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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A towering sandstone butte rises above desert scrubland and rocky slopes under a deep blue Arizona sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Scylla Butte

One more shape in the canyon's layered interior

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Dramatic golden light and deep shadows sculpt the layered sandstone buttes of Grand Canyon's inner canyon.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Sheba Temple

A remote canyon summit rising above the Colorado River

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A sweeping aerial panorama of Grand Canyon's layered red rock buttes and deep shadowed canyon walls under blue sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Shiva Temple

A temple-shaped butte named for Shiva, seen from the South Rim

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A vivid rainbow arches over the Grand Canyon's layered red rock formations under dramatic storm clouds.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Shoshone Point

A quiet rim walk away from the crowds

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A vivid rainbow arches over the Grand Canyon's layered red rock formations under dramatic storm clouds.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Shoshone Point Trail

A quiet forest walk to one of the South Rim's least-crowded overlooks

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Dramatic Grand Canyon buttes and layered red rock cliffs glow in warm early light from the North Rim overlook.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Siegfried Pyre

A fire-named summit on the North Rim skyline

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Sinking Ship butte rises above layered red rock canyon walls at Grand Canyon National Park under blue skies.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Sinking Ship

A tilted rock spire that looks like it's slipping into the canyon

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Three hikers stand at Skeleton Point on the South Kaibab Trail overlooking the Colorado River deep in Grand Canyon.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Skeleton Point

Where the South Kaibab Trail first reveals the Colorado River

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Sweeping Grand Canyon panorama revealing Solomon Temple butte, layered red rock formations, and the Colorado River winding far below.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Solomon Temple

A limestone butte named for a king, seen from the rim near Desert View

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A historic black-and-white photo of pack mules carrying frame loads along a rocky Grand Canyon trail beneath towering canyon walls.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

South Bass Trail

A rugged, historic descent into one of the canyon's quietest corners

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A sweeping aerial view of South Kaibab Trail switchbacks winding past The Chimney rock formation at Grand Canyon.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

South Kaibab Trail

A ridge walk into the canyon with views from the first switchback

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A sweeping aerial view of South Kaibab Trail switchbacks winding past The Chimney rock formation at Grand Canyon.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

South Kaibab Trailhead

Where the South Kaibab Trail drops off the rim onto open ridge views

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A sweeping aerial view of Grand Canyon's North Rim reveals layered red rock buttes and forested plateaus under clear skies.
ViewpointGrand Canyon North Rim

Sullivan Peak

A quiet rim landmark on the trail south of Point Imperial

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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.