The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is generally packed with visitors standing at the edge grabbing a few snapshots, but there’s much more to see than what is at the rim, so grab your hiking shoes and a water bottle and find out why the Grand Canyon is a favorite among hiking enthusiasts.
We embarked on the South Kaibab Trail, which runs 14 miles round-trip, taking hikers down (and back up!) 4,780 ft. You won’t want to do the whole thing if you’re planning a day hike, but this is definitely a trail worth checking out.
While there is no hike from the South Rim we don’t recommend, thanks to the insider information from some of the more regular hikers, we’ve narrowed down the favorites.
For the novice hiker…
Bright Angel Trail
Even if you haven’t been to the Grand Canyon, you’ve probably heard of Bright Angel. It’s considered the easiest of the Grand Canyon Trails, but that’s not saying a whole lot. It’s also one of the most popular trails, so while it may be crowded, it’s well-groomed and has water stops along the way. It’s also a popular route for mule tours, so watch where you step!
You won’t want to do the whole thing in one day, but there are plenty of rest stops along the way where you can turn around.
For the intermediate…
South Kaibab Trail
South Kaibab is definitely a steeper trail than Bright Angel, but it’s also slightly less crowded. It ends at the Bright Angel Campground and has several noted resting points, our favorite being Skeleton Point. There are no water stops along the way, and the trail can get icy at the very top, so make sure to come well prepared. For day hikers, it’s not recommended that you go farther than Skeleton Point, which is about three miles down.
For the hot shot hiker…
Hermit Trail
There’s very little left of what once was the exciting Hermit Trail. It was created as a state-of-the-art, rim-to-river trail in its day, complete with a tramway, but hasn’t been maintained in over 80 years. It is not only one of the most difficult trails (the first two and a half miles alone drop you 2,000 vertical feet) but it’s also one of the most rewarding. The only water sources along the trail are natural ones, so some type of water filtration system is a necessity.
Keep your eyes peeled because there are said to be fossilized animal tracks along the trail.
What to Bring
We had done loads of reading on what to bring and everything repeatedly said “water and salty snacks.” Having no idea what to expect at the trailhead, we assumed there would be an area we could pick up a few small food items, but the only thing we found was a vending machine with candy bars and Funyuns. Feeling desperate, we bought a few bags of spicy Cajun peanuts and went on our way. We learned the hard way that a steep desert hike with no water stops is no place for hot-and-spicy peanuts, so make sure to bring food before you get to the trail.
Most trailheads have spigots where you can fill your bottles, especially the popular trails, but they’re typically only open during the spring and summer months. A lot of campgrounds also have running water, but always bring some sort of water filtration system with you just in case.
For more on exploring Arizona, check out Adventure in Arizona: Rafting & kayaking the Colorado River and Adventure in Arizona, Part II: Kayaking Lake Powell.
