Arizona National Scenic Trail

Best Time to Hike Passage 38

Spring and fall offer the most manageable temperatures for a crossing this long and exposed; summer heat on the inner-canyon portion routinely passes 100°F in the shade, and the park advises against hiking through the hottest part of the day. The North Rim closes seasonally, so a full rim-to-rim crossing is only possible while North Kaibab Trail access and North Rim facilities are open.

Trail Tips for Passage 38

• Overnight camping below the rim requires an advance backcountry permit through recreation.gov — day-hike sections don't need one, but this passage is long enough that most hikers camp along the way.
• The North Kaibab Trail is open for foot travel from the trailhead to Phantom Ranch, though expect intermittent delays from ongoing Dragon Bravo Fire repair work.
• The section between Redwall Bridge and Cottonwood Campground is scheduled to close October 15, 2026 for waterline work, which will interrupt rim-to-rim travel — check current trail status before you commit to a crossing date.

Getting to Passage 38

Start from the South Kaibab Trailhead on the South Rim (reached via the free park shuttle, since roadside parking isn't available there) and finish at the North Kaibab Trailhead on the North Rim. Because this is a point-to-point crossing rather than a loop, most hikers need to arrange transportation back to their starting rim.

What to Expect on the Arizona National Scenic Trail (Passage 38)

The Arizona National Scenic Trail runs 800 miles from Mexico to Utah, and Passage 38, its crossing of Grand Canyon National Park, is the trail's signature stretch. The route follows the South Kaibab Trail down from the South Rim, drops more than 4,000 feet in the first six miles alone, and continues to the Colorado River before climbing out via the North Kaibab Trail to roughly 8,000 feet at the North Rim. The full passage covers about 20.7 miles and is rated difficult, with Phantom Ranch on the canyon floor and Cottonwood Campground on the north side serving as the main waypoints. A side trail near Cottonwood leads to Ribbon Falls.