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

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

Osiris Temple

A temple-shaped butte named for an Egyptian god, framed from the Hermit Trail

(0)
Sweeping panoramic view of Oza Butte and layered red rock canyon walls from Bright Angel Point on the North Rim.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Oza Butte

A narrow sandstone tower across the Transept from Widforss Point

(0)
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Page Spring

A shaded spring off the Grandview Trail, near the old Last Chance Mine on Horseshoe Mesa

(0)
A sweeping view into the Grand Canyon from Coconino Overlook on the North Kaibab Trail, surrounded by pine forest.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Path to Overlook

A short, steep drop to a big view over Roaring Springs Canyon

(0)
Layered red rock buttes and canyon walls stretch deep into Grand Canyon National Park under a clear blue sky.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Pattie Butte

A scrambler's summit hidden below the South Rim

(0)
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Phantom Overlook

A quick climb above Phantom Ranch to a 1930s stone perch with canyon views in every direction.

(0)
A full double rainbow arches dramatically over the Grand Canyon's layered red rock formations from Pima Point.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Pima Point

A wide, quiet overlook at the far end of Hermit Road

(0)
A historic stone masonry resthouse along Bright Angel Trail nestled against rugged Grand Canyon rock walls.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Pipe Creek Beach Trail

The river's edge at the bottom of the Bright Angel Trail.

(0)
Sweeping panoramic view of layered red rock formations and canyon depths at Pipe Creek Vista, Grand Canyon National Park.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Pipecreek Vista

A quiet first stop on Desert View Drive with condor thermals and canyon-wall forest below.

(0)
A narrow dirt hiking trail winds through desert scrub toward towering red rock buttes deep inside Grand Canyon National Park.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Plateau Point

A long day's hike to a flat perch above the Colorado River

(0)
A narrow dirt hiking trail winds through desert scrub toward towering red rock buttes deep inside Grand Canyon National Park.
Day HikeGrand Canyon interior

Plateau Point Trail

A hard-earned river view from the floor of the canyon

(0)
A historic black-and-white photo of a mule pack train breaking camp on the North Rim's Point Sublime.
ViewpointGrand Canyon interior

Point Sublime

A two-hour dirt-road drive to one of the North Rim's widest-open views

(0)
A historic black-and-white photo of a mule pack train breaking camp on the North Rim's Point Sublime.
Day HikeGrand Canyon North Rim

Point Sublime Trail

The canyon view you earn by driving for it.

(0)

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.