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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The muddy Colorado River winds through the steep inner gorge of Grand Canyon National Park.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Mohave Point

Rim-hugging overlooks with a rare clear line down to the Colorado River

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Monument Creek Trail

A cairn-marked descent to a reliable desert stream and the river beyond

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A sweeping panoramic view of Grand Canyon's layered red rock formations under a clear blue sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Monument Creek Vista

A rim-edge look straight down to Granite Rapid and the temples beyond

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The Colorado River winds through the Grand Canyon's layered canyon walls as seen from Moran Point overlook.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Moran Point

Where the canyon shows all three of its rock layers at once

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Aerial view of the Colorado River, Silver Bridge, and Bright Angel Campground deep inside Grand Canyon National Park.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Nature Trail

An easy creekside walk at the bottom of the canyon

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The Colorado River flows past ancient Hakatai Shale canyon walls with dramatic layered red rock formations.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

New Hance Trail

The South Rim's toughest established trail, down John Hance's original route to the river

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The Colorado River flows past ancient Hakatai Shale canyon walls with dramatic layered red rock formations.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

New Hance Trailhead

A rugged, unmaintained rim-to-river route through Red Canyon

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Sweeping aerial view of layered Grand Canyon buttes and rock formations in muted pink and purple tones.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Newberry Butte

A rim-view landmark deep inside the canyon, best seen from Moran Point

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Sweeping Grand Canyon view of Newton Butte's layered red rock formations beneath a dramatic overcast sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Newton Butte

A rim-named formation on the South Rim skyline

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A backpacker with trekking poles descends the North Kaibab Trail past dramatic Grand Canyon cliffs and canyon views.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

North Kaibab Trail

The North Rim's steep, quiet descent into the canyon

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Snow blankets O'Neill Butte and layered canyon walls at Grand Canyon National Park in winter.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

O'Neill Butte

The butte that dominates the South Kaibab skyline

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Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Old Bright Angel Trail

A century-old, unmaintained route into Bright Angel Canyon

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A rocky South Rim overlook reveals sweeping layered canyon walls and deep gorges under a bright blue Arizona sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Ooh Aah Point

The first big canyon view on the South Kaibab Trail

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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.