Hike below the rim of the Grand Canyon

What it's like

"There are no easy trails into or out of the Grand Canyon," the National Park Service says. A day hike from the South Rim starts downhill, which feels easy, and ends with a long climb in the heat of the day. The Park Service tells hikers to plan for at least twice as long coming back up as going down.

The two main trails from the South Rim are the Bright Angel Trail, which starts just west of Bright Angel Lodge at 6,860 feet (2,093 metres), and the South Kaibab Trail, which starts south of Yaki Point at 7,260 feet (2,213 metres) and is reached by the park shuttle bus. More than 300 people are rescued from the canyon every year, so the most important choice is where you will turn round.

Where to turn round

The Park Service calls the South Kaibab the best views for a relatively short hike, but it is steep, with no water and little shade. It asks you to check with a ranger before trying Havasupai Gardens as a day hike, and says places below it are not recommended day hikes. Do not try to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day. On the North Rim, the North Kaibab Trail to Roaring Springs is 9.4 miles (15 km) there and back, 3,050 feet (930 metres) down, and takes seven to eight hours; start before 7 a.m.

Heat, water and food

In summer the temperature in the shade below the rim often passes 100°F (38°C), and the Park Service advises against hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Spring and autumn are kinder; the upper parts of both trails can be icy from late autumn to early spring, when over-the-shoe traction devices are strongly recommended.

Water on the Bright Angel Trail is seasonal at the two resthouses and year-round at Havasupai Gardens, but pipeline breaks turn it off; in September 2026 all three were off. Carry all the water you need and check at the Visitor Center or Backcountry Information Center before you go. Too little water can lead to heat stroke, and drinking a lot of water without enough salt can cause hyponatremia, a dangerous drop in the body's salt, so eat salty snacks as you go. The Park Service says hikers can burn about twice their usual exercise calories on a summer canyon hike.

On the trail

• Mules use the trails. Step off on the uphill side, away from the edge, stay quiet and still, follow the wranglers' instructions, and wait until the last mule is 50 feet (15 metres) past.
• From July to September, monsoon lightning storms build quickly; take shelter at once.
• Tell someone your plan and when you expect to be back, and ask them to call 911 if you are overdue.
• The Park Service's list of what to carry includes a sun hat, sunscreen, water and a way to treat it, salty snacks, a trail map, a torch, a whistle, a first aid kit, an emergency blanket, a jacket and a phone.