A historic black-and-white photo of pack mules carrying frame loads along a rocky Grand Canyon trail beneath towering canyon walls.
Day Hike

South Bass Trail

A rugged, historic descent into one of the canyon's quietest corners

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Grand Canyon interior, AZ

About

South Bass Trail drops from the South Rim into one of the quietest corners of the canyon, built in the 1880s by pioneer William Wallace Bass as the spine of his inner-canyon trail network. From the trailhead at 6,650 feet, it's 7.5 miles one-way down to the Colorado River, losing roughly 4,400 feet through the Kaibab, Toroweap, and Coconino formations before switchbacking onto the Esplanade platform atop the Supai. Below that it follows the bed of Bass Canyon down through the Redwall to a junction with the Tonto Trail, then continues to the river.

Know before you go

  • The NPS rates this a difficult, primitive route with no maintained facilities
  • The Colorado River is the only reliable water source on the entire trail; it's often sediment-laden and must be treated
  • Getting to the trailhead is its own undertaking — about 30 miles from Grand Canyon Village via rough Forest Road 328, high-clearance recommended
  • Hikers reaching the river beach can still see the Ross Wheeler, a boat abandoned there in 1915

This is backcountry travel for experienced hikers with canyon route-finding skills, not a casual day outing.

Best Time to Hike South Bass Trail

The Colorado River is the only reliable water source on the entire trail, so cooler shoulder-season months are considerably safer given the length and exposure of this route.

Trail Tips

  • The NPS rates this a difficult, primitive route with no maintained facilities.
  • River water is often sediment-laden and must be treated before drinking.
  • Hikers reaching the river beach can still see the Ross Wheeler, a boat abandoned there in 1915 — a genuine piece of canyon history worth the trip on its own.

Getting to South Bass Trail

Getting to the trailhead is its own undertaking — about 30 miles from Grand Canyon Village via rough Forest Road 328, high-clearance recommended. Below the Esplanade it follows the bed of Bass Canyon down through the Redwall to a junction with the Tonto Trail, then continues to the river.

What to Expect on South Bass Trail

South Bass Trail drops from the South Rim into one of the quietest corners of the canyon, built in the 1880s by pioneer William Wallace Bass as the spine of his inner-canyon trail network. From the trailhead at 6,650 feet, it's 7.5 miles one-way down to the Colorado River, losing roughly 4,400 feet through the Kaibab, Toroweap, and Coconino formations before switchbacking onto the Esplanade platform atop the Supai.

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