ViewpointGrand Canyon interior
Dunn Butte
A quiet inner-canyon butte in the shadow of Angels Gate and Wotans Throne
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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
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
El Tovar Access Path
The short climb from the depot to the rim at El Tovar
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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior
Eremita Mesa
An off-trail plateau in the canyon's wild western backcountry
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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
Escalante Route
A rugged, unmaintained river route through the eastern canyon's oldest rock
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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior
Evans Butte
A remote inner-canyon summit named for the surveyor who mapped it.
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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
Francois Matthes Trail
A little-used North Rim plateau walk to quiet canyon views
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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior
Freya Castle
A mythologically named butte rising above Unkar Valley, seen from Cape Royal
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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior
Geikie Peak
A Redwall summit ringed by the Tonto Trail, deep in the inner canyon
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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
Grand Canyon Village Greenway
The paved path that ties Grand Canyon Village together
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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
Grand Canyon Visitor Center Loop
An easy paved rim walk from the Visitor Center to the Village
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ViewpointGrand Canyon interior
Grandeur Point
A quiet bend in the Rim Trail with one of the South Rim's best uncrowded views
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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
Grandview Trail
A rugged 1890s miner's path plunging off the South Rim
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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior
Grandview Trailhead
A historic mining trail into the canyon, steep from the first step
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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.