South Kaibab Trailhead
Where the South Kaibab Trail drops off the rim onto open ridge views
About
South Kaibab Trailhead sits on the South Rim near Yaki Point, and you can't drive to it — the road is closed to private vehicles, so the only ways in are the free park shuttle (Kaibab/Orange Route, about nine minutes from the Visitor Center), on foot, or by bike. There's no parking lot to speak of, which keeps the trailhead quieter than Bright Angel's.
From here the South Kaibab Trail drops off the rim fast, switchbacking down through a section hikers call "the chimney" before opening onto a ridge with 360-degree canyon views rare for a below-the-rim trail. Ooh Aah Point is a 1.8-mile round trip with about 790 feet of elevation change; Cedar Ridge is 3 miles round trip (1,120 feet); Skeleton Point, the recommended turnaround for a long day hike, is 6 miles round trip with roughly 2,040 feet of elevation change. Beyond that it's another steep 7.5 miles one-way to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch.
Know before you go
- No water anywhere on this trail — carry everything you'll drink
- Steep, narrow, and exposed with essentially no shade
- Reach the trailhead by shuttle, foot, or bike only
Best Time to Hike From Here
Steep, narrow, and exposed with essentially no shade — start early regardless of season, and be especially cautious in summer heat.
Trail Tips
- Ooh Aah Point is a 1.8-mile round trip with about 790 feet of elevation change; Cedar Ridge is 3 miles round trip (1,120 feet); Skeleton Point, the recommended turnaround for a long day hike, is 6 miles round trip with roughly 2,040 feet of elevation change.
- No water anywhere on this trail — carry everything you'll drink.
- Beyond Skeleton Point it's another steep 7.5 miles one-way to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch, not a single-day undertaking.
Getting to South Kaibab Trailhead
Reach it by the free park shuttle (Kaibab/Orange Route, about nine minutes from the Visitor Center), on foot, or by bike — no private vehicle access.
What to Expect at South Kaibab Trailhead
South Kaibab Trailhead sits on the South Rim near Yaki Point, and you can't drive to it — the road is closed to private vehicles, so the only ways in are the free park shuttle, on foot, or by bike. There's no parking lot to speak of, which keeps the trailhead quieter than Bright Angel's. From here the trail drops off the rim fast, switchbacking down through a section hikers call "the chimney" before opening onto a ridge with 360-degree canyon views rare for a below-the-rim trail.
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