Discover the Best Grand Canyon Hiking Trails & Guided Hikes
Experience the Grand Canyon's unparalleled natural beauty and immense scale by foot. While known for some of North America's most challenging hiking and backpacking trails, the rewards for those prepared are truly unforgettable. Navigate steep trails, intense desert heat, and rapidly changing weather for a unique Inner Canyon adventure.
Approximately two dozen established Grand Canyon hiking trails offer access to remarkable destinations, descending from the North or South Rim a vertical mile to the canyon's floor. Day hikers do not need a permit, but a backcountry permit is required for all overnight camping below the Rim. Learn more about Grand Canyon backpacking permit requirements here.
Popular Grand Canyon Hiking Trails: South & North Rims
South Rim Day Hikes & Backpacking Trails
- Rim Trail: Easy Grand Canyon walk with quiet inner canyon views. Accessible from Grand Canyon Village or Hermit Road. Extends from Mather Point to Hermits Rest. Great for sunrise/sunset strolls.
- Bright Angel Trail: Well-maintained switchbacks to Indian Garden Campground & Inner Gorge. Connects to Phantom Ranch. Best day hike for newcomers (partial descent recommended). 19 miles roundtrip, 4,400 ft descent. Water available seasonally at 1.5-mile and 3-mile rest houses.
- South Kaibab Trail: Steep ridge-line trail with stunning views. 12.6 miles roundtrip, 5,000 ft descent. No water on trail—carry plenty. Popular viewpoints: Ooh Aah Point (0.9 mi), Cedar Ridge (1.5 mi), Skeleton Point (3 mi).
- Grandview Trail: Strenuous, unmaintained trail to Horseshoe Mesa. 6 miles roundtrip. Very steep with loose footing—use caution.
- Hermit Trail: Very strenuous, partially unmaintained trail to Colorado River. 17 miles roundtrip. Explore Santa Maria Spring and Hermit Gorge. Water unreliable.
North Rim Hiking Trails
- Widforss Trail: Easy trail with panoramic views. 10 miles roundtrip. Good for wildlife spotting.
- Ken Patrick Trail: Forest hike with Nankoweap Creek views. 19.8 miles roundtrip. Very remote.
- Uncle Jim Trail: 5 miles roundtrip. Views of Roaring Springs Canyon and the North Kaibab Trail. Suitable for families.
- North Kaibab Trail: The only maintained trail into the Inner Canyon from the North Rim. Day hike to Roaring Springs (9.4 mi roundtrip) or Ribbon Falls. Full descent to Phantom Ranch is 14 miles one-way.
Guided Grand Canyon Hiking Trips
Outdoor enthusiasts may want to hook up with a professional backpacking guide to lead them on a multi-night hiking trip down into the Grand Canyon. The benefit of doing a backpacking trip with a pro is that all of the equipment, meal planning and logistics are taken care of for you. If you're doing a rim-to-rim trip, the guides will arrange one-way transportation back to your starting point, and professionals also manage the entire backcountry permit process. Listed below are a number of commercial guiding companies that can be hired for backpacking or day hiking.
For another kind of guided backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon, consider joining an educational outing with the Grand Canyon Association's field seminar program, the Grand Canyon Field Institute (grandcanyon.org).
Best Day Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park
For first-time hikers, a partial descent of the Bright Angel Trail is recommended. Full rim-to-river hikes in one day are not advised. Turnaround at 1.5-mile or 3-mile Resthouse. Always plan your ascent to take twice as long as your descent.
South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge and back is also a scenic option. On the North Rim, day hikes along the North Kaibab Trail to Coconino Overlook or Supai Tunnel offer excellent rewards.
Grand Canyon Backpacking Destinations
- Bright Angel Campground: At the bottom of the canyon. Access via South Kaibab or Bright Angel Trail. Reservations required. Near Phantom Ranch.
- Indian Garden Campground: Now called Havasupai Gardens. 4.8 miles down Bright Angel Trail. Offers water, compost toilets, and shade.
- Hermit & Grandview Trails: Remote, challenging destinations for experienced backpackers.
- Havasu Canyon: Located in the western Grand Canyon, features stunning waterfalls like Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Requires separate permits from the Havasupai Tribe.
