It is a long, challenging hike but it makes for some incredible memories. I had this weird combination of excitement and dread for what was still to come. The website says only 15 people per bus so we are concerned that buses will be full. Located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, this hike is a must for any hikers bucket list! And I hope you have a great hike! Tips to Have the Best Experience This is the point where the National Park Service recommends that you turn around if you are day hiking the Grand Canyon. It’s challenging, it requires advance planning, and a high level of physical fitness and prior hiking experience are a necessity. But we did this fast. The South Kaibab Trail is one of the most incredible hiking experiences of my lifetime. In the summer, the canyon floor is sweltering, even if rim conditions are less extreme. Here are their elevations and distances from the South Kaibab Trailhead. It is the highest rated hotel in the area. The trail descends over 1,200 feet in 1.4 miles to reach The Tipoff, where there is a vault toilet and an emergency phone. Map Overview. And you have more daylight than during the winter months. Then, walk the Rim Trail to the South Kaibab Trailhead. From Indian Garden, it is just 4.8 miles to the rim. Your email address will not be published. The final 3 miles is of trail is a steady grade of switchbacks that climbs the remaining 2,100 feet to the rim. If you were going to climb up the Empire State Building, it’s only 102 floors to the top. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Book your tickets online for South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park: See 1,677 reviews, articles, and 1,516 photos of South Kaibab Trail, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 82 attractions in Grand Canyon National Park. When we did this in December, there was some snow and ice on the first section of the South Kaibab Trail. Even though Grand Canyon is imagined as a hot and dry park, the day before this hike it snowed. Length of Time: 5 to 8 hours. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Cheers, Julie, The closest place to park, that I know of, is along Desert View Drive before you get to Yaki Point Road. The trail proceeds to Cedar Ridge, where you can find vault toilets, before passing below the east wall of O'Neill Butte and descending to Skeleton Point at 5,220 feet and 3 miles from the trailhead. It took me just over 9 hours, starting at South Kaibab trailhead at 6:30 a.m. At 3,600 feet, this point provides stunning views of the inner canyon and Colorado River. Click here to see the updated shuttle schedule. The South Kaibab Trail offers wonderful views all along the trail making it very easy to lose track of how far down you have hiked. The Kaibab Rim is the Orange Route –they’re colored coded and maps are posted by the lines and at each boarding point so you can verify where you’re going. The South Kaibab Trail is extremely strenuous, but the views are worth it. There are numerous warnings on the Grand Canyon National Park website telling people not to hike the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail as a day hike. It is highly recommended that you do not hike from the rim to … The Bright Angel Trail is longer than the South Kaibab Trail. Since it is all down hill, it is easy to keep a fast pace. The day before your hike, you could go here and see if there is a sign limiting how long you park, but this could be an option. About Our Experience Here are their elevations and distances from the Bright Angel Campground. Colorado River to Phantom Ranch: negligible elevation change, 0.5 miles. You’re welcome! Mules played an invaluable role in the history of the canyon, and they remain important today. For one thing, it’s a heck of a lot shorter…7 miles shorter. There’s a beautiful trail called the (South) Rim Trail that allows you to walk along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Before we go any farther, you should know that the National Park Service does not recommend doing this as a day hike. If there is no shuttle running, you could rent bikes and bike to the trailhead in the morning or back to your car at the end of the hike (but then you would need to lock them up…there is a way to do this because we met a couple who used bikes to get from trailhead to trailhead). We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. The adventure described here covers the iconic south rim to river trails, South Kaibab and Bright Angel, but there are many more options for exploring this outdoor wonderland. Imagine doing that almost 9 times. Pro Travel Tip: If you are doing this as a day hike, we recommend starting the hike no later than sunrise. The hiking distances and elevation data in this article were taken from the National Park website. And finally, snow closes the road to the North Rim for half of the year, so there is just a short window of time that you can get to the North Rim by car. There are also restrooms and access to water along the way, so many people choose to hike up the Bright Angel Trail for these reasons. If camping, do so at the Bright Angel Campground, though a backcountry permit is required. Eat salty snacks and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. We did have to be fast since limited daylight was a big factor. You need to be prepared for lots of elevation change and if you are doing this from May to September, you also need to be prepared to hike in temperatures reaching over 100°F. The Tip-Off: 4000 feet, 4.4 miles The final three miles is killer. If you are up for an adventure, this hike is one of the best ways to truly experience the Grand Canyon. South Kaibab trail is a route to go down and into Grand Canyon National Park. At this point, the trail turns away from the river and now the real fun begins. By now, you’re most likely feeling wiped out and those last, steep switchbacks really slow you down. You are a travel Super Hero!!! We have two articles about the rim-to-rim hike. Don’t be one of these statistics! Nov 25, 2020 - One of the two superhighways into the Canyon, the other being the Bright Angel Trail, this path runs along a ridge offering stunning views. Elevation Loss: 4780 feet Yes, there are park shuttles that connect these two places. