The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center building surrounded by ponderosa pines near the Grand Canyon North Rim in Arizona.
Points of Interest

Kaibab National Forest

Scenic wooded area with 300+ miles of trails, plus activities such as camping, boating & fishing.

(9,234)
Grand Canyon Village, AZ

About

Kaibab National Forest wraps around Grand Canyon Village on both sides of the rim, and it's the reason the drive in doesn't feel like a straight shot through empty desert — ponderosa pines, open meadows, and 300-plus miles of forest roads and trails stretch out before you ever reach the entrance station. With a 4.7-star rating from over 9,200 reviews, it's one of the more quietly loved corners of the region, popular with visitors looking to get away from the canyon's crowds without leaving the area.

What to expect

Reviewers consistently point to the wide-open views, easy-to-navigate forest roads, and wildlife — elk, wild horses, and deer show up often in trip reports. The higher elevation keeps temperatures noticeably cooler than the desert floor, and the mix of pines and open meadow makes it a good spot for hiking, camping, or simply pulling off to stretch your legs between canyon overlooks. Several reviewers mention free dispersed camping scattered throughout the forest.

  • Location: surrounds Grand Canyon Village, AZ
  • Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (closed weekends)
  • Good for: hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, scenic driving

It's not a single attraction so much as the working forest that the South Rim sits inside — worth building into a trip if you want quieter trails and campsites without straying far from the canyon itself.

Reviews (9,234)

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4.7

9,234 reviews

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Liz Hicks
Liz Hicks

in the last week

Beautiful! Worth a visit, especially if you're visiting the Grand Canyon.

Ally McPherson
Ally McPherson

in the last week

Great experience here with my guy . We love coming here to explore nature and see all of God’s Beauty 😇 Have a blessed day 😇!!

John 117
John 117

in the last week

Visitors rave about the incredible flexibility and scenic charm of Kaibab National Forest. Campers love the abundant, spacious, and flat dispersed camping spots located just off the highway, which provide amazing privacy nestled among the junipers and large pine forests. Many note that it serves as an excellent, peaceful, and uncrowded alternative or gateway to the Grand Canyon, offering great cell service for boondocking and a rich variety of scenic drives and trails for mountain biking and hiking. The cooler forest temperatures and beautiful views make it a highly praised hidden gem for those looking to escape the heavier crowds at the national park rims. On the flip side, visitors have highlighted several individual frustrations and challenges when exploring the area. Many complain about the extremely bumpy and rocky access roads that require careful navigation and can make driving difficult for standard vehicles. Campers at developed sites frequently point out strong, unpleasant odors coming from the vault toilets and find the occasional loud traffic noise from nearby highways and trains disruptive to the peaceful atmosphere. Others mention the presence of strict seasonal fire restrictions that limit traditional campfire experiences, the constant underlying need to stay hyper-vigilant and "bear aware" regarding food storage, and the moderate risk of encountering invasive plant overgrowth or dried-out terrain during periods of drought.

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