Grand Canyon Hiking

Bright Angel Trail

Read the full Bright Angel Trail guide →

• Distance: 9.5 mi one-way to Phantom Ranch (19 mi round-trip)
• Elevation loss: 4,380 ft rim to river
• Water: Yes — One-and-a-Half Mile Resthouse, Three Mile Resthouse (Havasupai Gardens, 4.5 mi) year-round; verify seasonal pipe status
• Permit: Day hike — no permit. Overnight camping — backcountry permit required
• Shuttle access: Trailhead at Village Route shuttle stop (Bright Angel Trailhead)
• Mule traffic: Yes — step to the uphill side and do not step off downhill when mules pass

Bright Angel is the Grand Canyon's most forgiving inner-canyon trail because of its water access and shaded resthouses. The 1.5-mile and 3-mile resthouses have emergency phones, toilets, and shade structures. Havasupai Gardens (formerly Indian Garden, renamed 2022) at 4.5 miles is the practical turnaround for most day-hikers outside of summer — a 9-mile round-trip with 3,060 ft of gain on the return. In summer, rangers post turnaround signs at 1.5 miles. Respect them. The rim-to-river temperature differential runs about 20°F — a 75°F rim day puts you at 95°F at the bottom.

Mule trains run this trail daily and have right of way. When mules approach, step to the uphill canyon wall, stand still, and do not step off the downhill edge. See also: Grand Canyon travel planning for permit lottery calendar.

South Kaibab Trail

Read the full South Kaibab Trail guide →

• Distance: 6.8 mi one-way to Colorado River (13.6 mi round-trip)
• Elevation loss: 4,780 ft rim to river
• Water: NO WATER from rim to river
• Permit: Day hike — no permit. Overnight — backcountry permit required
• Shuttle access: Shuttle-only (Kaibab/Rim Route stop). No private vehicle parking at trailhead
• Mule traffic: Occasional — same mule etiquette: step inside, do not step off downhill

South Kaibab runs along exposed ridgelines — the canyon panoramas are unmatched. Ooh Aah Point (0.9 mi) and Cedar Ridge (1.5 mi) are the classic day-hike turnarounds. Skeleton Point at 3 miles offers views of the Colorado River but is a 6-mile round-trip with 2,040 ft of return gain — a legitimate challenge. Carry at least 4 liters per person in shoulder season; 6 liters in summer. Rangers strongly recommend Bright Angel for summer day-hikes because of South Kaibab's complete absence of shade and water.

For Grand Canyon audio tours that cover the South Rim viewpoints visible from this ridge, see our tours page.

Rim Trail (Paved)

Read the full Rim Trail guide →

• Distance: 13 mi total (Mather Point west to Hermits Rest); walk any segment
• Elevation change: Negligible — follows rim contour
• Water: Yes — at multiple viewpoint stops and visitor facilities
• Permit: None (park admission covers it)
• Shuttle access: Free Village and Hermits Rest Route shuttles run the entire length
• ADA accessible: Mather Point to Pipe Creek Vista section is fully paved and ADA-compliant

The Rim Trail is the Grand Canyon's most accessible hike — and one of the most spectacular walks in the world. The paved section runs roughly 3.5 miles and passes Mather Point, Yavapai Geology Museum, and Pipe Creek Vista. West of Yavapai the trail transitions to packed dirt, passing Trailview, Maricopa, Powell, Hopi, Mohave, and Pima Points before ending at Hermits Rest. Walk in either direction, pick up the free shuttle anywhere along the route. At sunrise, Mather Point is peak canyon color.

Pair with Grand Canyon viewpoints — our guide covers which stops are worth lingering vs. riding through.

Hermit Trail

Read the full Hermit Trail guide →

• Distance: 9.7 mi one-way to Colorado River
• Elevation loss: 4,240 ft rim to river
• Water: Seasonal caches only (May–Sept fragile); verify before descent
• Permit: No permit for day hike; backcountry permit for camping
• Shuttle access: Hermits Rest Route shuttle to Hermits Rest trailhead (seasonal shuttle only)
• Mule traffic: None — unmaintained trail, mules do not use it

Hermit Trail was built in 1912 and has not been maintained by the NPS since 1931. The upper sections are rocky and loose; cairns mark the route but are not guaranteed. Santa Maria Spring (2.5 mi) and Hermit Creek (7 mi) are water sources — both seasonal and subject to cache pipe failures. Call the Backcountry Information Center at +1 928-638-7875 before committing. This is one of the most geologically rich descents in the canyon, passing through every major rock formation visible from the rim.

