About
Length21 mi
ShapePoint-to-Point
DifficultyStrenuous
Elevation gain5,850 ft up
Typical time13 hr 30 min
TrailheadSouth Kaibab or Bright Angel to North Kaibab
SurfaceCorridor trails, full canyon crossing
Best seasonSouth Rim year round; March to May and September to November are best. The North Rim opens mid-May to mid-October.
DogsNot allowed
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌊 River or creek🎒 Backpacking

Twenty-one miles and 5,850 feet of climbing from the South Rim to the North Rim, typically via South Kaibab down and North Kaibab up, with a night at Bright Angel Campground or Phantom Ranch. The two rims are ten miles apart across the canyon and 215 miles apart by road.

Tips
You need either a backcountry permit or a Phantom Ranch reservation, both awarded by lottery months ahead. The North Rim road closes mid-October to mid-May. The park strongly discourages doing it in a single day, and most summer rescues are people who tried.
Location

South Kaibab or Bright Angel to North Kaibab

🎒 What to pack

This trail is set up for backpacking, so it's worth packing for a night out as well as the walk.

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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.