Arizona Trail

Best Time for Passage 39

The plateau's elevation above 8,000 feet keeps temperatures cooler than the inner canyon, though snow is possible into early summer — factor that into early-season plans. North Rim facilities close seasonally, mid-October through mid-May, which bounds the realistic hiking window.

Trail Tips for Passage 39

• Water sources on the plateau are scarce and unreliable; treat anything you find before drinking it.
• The trail reopened following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, but expect possible temporary closures or delays where crews are still repairing burned sections.
• Carry layers even in summer — the elevation here runs meaningfully cooler than South Rim or inner-canyon conditions.

Getting to Passage 39

Access the southern end at the North Kaibab Trailhead near Grand Canyon Lodge; the northern end meets the Kaibab National Forest boundary, well beyond the park itself. Because it's a point-to-point route linking park and forest land, most hikers treat it as one leg of a longer Arizona Trail itinerary rather than an isolated day trip.

What to Expect on the Arizona Trail (Passage 39)

The Arizona Trail runs 800 miles from Mexico to Utah, and Passage 39 crosses the Kaibab Plateau on the North Rim, between the North Kaibab Trailhead and the national forest boundary — about 12 miles rated easy to moderate. The route mixes dirt road and singletrack through mixed conifer forest of aspen, spruce, fir, and pine, across rolling, meadow-dotted terrain that stays above 8,000 feet. This is a through-hiker's trail more than a there-and-back day hike: solitude and forest, not canyon overlooks, are the draw.