Hiking near Grand Canyon National Park

Trails, viewpoints, and hikes in and around Grand Canyon National Park

Hiking Into the Grand Canyon

The National Park Service is explicit about this: there is no easy way down to the Colorado River and back in a single day, and it actively discourages attempting a rim-to-river-to-rim day hike, especially in summer heat. Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail are the two maintained corridor trails from the South Rim into the canyon — both have no reliable water above certain points (Bright Angel has seasonal water stations; South Kaibab has none below the rim), and temperatures at the canyon floor regularly run 20-25 degrees hotter than the rim.

Overnight backcountry camping below the rim requires a permit, awarded through the park's own advance lottery/request system — Phantom Ranch itself (a bunkhouse rather than backcountry camping) uses a separate 15-month lottery shared with its lodging reservations.

The North Rim's trails are higher in elevation and open only roughly mid-May through mid-October, when the road and facilities are open; it closes for the season with the first significant snowfall, typically by early December.

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Sweeping Grand Canyon view showing layered red and gray rock formations including Vishnu Temple under a blue sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Angels Gate

A sandstone summit named for where spirits return to earth

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Angels Window natural rock arch on the North Rim of Grand Canyon glows warmly at sunrise with layered canyon walls behind.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Angel’s Window

A natural arch you can stand on top of, framing the river far below

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Ariel Point Trail

A faint old road to a quiet North Rim overlook

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Day HikeGrand Canyon North Rim

Arizona Trail

A high-forest stretch of the 800-mile Arizona Trail across the North Rim plateau.

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

BLM Rd 2619

A remote backcountry road on the edge of the canyon's plateau country

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Berry Butte

An off-trail summit above Horseshoe Mesa, named for the man behind Grandview

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Black Bear Loop

A campground loop near Tusayan, not a canyon trail

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Colorful rafting boats pulled ashore on a sandy Colorado River beach below the Black Bridge at Phantom Ranch.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Boat Beach Trail

Where Bright Angel Creek meets the Colorado, deep in the canyon

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Day HikeTusayan

Boucher Trail

One of the canyon's toughest, least-traveled South Rim descents

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Bourke Point View

A remote eastern-rim overlook far from the crowds

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Brady Peak butte rises above red slopes on the Grand Canyon North Rim with layered canyon walls stretching toward the horizon.
ViewpointGrand Canyon North Rim

Brady Peak

A cream-capped summit rising near Vista Encantada

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Brahma Temple

A mythologically named summit rising from the inner canyon

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Sweeping panoramic view from Bright Angel Point on the Grand Canyon's North Rim at golden hour.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Bright Angel Point

The North Rim's iconic overlook, currently closed for fire recovery

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Grand Canyon Hiking FAQ

Can I hike from the rim to the river and back in one day?

The National Park Service actively discourages this — it's a serious, often dangerous undertaking, especially in summer heat, and is responsible for the majority of the park's search-and-rescue incidents. Plan an overnight instead if you want to reach the river.

Is there water available on the corridor trails?

Bright Angel Trail has seasonal water stations at several points; South Kaibab Trail has no water available below the rim at all. Carry more water than you think you'll need on either trail.

Do I need a permit for backcountry camping below the rim?

Yes — overnight backcountry camping requires a permit through the park's own advance request/lottery system, separate from day hiking, which needs no permit. Phantom Ranch's bunkhouse uses its own separate 15-month lottery, shared with its lodging reservations.

When is the North Rim open for hiking?

Roughly mid-May through mid-October, when the road and facilities are open. It closes for the season with the first significant snowfall, typically by early December, and the South Rim stays open year-round in contrast.