Stretching 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and roughly 6,000 ft deep is one of the world’s most iconic and beautiful tour destinations- the Grand Canyon. This natural wonder is layered with red rock revealing over several million years of geological history. The Grand Canyon is now known as one of America's premier National Parks with over 5-million tourists annually. I can confidently say that pictures don’t do the canyon justice in scale, color and overall natural beauty.
The Grand Canyon is divided by the Colorado river leaving you with the main North and South Rims. We decided to spend our time in the South Rim for its expansive views, visitor services, and simply because it was more easily accessible.
Summer months of June - August is peak season for the park. Booking your lodging far in advance is recommended because it tends to fill up quick and whatever is left is usually more expensive. The South Rim is open year-round, meaning that spring and fall are often considered the best times to visit. This is the ideal time to go since the weather is much cooler and there are fewer crowds. The North Rim is only open from mid-May to mid-October, as the roads are less accessible through the winter months.
The Full Trail: 7.1miles/11.8km
Day Versions:
Ooh Aah Point: 1.8 miles/2.9km roundtrip (760ft/230m below the rim)
Cedar Ridge: 3 miles/4.8km roundtrip (1,120ft/340m below the rim) - Park doesn't recommended to go beyond here in Summer
Skeleton Point: 6 miles/9.6km roundtrip (2,040ft/620m below the rim) - Park doesn't recommended to go beyond here any time of year
Highest Point: 7,200ft/2,200m
Elevation Change: 4,780ft/1,460m
Difficulty: Hard
Starting Point: Access to trailhead is by shuttle bus only, no private vehicles allowed. Trail begins south of Yaki Point.
Water: No water provided on trail
The South Kaibab Trail is one of the more popular trails on the South Rim. It offers beautiful panoramic views and well-maintained paths. This trail has many switchbacks giving you a variety of views of the canyon. The trail starts off with many steep switchbacks and in just under a mile leads you to Ooh-Ahh Point. This point offers spectacular views and is a great place to stop and take pictures. Many people turn around at this point making it a 1.8mi roundtrip hike, which is perfect for anyone looking for just a taste of a hike. We started a little before 8 am and only encountered a handful of other hikers. I highly recommend the earlier the better that way you can beat the heat in the summer months and the trails are much less crowded.
Moving down the trail from Ooh-Aah Point, you will hit Cedar Ridge which is roughly 1.5mi from the trailhead. This point is a great place to explore, relax, snack and use the restroom. This is also a good time to turn around if you’re just looking for a relatively casual hike.
Beyond this point the trail gets a bit narrower and much steeper. The steepness of the trail can be misleading on the way down and plan for doubling your time while hiking back up. If you plan on continuing on to Skeleton Point, it’s extremely crucial that you bring enough water since there is no water on the trail and very little shade. It’s not recommended to go beyond Cedar Ridge in the summer months, so know your hiking abilities and plan accordingly. Skeleton Point is another 1.5mi downward which offers you more views of the canyon. As a relatively in-shape/beginner hiker, I found hiking back up from Skeleton Point to be pretty strenuous, but it was the right amount of challenge I wanted from a day hike. Definitely recommend this trail if you’re looking for a mild challenge with extraordinary views.
Full trail: 9.9 mile/15.9km
1.5 mile rest-house: 3 mile roundtrip
3 mile rest-house: 6 mile roundtrip
Indian Garden: 9.4 mile roundtrip - Park doesn't recommended to go beyond Indian Garden on a day hike
Water: Seasonal (May - September)
The Bright Angel Trail is without a doubt the most popular trail on the South Rim. Another steep trail offering dramatic views of the inner canyon, enclosed by enormous cliffs along with luscious plant and animal life. The views are undoubtedly stunning; however, you’ll mainly have one view and won’t see the different sides of the canyon like on the South Kaibab.
As you start trekking down, you’ll notice the endless series of switchbacks and few arches offering shade. I would definitely recommend utilizing the water sources and rest-houses for a bit of shade and rest. Being a mix that it was the day after our hike on the South Kaibab Trail and the 95-degree weather, we opted to head back at the 3 mile rest-house making it a 6mi roundtrip hike, and it was honestly more than enough for me. However, those of you more experienced hikers should continue on about another 1.6mi to the luscious Indian Garden where you’ll be greeted with plentiful greens and wildlife. It isn’t recommended to go beyond Indian Garden on a day hike unless you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation at Phantom Ranch. Again, know your hiking abilities, plan on doubling your time heading back up and utilize the water sources. Compared to the South Kaibab Trail, this trail had many more switchbacks which camouflages the steepness of the trail unlike the South Kaibab.
Distance: roughly 13 miles/21km one way - but you can hop on a shuttle bus at any point
Water: Seasonal
The Rim Trail is a mostly flat, well-defined, paved trail that stretches just over 13 miles along the rim of the Grand Canyon. There are over a dozen shuttle-bus stops along the trail giving you options if you’re only looking to hike parts of the trail. Distances between the stops vary from 0.3-1.7mi. This trail is a great option for those who are seeking an easy hike with very minimal elevation change. We assumed that after hiking the South Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail that this would be the smartest trail to end with- and we were so right. The trail offers various jaw-dropping panoramic views with several points that aren’t gated which allows you to explore the undisturbed views. Our favorite viewpoints were the Hopi and Powell lookouts. Hopi is most famous for its sunrise and sunset view being the highest point, but all offer unique views. Though this trail offered many beautiful views, it definitely wasn’t as thrilling as the South Kaibab or Bright Angel Trail.
The park entrance fee will be $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle, for a seven-day pass
A Grand Canyon annual park pass will cost $70
An annual America the Beautiful pass is $80, which provides access to National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands
BRING WATER
Bring plenty of salty snacks (trail-mix, chocolate or dried fruit) to keep you going on those trails.
Plan your trip several months in advance and do your research.
Day use does not require a permit. Only backcountry backpacking requires a permit.
Stay at least 3 days. There are so many things to explore so take your time!
Start on the trails as early as you possibly can. Less crowds, cooler temperatures and amazing sunrises.
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