Trail
This 2.5-mile trail starts at the North Kaibab Trailhead and traverses the forest to a viewpoint overlooking Roaring Springs Canyon and the Kaibab Trail.
Map of Ken Patrick and Uncle Jim Trails
Cape Final Trail
This trail starts from the Cape Final Trailhead along the Cape Royal Road and follows an old fire road 2.0 miles through the rim forest to Cape Final, a major promontory with excellent views of the eastern Grand Canyon.
North Kaibab Trail
The park's trans-canyon trail, the North Kaibab Trail starts from the North Kaibab Trailhead just north of the village, descends into Roaring Springs Canyon, and then follows Bright Angel Creek to Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River, a distance of 14 miles one-way and a descent of 5,950 feet. Do not attempt to hike to the river and back in one day! A day hike to Supai Tunnel and back is a good short day hike. This hike is 2.0 miles each way. For an all day hike, you can hike down to Roaring Springs and back, which is 4.7 miles each way and a descent of 3,050 feet.
Kaibab National Forest- North Kaibab Ranger District
Arizona Trail- North Canyon Loop
This strenuous 3.7-mile loop hike uses sections of both the North Canyon and Arizona trails to loop down into the head of North Canyon, past a spring, and then back along the rim of North Canyon. To reach the trailhead, start from Jacob Lake at the junction of US 89A and Arizona 67, and drive 26 miles south on Arizona 67 to DeMotte Park. Turn left on Forest Road 611 and follow the signs four miles to East Rim View.
Descend into North Canyon via the North Canyon Trail, which descends 1,400 feet in about 1.4 miles to the bottom of the canyon. Then turn right, and follow the trail up the bed of the canyon. As the trail nears the head of North Canyon, it veers right and climbs steeply up the west fork, passing North Canyon Spring, and continues to the rim, a distance of 1.6 miles. Turn right and follow the Arizona Trail north 1.7 miles to East Rim View.
For an alternative, easier hike, follow the Arizona Trail south along the rim of North Canyon for 1.7 miles, one way, and then return the way you came.
For more information on the Arizona Trail, see the Arizona Trail Association.