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.

214 listings found

ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Clement Powell Butte

A namesake of Powell's own expedition photographer, rising from the canyon depths

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Cliff Spring seeps beneath a sandstone overhang on the North Rim, feeding a small moss-covered pool along the trail.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Cliff Spring Trail

A short forested walk to a hidden spring off Cape Royal Road

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Cliff Spring seeps beneath a sandstone overhang on the North Rim, feeding a small moss-covered pool along the trail.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Cliff Spring Trailhead

A short, cool descent off Cape Royal Road to a dripping spring tucked beneath a canyon overhang.

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A sweeping view into the Grand Canyon from Coconino Overlook on the North Kaibab Trail, surrounded by pine forest.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Coconino Overlook

A quick descent to a real canyon view, minutes from the North Rim trailhead

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A sweeping aerial view of Grand Canyon's layered red rock walls and vast canyon depths under blue sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Confucius Temple

One of the canyon's Twin Buttes, seen from remote Point Sublime

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A sweeping Grand Canyon panorama from the Boucher Trail reveals layered red rock buttes and the Colorado River far below.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Cope Butte

A fossil hunter's namesake spire above Granite Gorge

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A dramatic Grand Canyon view from the South Rim showing Coronado Butte rising above layered canyon walls and deep shadows.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Coronado Butte

A lone sandstone tower rising from Red Canyon, best seen from Moran Point

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Crystal Creek Route

A trailless canyon route to one of the Colorado River's fiercest rapids

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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Dana Butte

A quiet inner-gorge landmark seen from Hopi and Powell Points

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Deva Temple butte rises dramatically above layered red rock formations deep inside Grand Canyon National Park.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Deva Temple

A mythologically named sandstone butte visible from Bright Angel Point

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Aerial view of Diana Temple butte rising above deeply layered red rock canyon walls at Grand Canyon's South Rim.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Diana Temple

A mythologically named temple butte seen from Mescalero Point on Hermit Road.

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Dragon Head, a flat-topped, forested summit, rises above layered red rock canyon walls in the remote North Rim backcountry.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Dragon Head

A remote limestone summit in the canyon's North Rim backcountry

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A large rock overhang shelters Dripping Springs along the Hermit Trail, with dense vegetation and old stonework at its base.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Dripping Springs Trail

A rocky descent to a perennial spring below the South 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.