Best Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park

Trail status in fall 2026

A flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon on August 29, 2026, closed the bottom of the canyon. As of the NPS Key Hiking Messages update on September 28, 2026, the entire North Kaibab Trail (including Cottonwood Campground), Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground, the Black and Silver bridges over the Colorado River, the South Kaibab Trail below the Tip-Off, and the River Trail east of the River Resthouse are closed. NPS gives no estimated reopening date, so the classic rim-to-rim hike is not possible this season.

Still open: the Bright Angel Trail from the rim to the River Resthouse, the Plateau Point Trail, the South Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to the Tip-Off, and the Tonto Trail between the Tip-Off and Havasupai Gardens. Water is turned off at the 1.5-Mile Resthouse, 3-Mile Resthouse and Havasupai Gardens to save the South Rim's limited supply. NPS lists potable water in a large black tank near the restrooms at the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads; fill up there and carry everything you will drink, plus a way to treat water in case a line breaks.

On the North Rim, the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire still keeps the Bright Angel Point, Widforss, Transept and Uncle Jim trails and the west half of the Ken Patrick Trail closed. Lipan Point on Desert View Drive is closed for rehabilitation through December 23, 2026.

Grand Canyon hikes at a glance

Distances and elevation changes below come from NPS trail pages and day-hike guides. Inner-canyon numbers are round trips, and every foot you descend you must climb back out. NPS advises planning on taking about twice as long to hike up as it took to hike down.

Rim Trail and other easy walks

The Rim Trail runs about 13 miles along the South Rim from the South Kaibab Trailhead to Hermits Rest, and its elevation changes only about 200 feet end to end. You can walk any piece of it and ride a free shuttle back. From Mather Point to Yavapai Point is 0.7 mile; from there the paved, accessible Trail of Time continues 1.3 miles to the Village, with markers that tie each step to a million years of rock history. Mather Point to the Village Route Transfer is about 2.6 miles one way.

West of the Village, the trail follows Hermit Road for 7.8 miles to Hermits Rest. Pavement ends at Powell Point and resumes at Monument Creek Vista; the 3-mile stretch between is a narrow dirt path. Hermit Road is closed to private cars from March 1 through November 30, so use the Red shuttle, which runs through November 30, 2026. There is no drinking water along the trail between the Village and Hermits Rest, so carry your own.

South Kaibab Trail: Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point

The South Kaibab Trail follows a ridge instead of a side canyon, so the views open up almost immediately, even on a short hike. There is no parking at the trailhead. Park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and ride the Kaibab Rim (Orange) shuttle, about 9 minutes, or take the early-morning Hikers' Express from Bright Angel Lodge.

Ooh Aah Point (1.8 miles round trip) is a good turnaround for anyone new to canyon hiking. Cedar Ridge (3 miles, 1,120 feet) is a solid half-day hike with wide views east and west. Skeleton Point (6 miles, 2,040 feet) is the first spot with a view of the Colorado River; NPS says not to go past Cedar Ridge on a summer day hike, not to go below Skeleton Point on any day hike, and to check with a ranger before attempting Skeleton Point. The trail has almost no shade and no water, and the climb out is steep and fully exposed. The Tip-Off is the current end of the open trail.

Bright Angel Trail: resthouses, Havasupai Gardens and Plateau Point

The Bright Angel Trail starts just west of Bright Angel Lodge in the Village, within walking distance of the Village (Blue) shuttle stops. It drops through a side canyon with switchbacks, some shade and resthouses at 1.5 and 3 miles. Those resthouses are your best turnaround points: 3 miles round trip and 1,120 feet to the first, 6 miles and 2,120 feet to the second.

Havasupai Gardens (formerly Indian Garden) is 9 miles round trip and 3,040 feet, which NPS treats as the summer day-hike limit. Plateau Point adds a 1.5-mile spur across the open Tonto Plateau to a viewpoint directly above the river, for 12 miles and 9 to 12 hours total. It is extremely strenuous with no shade and is realistic only for fit, experienced hikers on a cool spring or fall day. With water off at all three stops in 2026, carrying enough water is the main limit on how far you can go. Mule trains use this trail; step to the uphill side and stand still until the last mule is 50 feet past.

