Get Physically Ready for Your Hike
The Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike is Physically Challenging
Even though the route is easy to find and in good shape, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a physically demanding hike, not only because of the extreme change in elevation but because of the extreme changes in temperature from rim to the inner canyon.
The temperature at the bottom of the Grand Canyon can be as much as 30 degrees different from the rim, so it is normal to shed from a jacket and long pants at the North Rim to shorts and a t-shirt as you near the bottom. This temperature swing can be dangerous from the end of May to the middle of September when the temperatures at the bottom exceed 100 F degrees in the shade.
The Ideal Months for a Rim-to-Rim Hike
This hike can be completed in the summer months, but it is best to split the trip up to 4 days so that all hiking from campground to campground can be completed by 10 am each day. The ideal times to go are from May 15th to the end of May and from mid September to October 15th. The access road is closed from late fall to May 15th each year due to heavy snowfall on the North Rim. (Snow in Arizona!)
Rim-to-Rim Hike: How to Get from One Side to the Other
One of big logistic issues is the shuttling from one end to the other. Some points to remember:
- The Trans Canyon Shuttle takes hikers from Bright Angel Lodge at Grand Canyon Village to the North Rim Lodge from May 15th to October 15th. If you don’t have two cars to work with, this is about the only way to work out this wrinkle.
- Be aware that the Grand Canyon is huge and the drive from the South Rim to the North Rim takes four hours. Because of the drive times it is best to plan to stay on the North Rim the night before starting out.
- If you can’t find rooms available at the North Rim Lodge, try Kaibab Lodge which is just about 10 minutes away from the park entrance.
- There is also a campground within the park that is actually closer to your starting point at the North Kaibab trailhead.
Hiking the North Kaibab Trail to the Cottonwood Campground
From the North Kaibab trail head, the trail drops 4,200 feet in seven miles before reaching Cottonwood Campground. On the way down to Cottonwood, the scenery changes dramatically from a shady forest of pine, oak and maple trees, to a high desert landscape of agave and shrub oak. If you are lucky you may spot the fuzzy eared Kaibab squirrel or a Stellar’s Jay.
The trail winds its way along Roaring Springs and past the raging waterfall of the springs before turning south into Bright Angel Canyon before reaching Cottonwood Campground. Cottonwood, and all of the campgrounds along the route, is civilized by backpacking standards. All sites are numbered, have a picnic table for seating and food storage boxes.
The campgrounds have treated drinking water, toilet facilities, information boards and ranger stations. Bright Angel Campground even has flush toilets, sinks and air dryers in its restrooms! If you have the opportunity, check out the Information Centers or listen to a ranger talk at Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds.
Onward to Bright Angel
From Cottonwood Campground, the North Kaibab trail heads south for 7 more miles before it reaches Bright Angel Campground. The trail closely follows the Bright Angel Creek as it carves its way through rocks that are over 1.5 billion years old.
This section of trail drops only 1,400 feet over 7 miles, so it doesn’t feel like you are dropping deeper into the canyon at all. Along the way, the trail passes by Ribbon Falls. This 100-foot tall waterfall is tucked away in a side canyon not far from the trail so it is an easy must do side hike. This section of trail looks like the true desert of the southwest that everyone pictures with Prickly Pear Cacti, Banana Yucca and Utah Agave dominating the landscape. In this area, several species of lizards are common as well as squirrels.
One misconception is that there is a rattlesnake around every corner. Rattlesnakes are present in the canyon but they give you fair warning and only attack when provoked or threatened.
Phantom Ranch/Bright Angel Campground
The North Kaibab Trail comes to an end just past Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground near the confluence of the Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River. This area is the hub of activity in the inner canyon with mules carrying packs to and from Phantom Ranch as well as river trips stopping at the beach on the Colorado, just minutes away.
Phantom Ranch also makes this area the most civilized place in the canyon interior. The ranch canteen is open to the public for most of the day and sells lemonade, iced tea, coffee, snacks, souvenirs and hikers lunches (limited availability so it’s best to bring your own).
Camp at Indian Garden or Cremation Canyon
From the Colorado River, the trail heads slightly west to the Silver Bridge and across the river. At the end of the bridge, hang a right and follow the appropriately named River Trail since it follows the Colorado for the next 1.5 miles. From here, the Bright Angel trail begins at the point where pipe creek flows into the Colorado.