Grand Canyon Backpacking Packing List
Pack light yet adequately. Backpack weight should not exceed 35–40 lbs. Key items include:
- 2–4 liters of water + purification system
- High-calorie salty snacks
- Map + compass/GPS
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Sturdy boots and trekking poles
- First aid kit and emergency blanket
- Sun protection: hat, glasses, SPF
- Rain gear + warm layers
- Permit if overnighting
Training & Safety Tips for Grand Canyon Hiking
- Begin cardio and strength training at least 6 months in advance
- Train with a weighted backpack
- Test gear on local hikes before arriving
- Break in your hiking boots
- Start early to avoid midday heat
- Rim temps may be 30–40°F cooler than canyon floor
Every year, over 250 people are rescued in the Grand Canyon due to overexertion and heat-related illness. Plan accordingly, monitor the weather, and know your limits.
Leave No Trace in the Grand Canyon
The canyon’s desert ecosystem is extremely fragile. Stay on designated trails, pack out all waste, and avoid stepping on cryptobiotic soil. Learn more at lnt.org.
Permits & Additional Resources
- Backcountry Permits: Required for all overnight camping below the rim. Apply 4 months in advance through the NPS Backcountry Office.
- Phantom Ranch: Lodging and meal options at the bottom of the canyon. Requires lottery-based reservation system.
- Weather Updates: Check daily forecasts for the South Rim and Inner Canyon. Flash flooding is a risk in monsoon season (July–September).
- Maps & Guidebooks: Purchase the Official Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon at grandcanyon.org.
THE SOUTH RIM
RIM TRAIL
Begin from any viewpoint in the Grand Canyon Village or along Hermit Road. The Rim Trail extends from Mather Point in the Village west to Hermits Rest. It offers excellent walking for quiet views of the inner canyon and for visitors who desire an easy hike.
BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL
The trail begins just west of Bright Angel Lodge. It is well-maintained and follows switchbacks to the Indian Garden Campground and Inner Gorge. After Indian Garden, the trail heads east along the river to the Bright Angel Suspension Bridge and on to Phantom Ranch. The roundtrip length of the Bright Angel Trail is 19 miles and descends 4,400 feet. Leave No Trace
SOUTH KAIBAB TRAIL
This trail begins south of Yaki Point on Yaki Point Road. It is 12.6 miles roundtrip and is steep, dropping 5,000 feet in 6.3 miles. The trail follows ridge lines rather than side canyons. It goes to the Inner Gorge where it meets with the Kaibab Suspension Bridge on the way to Phantom Ranch.
GRANDVIEW TRAIL
Caution is required as this trail is unmaintained, steep, and very strenuous. It begins at Grandview Point on Desert View Drive 12 miles east of Grand Canyon Village. The 6 mile roundtrip trail descends to Horseshoe Mesa.
HERMIT TRAIL
Hermit Trail begins 500 feet west of Hermits Rest which is 8 miles west of Grand Canyon Village. It is unmaintained, steep, and very strenuous. The 17 mile roundtrip leads from the canyon rim to the Colorado River. Sights include Hermit Gorge, The Supai Formation, Santa Maria Spring, and the Redwall Formation.
THE NORTH RIM
WIDFORSS TRAIL
The trail can be reach by leaving Grand Canyon Lodge and going 2.7 miles north on the highway, then turn left one mile on a dirt road; the turnoff is 0.3 mile south of the Cape Royal turnoff. This is a relatively easy hike with great canyon views. It skirts the head of Transept Canyon and across a plateau with ponderosa pine to an overlook near Widforss Point. Below the trail's end is Haunted Canyon flanked by the Colorado River on the right and Many Temple and Budda Temple on the left. The trail is 10 miles roundtrip and is frequented by mule deer.
KEN PATRICK TRAIL
The 19.8 roundtrip trail starts at Point Imperial and goes along the rim to Cape Royal Road. Then it continues through forest to the North Kaibab trailhead. Great hiking through the forest with views across the headwaters of Nankoweap Creek.
UNCLE JIM TRAIL
The first mile of the trail is along the Ken Patrick Trail and then breaks off to Uncle Jim Point. It is 5 miles roundtrip and has views of Roaring Springs Canyon and North Kaibab Trail.