Looking for a guided option? Viator guided hikes cover Hermit and other advanced trails with local guides. See also: travel planning for backcountry permit lottery details.

North Kaibab Trail

Read the full North Kaibab Trail guide →

• Distance: 14 mi one-way to Colorado River (Phantom Ranch)
• Elevation loss: 5,761 ft North Rim to river
• Water: Yes — Supai Tunnel (2 mi), Roaring Springs (3 mi, seasonal), Cottonwood Campground (6.8 mi), Phantom Ranch
• Permit: Backcountry permit required for Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch
• Shuttle access: North Rim trailhead; North Rim closed Oct 15 – May 15
• Mule traffic: Yes — step inside, do not step off downhill

The North Kaibab is the standard route for rim-to-rim hikers — either walking 21 miles from the North Rim to the South Rim over two days, or doing the rim-to-rim-to-rim as a supported ultramarathon effort. Cottonwood Campground at 6.8 miles is the standard night-one camp for backpackers. Phantom Ranch requires lottery reservation. In spring, Roaring Springs — a natural fountain bursting from the canyon wall — is one of the more spectacular sights in the park.

Grandview Trail

Read the full Grandview Trail guide →

• Distance: 3 mi one-way to Horseshoe Mesa; extensions to river possible for backpackers
• Elevation loss: 2,600 ft to Horseshoe Mesa
• Water: No water on trail; bring everything from the rim
• Permit: Day hike — no permit; camping on Horseshoe Mesa — backcountry permit required
• Shuttle access: Grandview Point parking lot (Desert View Drive, 12 mi east of Village)
• Mule traffic: None

Grandview Trail dates to 1893, built by miner Pete Berry to haul copper ore from the Last Chance Mine. The rocky, loose trail descends through exposed ledges to Horseshoe Mesa, where mine shaft ruins and ore chutes remain intact. The trail requires scrambling in spots and is unforgiving in summer heat. Horseshoe Mesa is the recommended turnaround for day-hikers — beyond it, three steep drainage descents lead to the Tonto Platform and eventually the river, terrain for experienced backpackers only.

Guided options available: Viator guided Grand Canyon hikes. Combine with Desert View Watchtower — Grandview Point is 6 miles west of Desert View on the same drive.

Tonto Trail

Read the full Tonto Trail guide →

• Total distance: 95 mi across the Tonto Platform (east-west)
• Elevation: Follows the Tonto Platform at roughly 3,800–4,000 ft
• Water: Very limited; plan around Bright Angel Creek, Havasupai Gardens, Hermit Creek
• Permit: Backcountry permit required for all overnight use
• Shuttle access: Access via Bright Angel, South Kaibab, Grandview, or Hermit trailheads
• Mule traffic: None on Tonto Platform

The Tonto Trail connects inner-canyon drainage routes across the broad Tonto Platform — the flat, greenish bench visible from the South Rim about two-thirds of the way down. Most visitors use short sections: the 1.5-mile link between Bright Angel Trail and Havasupai Gardens is accessible as a day-hike extension. The full 95-mile traverse is a 7 to 10-day wilderness route for experienced desert backpackers. Water planning is critical — the platform is dry between creek crossings.

Tanner Trail

Read the full Tanner Trail guide →

• Distance: 9 mi one-way to Colorado River at Tanner Beach
• Elevation loss: 4,600 ft rim to river
• Water: NO WATER on trail; Colorado River at bottom only — filter required
• Permit: Backcountry permit required for all below-rim camping
• Shuttle access: Lipan Point parking lot (Desert View Drive, near east end)
• Mule traffic: None

The Tanner Trail descends from Lipan Point at the eastern end of Desert View Drive — one of the park's most dramatic overlooks. The trail drops through the ancient Cardenas Basalt, some of the oldest exposed rock in the canyon (1.2 billion years). There is no water until the Colorado River, which requires filtering. The standard backpack is 3 days: descend day one, explore Tanner Beach and the Furnace Flats day two, ascend day three. Combine with the Beamer Trail east to the Little Colorado confluence for experienced route-finders.

Guided multi-day trips: Viator Grand Canyon guided hikes. See travel planning for permit lottery process.