Clear Creek Trail

Best Time to Hike Clear Creek Trail

There is no reliable water between Phantom Ranch and Clear Creek, and the south-facing stretch sits in full sun sunrise to sunset — the NPS recommends hiking it in the extremely early morning or evening during hot months, roughly mid-April through September. Cheyava Falls only runs after a good snowmelt, usually in spring, and can be dry in low-snow years.

Trail Tips for Clear Creek Trail

• A backcountry permit is required; Clear Creek is heavily used in spring and fall, and permits can be hard to get.
• Carry every drop of water you'll need for the full stretch between Phantom Ranch and Clear Creek.
• This is a multi-day backcountry trip built around an already-completed rim-to-river descent, not a standalone day hike.

Getting to Clear Creek Trail

Start from Phantom Ranch, itself reached only by a full rim-to-river descent via the Bright Angel or South Kaibab Trail. From a camp at Clear Creek, a further 5-mile creek-bed hike with multiple crossings leads to Cheyava Falls, the park's tallest waterfall at nearly 800 feet.

What to Expect on Clear Creek Trail

Clear Creek Trail runs about 8.7 miles one-way from Phantom Ranch, on the Colorado River, out to Clear Creek in a side canyon below the North Rim. The route climbs through switchbacks past Phantom Overlook, crosses the base of the Tapeats cliffs at the Great Unconformity — a gap in the rock record spanning more than a billion years — then contours for miles across the Tonto Platform before dropping into Clear Creek's drainage. It's the only trail on the north side of the river that traverses the Tonto Platform.