Grandview Trailhead (Northernmost)

Best Time to Start Down

An early arrival matters as much for the trail as for parking — starting before the lot fills also means starting before the day's heat builds on the exposed upper switchbacks.

Trail Tips

• Coconino Saddle is 2.2 miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of elevation change; continuing to Horseshoe Mesa makes it 6 miles round trip with roughly 2,500 feet.
• The trail is rated for experienced desert hikers only, with big steps, exposed pitches, and rockier footing than the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trails.
• No reliable drinking water exists anywhere along the route to Horseshoe Mesa; overnight camping there requires a backcountry permit.

Getting to This Trailhead

The parking lot is not served by park shuttles and fills before 9am in peak season, so plan on driving yourself and arriving early — this is the northernmost access point at Grandview Point, distinct from other pullouts along the same overlook.

What to Expect at Grandview Trailhead (Northernmost)

This trailhead sits at the north end of the Grandview Point parking area on Desert View Drive, about 12 miles east of Grand Canyon Village. From here the unpaved Grandview Trail drops steeply below the rim toward Horseshoe Mesa, following a route first built by miners in 1893 to haul copper ore up from Last Chance Mine. Stretches of the original cobblestone paving and log "cribbing" anchoring the trail to the cliff face are still visible along the way.