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 paved rim trail winds toward Bright Angel Point overlook on the Grand Canyon's North Rim at golden hour.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Bright Angel Point Trail

The North Rim's classic short walk to a canyon-edge overlook, temporarily closed for fire repairs.

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The Silver Bridge spans the Colorado River deep inside Grand Canyon, framed by towering red rock cliffs.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Bright Angel Suspension Bridge

The foot-traffic-only bridge that gets hikers — and the South Rim's water — across the Colorado River.

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Two small trees cling to a sandstone outcrop above the vast layered walls of Grand Canyon's South Rim.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Bright Angel Trail

The classic descent from the South Rim toward the Colorado River

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Buddha Temple

A limestone-capped temple butte rising between the rims

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A towering sandstone butte rises above the layered red rock formations of Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Buggeln Hill

A quiet, tree-shaded stop on Desert View Drive

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A sweeping panoramic view of Jupiter Temple and layered red rock formations from Cape Final on the North Rim.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Cape Final

A quiet forest walk to one of the North Rim's best-kept overlooks

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A sweeping panoramic view of Jupiter Temple and layered red rock formations from Cape Final on the North Rim.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Cape Final Trail

A quiet forest walk to one of the North Rim's widest canyon views

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Layered red rock buttes and canyon walls glow in soft morning light at Cape Royal on the North Rim.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Cape Royal

An easy paved walk to one of the North Rim's widest views

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Layered red rock buttes and canyon walls glow in soft morning light at Cape Royal on the North Rim.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Cape Royal Trail

A paved half-mile to one of the North Rim's best canyon views

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Layered red rock canyon walls and a flat-topped butte stretch deep into Grand Canyon National Park under clear blue skies.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Castor Temple

A remote canyon summit named for a Greek twin, rising 3,800 feet above the Colorado.

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Charybdis Butte

A remote inner-canyon formation near the river confluence

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Snow-dusted Cheops Pyramid butte rises from the Grand Canyon's inner canyon in winter light.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Cheops Pyramid

A pyramid-shaped butte glimpsed from the rim, reached by almost no one.

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A vintage black and white photograph of the historic Clear Creek Trail winding through Grand Canyon's rugged inner gorge.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Clear Creek Trail

A remote Tonto Platform traverse to a side canyon below the North Rim.

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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.