Hermit and Grandview trails for experienced hikers

These two are unmaintained, steeper and rougher than the Bright Angel and South Kaibab, and NPS recommends them only for experienced desert hikers in sturdy boots. Neither has drinking water; spring water must be treated.

The Hermit Trail starts 500 feet west of Hermits Rest at the end of the Red shuttle route. Santa Maria Spring is 5 miles round trip with 1,680 feet of descent. The Grandview Trail starts at Grandview Point on Desert View Drive, which you reach in your own car. Coconino Saddle (2.2 miles, 1,000 feet) is short but steep, and Horseshoe Mesa (6 miles, 2,500 feet) has old mining relics and exposed drop-offs. Upper sections of both trails can be dangerously icy from late fall through early spring, so carry over-the-shoe traction.

North Rim hikes still open in 2026

The North Rim is open for day use through November 30, 2026, or the first major snowstorm, with no lodging and no potable water. The open rim hikes are on the Cape Royal Road: the paved Cape Royal Trail to a view over Angels Window (wheelchair accessible), the 1-mile Cliff Spring Trail to a small spring (do not drink the water), and the 4.2-mile round-trip Cape Final Trail to the Cape Final viewpoint. The Point Imperial, Roosevelt Point, Ken Patrick (east) and Bridle trails are also listed as open.

Timing matters this fall: Cape Royal Road and Point Imperial Road close from sunset October 15 to sunrise November 3, 2026, for repairs. The North Rim gas station has closed for the season, and the General Store, which sells bottled water, closes October 15. Bring all the water and fuel you need.

Hiking safety: heat, water and the climb out

NPS reports that more than 300 people are rescued from the canyon each year. It says never attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day, especially from May to September. Inner-canyon temperatures can top 110°F in summer, so avoid hiking below the rim between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and start at first light.

Set a turnaround time before you leave the rim and stick to it. Rest in shade, eat salty snacks along with water, and let the slowest person set the pace. Help may take hours to arrive because of heat, weather or call volume, and NPS expects inner-canyon hikers to be able to rescue themselves. From July to September, afternoon storms bring lightning on the rim and flash floods below it; NPS warns that drainages burned by the Dragon Bravo Fire carry extra flood risk.

• All the water you need from the rim, plus a way to treat water
• Salty snacks and a real lunch
• Sun hat, sunscreen and a lightweight long-sleeve layer
• Headlamp, map, first aid kit and a fully charged phone
• Over-the-shoe traction from late fall through early spring
• Sturdy shoes with good grip; trekking poles help on the climb

Permits, wildlife rules and accessible trails

Noncommercial day hikes need no permit. Any overnight trip below the rim requires a backcountry permit through Recreation.gov ($10 per permit plus $15 per person per night below the rim), and organized groups of 12 to 30 people on rim-to-rim, rim-to-river or other extended inner-canyon day hikes need a Special Use Permit. Bright Angel and Cottonwood campgrounds are closed in 2026.

Rock squirrels cause more visitor injuries than any other animal in the park, and feeding wildlife is illegal. Stay at least 100 feet from elk, at least 75 feet from deer, bighorn sheep, condors and mountain lions, and 20 feet from squirrels and birds. Pack out all trash, including food scraps.

For wheelchair users and strollers, the best options are the paved Rim Trail between Pipe Creek Vista and Bright Angel Lodge (only a few short sections exceed accessibility grades), the Trail of Time, the paved Rim Trail segment from Monument Creek Vista to Hermits Rest, and the Cape Royal Trail on the North Rim.

More Grand Canyon guides

• Best Time to Visit Grand Canyon National ParkWhen to visit Grand Canyon: South Rim and North Rim seasons, inner-canyon heat, monsoon storms, winter snow, crowds, and what is open in fall 2026.
• Grand Canyon South Rim Itinerary: How to Spend 1 or 2 DaysA 1- or 2-day South Rim plan: free shuttle routes, Hermit Road, the best viewpoints, rim and below-rim day hikes, sunrise and sunset spots, and where to stay.
• Camping in Grand Canyon National Park: Campgrounds, Reservations and TipsGrand Canyon camping for fall 2026: Mather, Desert View and North Rim campgrounds, Recreation.gov booking, dry camping rules, RV limits and backcountry permits.