Mather Campground Trail

Best Time to Walk It

This is a practical, low-effort trail usable year-round, well suited as an easy leg-stretch on any day of a campground stay.

Trail Tips

• Wide, bike-and-scooter-friendly surface, good for families or anyone wanting an easy leg-stretch — dogs are allowed on leash.
• No canyon views along this particular stretch — it stays back from the rim through forest and open meadow, where elk are commonly seen browsing.
• Treat it as a utility trail rather than a scenic destination; continue on to the paved Rim Trail once you reach the edge for the actual canyon views.

Getting to the Trail

Start from Mather Campground and follow the wide path toward the Grand Canyon Visitor Center; it connects to the Rim Trail about a mile from the campground for those continuing on to canyon views.

What to Expect on Mather Campground Trail

This is the easy, practical connector trail between Mather Campground and the South Rim's main hub — a wide, mostly flat path running roughly 2.3 miles one-way with only about 124 feet of elevation gain, so it's more of a stroll than a hike. It links the campground to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center along the way, tying into the paved Greenway system that South Rim campers use to get around without a car.