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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Dramatic Grand Canyon view showing Pollux Temple butte rising above layered red rock canyon walls and the Colorado River below.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Pollux Temple

A mythologically-named butte rising above the Tonto Trail

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Two visitors stand atop the historic Powell Point Memorial overlook on the Grand Canyon South Rim.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Powell Point

A rim memorial to the man who first ran the canyon's river

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Two visitors stand atop the historic Powell Point Memorial overlook on the Grand Canyon South Rim.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Powell Point Trail

A short rim walk to the memorial where the park itself was dedicated.

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Sweeping Grand Canyon panorama showing layered red rock buttes and deep shadowed gorges under a hazy sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Rama Shrine

A Hindu-named summit towering over the eastern canyon

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Hikers cross the Redwall Bridge on the North Kaibab Trail surrounded by canyon walls and pine trees.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Redwall Bridge

A cliff-blasted crossing above Roaring Springs Canyon

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Residential Loop

A quiet, paved loop through the South Rim's village streets

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A metal footbridge spans Bright Angel Creek along the Ribbon Falls Trail deep inside the Grand Canyon.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Ribbon Falls Trail

A hidden travertine waterfall along the North Kaibab Trail

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Three visitors with backpacks stand at a South Rim overlook gazing across the vast Grand Canyon layers.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Rim Trail

Thirteen miles of rim, walkable one shuttle stop at a time

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Three visitors with backpacks stand at a South Rim overlook gazing across the vast Grand Canyon layers.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Rim Trailhead

Step onto the South Rim's easiest canyon-edge walk

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The calm Colorado River flows through the Inner Gorge near Phantom Ranch, flanked by towering dark schist walls.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

River Trail

The link between two corridor trails, carved into rock above the Colorado River.

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Towering red rock spires and layered canyon walls deep inside Roaring Springs Canyon at the Grand Canyon.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Roaring Springs Trail

The North Rim's classic below-the-rim day hike, ending at the spring that waters the whole park

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A sweeping panoramic view from Roosevelt Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park under clear blue skies.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Roosevelt Lookout

A short walk to a wide view over Kwagunt Valley and the Painted Desert

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A sweeping panoramic view from Roosevelt Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park under clear blue skies.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Roosevelt Point Loop

A quiet quarter-mile stroll to one of the North Rim's least-crowded views

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A sweeping panoramic view from Roosevelt Point on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park under clear blue skies.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Roosevelt Trailhead

A quick rim walk to a quiet North Rim overlook

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Schellbach Butte

A remote interior butte on Buddha Temple's shared saddle

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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.