For further reading you may want to purchase the Official Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon which features all the Grand Canyon trails as well as giving tips on packing, permitting, and safety. This book is published by the Grand Canyon Association (GCA) and can be purchased online at grandcanyon.org.
INSIDE THE NATIONAL PARK
For first-time backpackers in Grand Canyon National Park the most popular itinerary is to spend a few nights at either Bright Angel or Indian Garden Campground. The Bright Angel Campground can be accessed by either the Bright Angel or the South Kaibab Trail (off the South Rim); Indian Garden by the Bright Angel Trail. A backcountry permit is required; apply up to four months in advance of your trip in writing. See our Grand Canyon Camping Guide for more details.
Both campgrounds have restrooms, treated drinking water, established campsites, individual food storage canisters (to thwart the critters), and are frequently staffed by helpful park rangers. Packing correctly will make or break your experience. For a list of backpacking gear, see the Packing List tab.
Once you've mastered the "easier" trails in Grand Canyon you can graduate to the next tier of more remote trails in the Hermit and Grandview Trails (South Rim). Also popular is Havasu Canyon including the waterfalls at Havasupai and Mooney Falls.
IN THE WESTERN RIM: HAVASUPAI
Havasu Canyon, home to the Havasupai Indians, is a paradise located in western Grand Canyon known worldwide for its towering waterfalls and beautifully sculpted rock. In this idyllic setting of lush side canyons and sun-splashed cliffs, a perennial desert stream tumbles over a series of five waterfalls on its journey to the Colorado River on the floor of the Grand Canyon.
Fee-based camping is offered year round. In addition to backpackers, visitors arrive by helicopter and horseback, some staying in the tribe's rustic lodge. Camping in Havasu Canyon requires a permit and reservations that can be obtained directly from the tribe. Learn more about Havasupai here, including tips on how to get there, trail descriptions, fees, how to make reservations and more.
GRAND CANYON TRIPS THAT INCLUDE GUIDED HIKES
Colorado River & Trail Expeditions Grand Canyon Rafting
Multi-Day Tours | Combination Tour | Leaves from Las Vegas | Motorized-Oar-Paddle-Options | Additional Tours Available | Meals Included | Additional Tours Available | Family Business
Advantage Grand Canyon
Multi-Attraction Tours | Multi-Day Tours | Combination Tour | Leaves from Las Vegas | Leaves from Flagstaff | Professionally Guided | Popular Hikes
Wildland Trekking
Popular Hikes | Professionally Guided | Popular Hikes | Leaves from Flagstaff | Leaves from Grand Canyon/Tusayan
Western River Expeditions
Leaves from Las Vegas | Professionally Guided | Popular Hikes | Family-Friendly
Private Grand Canyon Hiking Tours
Professionally Guided | Lunch Provided | Hotel Pickup
Grand Canyon Expeditions
Leaves from Las Vegas | Multi-Day Tours | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Popular Hikes
Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour from Las Vegas with Optional Upgrades
Leaves from Las Vegas | Optional River Tour | Optional Air Tour | Optional Skywalk Tour | Professionally Guided | Hotel Pickup | Lunch Provided
Grand Canyon Hike & Sightseeing Tour
Enjoy a great tour with a knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic guide who loves what they do. We provide door-to-door service from your stay place with everything you need to have a great time. Grab your camera and leave the lunch, snacks, beverages, hiking equipment, and driving to us! … More
Enjoy a great tour with a knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic guide who loves what they do. We provide door-to-door service from your stay place with everything you need to have a great time. Grab your camera and leave the lunch, snacks, beverages, hiking equipment, and driving to us! We pick up in the following towns: Flagstaff, Williams, Tusayan, and Grand Canyon.
Currently, the Park Service is not allowing us to mix groups due to COVID-19 safety procedures, so we are unable to provide this tour for less than 4 people. If you have a smaller group, please reach out to our company directly to discuss other options. By far our most popular hiking tour, this hike and sightseeing tour offers guests varying views of the Canyon, from the inside out. This tour is for guests who want to enjoy an excellent tour of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, but also spend some time below the Rim.
Popular Hikes | Lunch Provided | Hotel Pickup | Professionally Guided | Gear Provided
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