The Bright Angel trail heads south away from the river along the Pipe Creek and to the bottom of the first major climb, the Devil’s Corkscrew. After this section, the trail passes through a section that is dotted with Cottonwood trees as it follows Garden Creek into the lush Indian Garden Campground. Mule deer are seen every day in this area. At night, mice and ringtails can be heard rustling through the brush.
By the time the trail reaches Indian Garden, it has gained over 1,400 feet in elevation in the 3.1 miles from the river, most of the gain during the Devil’s Corkscrew. If you choose to camp at Indian Garden one night, the 3 mile round trip hike to Plateau Point is a must do side trip to one of the best viewpoints in all of the canyon.
If you want some time more off the beaten path, hike out South Kaibab trail and camp at Cremation Canyon instead.
To the South Rim
After passing through Indian Garden the trail gradually heads uphill toward the Redwall Limestone cliffs to the south and from there the trail begins almost 3.5 miles of switchbacks and long slopes before reaching the South Rim.
This final section of the hike is the most crowded since many tourists hike this trail down to either the 3 mile or the mile and a half rest house. You will most likely encounter a mule train or two or three on the hike up. Mules have the right of way, so be on the lookout and find a spot on the inside of the trail to let them pass.
Fantastic Views
Make sure to look back from time to time, because the view gets better as you gain elevation. The landscape changes once again as more Juniper and Pinon pine dot the landscape much as they do on the North Kaibab trail near Roaring Springs. This section of trail is also one of the best to spot a California Condor or a Bighorn Sheep. There is also a large gallery of Anasazi pictographs just before the second tunnel you encounter before the top of the trail at the South Rim.
Plan Your Trip Early!
This classic canyon crossing can be accomplished in two to five days and it is in high demand so campgrounds sell out early. It is best to plan this hike over five months in advance and to be flexible with dates when submitting for camping permits – click here for the permit request due dates and other details from Grand Canyon National Park Service.
This is a trip that is on many “Life Lists” or if you prefer “Bucket Lists” and for good reason, because there is no other place like it on the planet.
Hike the Grand Canyon With Just Roughin’ It
Just Roughin’ It is a hiking/backpacking guide service with hundreds of miles in Grand Canyon on our hiking boot tread. Check out the Just Roughin’ It blog or our website for more tips and information about hiking Grand Canyon.
Rocks that are 1.5 million years old? LOL. They have been here since the beginning of earth.
Not really. It depends on where in the Canyon you are. The layers of rock are a timeline of the canyon (as with everywhere else in the world). Not all rock are the same age as they help scientists identify geological timelines with changes in ecosystems over the life of the Earth. BTW, the article says 1.5 billion – not million.
The age of the earth is considerably greater, more like 4.5 billion. Check that out on Wikipedia’s site.
Is there any way to get from the Kaibab lodge to the North Rim trail head, early morning, if you don’t have a car?
It is best to call the lodge and see if they have a shuttle. They used to but are now under new management.
I am 55 years old and live in NC. I have done the rim to rim twice before in mid May and mid September 10 and 11 years ago. I would like to do it July 11 but am concerned about the heat and my ability now that I am 10 years older. What do you recommend?
Do it but plan to rest periodically and keep cool with neck coolers etc or DON’T do it?
Thanks,
Kyndy
I strongly recommend you do not hike Rim to Rim in one day in July. Temps in the sun can reach 120+ F and July tends to be more humid. Wait until October/November.
Hi! My boyfriend and I have some free time in November. We really wanted to complete the rim-to-rim hike. Will it be possible in late November? I’m assuming access to shuttles may be difficult. We will also probably drive since we live in CO so perhaps we will both have to drive to leave one car at each rim. Thoughts or suggestions?
November is doable but you do have to have a shuttle or park on separate rims. We do have an e-book that details everything you need to know when planning your Rim to Rim hike that goes much more in depth and will answer questions you don’t know you have – https://www.justroughinit.com/store/Rim-to-Rim-Grand-Canyon-in-a-Day-Hiking-Preparation-Guide-p314751865