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. to read our Guide to Grand Canyon National Park. Curious about what it is like to hike rim-to-rim? This trail is the daily descent route for passenger mules, so once again, encounters on the trail are likely. Approximately 0.5 miles from The Tipoff is the amazing Big Pan overlook that is also known as Panorama Point. Distance: 7 miles Groves of cottonwood trees and an eastbound junction with the Tonto Trail signal an impending arrival at the oasis of Indian Garden. The scale of the mighty Colorado River is remarkable up close, and it's amazing to look up at the canyon walls and contemplate how the river's width has gone virtually unchanged over time: the outward growth of the canyon has occurred as an effect of the river cutting downward. Tyler and I were dropped off right where Yaki Point Road meets Desert View Road, and I think it was a 3/4 mile walk, and you would do about the same from the small parking lot on Desert View Road. My wife and I did this hike on 29 September. If you are hiking the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail in one day, you need to be a very fit and fast hiker. Bright Angel Campground: 2480 feet, 7 miles. Once you finally reach the north shore of the river, the trail turns west toward Bright Angel Campground. At this point in the journey out of the canyon, the additional 3-mile round-trip hike over of relatively flat ground seems inconsequential. If you want to skip the shuttle, there are a few parking spaces on Desert View Road. For more information about Grand Canyon National Park, click here to read our Guide to Grand Canyon National Park. South Kaibab Trail Length of Time: Usually done as a two day backpacking trip. It’s time to start the climb back up to the South Rim. But I do recommend making sure you are allowed to leave your car there all day. The South Kaibab Trail is what the Parks Service calls a corridor trail. Historical Weather. Those same muscles now have to get you back up to the rim. I hope this helps. Packing List Bright Angel Trail . We started at 7:15 am. Cheers, Julie. At first, you hike along a small creek. Sure, walking downhill can be fast, but it really does tire out your legs. All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. You have to descend a series of switchbacks again, but the sweeping views across the Grand Canyon are some of the best of the day. The South Kaibab Trail is the second most popular trail after the Bright Angel. The first milestone on the trail is Ooh Ahh point at 6,660 feet and 0.9 miles from the trailhead, offering a sample of the spectacular panoramas yet to come. However, when people refer to the rim-to-rim hike, they are referring to the North Rim to South Rim hike. The views are great all long the South Kaibab Trail but Ooh Aah Point gives you your first panoramic view of the Grand Canyon. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually you will reach the top of the Bright Angel Trail. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, links, etc. We took the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point. Honestly, I struggled to keep up with him. (pictured: prAna Stretch Zion Pants) We got our first nice view of the Colorado River when we reached Panorama Point, which around the 5 mile mark just past the “tip-off” area on the South Kaibab Trail. Shortly after departing the Bright Angel Campground the trail crosses to the south side of the Colorado River via the Silver Bridge. The final four miles on the Bright Angel Trail take the longest. We spent a few minutes here to use the toilets and have a snack before setting off again. While hiking, I had instant access to all kinds of numbers like altitude, heart rate, time and distance. Date of experience: November 2020. Since you start and end on the South Rim, you do not need to arrange a shuttle service to transport you to the North Rim. At the campground, a side trip to Plateau Point presents itself. South Kaibab drops 1,100 feet in the first 1.5 miles while Bright Angel drops 1,000 feet in the same distance. 3 hours from trailhead to the Colorado River. As you hike up the Bright Angel Trail, there are several landmarks along the way. We started 6,30 on S. Kaibab and arrived at Phantom Ranch at 10,30. I know you mentioned having someone be able to drop you off, so I’m assuming they picked you up as well, but thought you might have information about this. As a day hike, the average amount of time is 9 to 10 hours, although this can vary quite a bit depending on your level of fitness See first hand the beauty of the Grand Canyon on this Rim to River run down South Kaibab Trail. Trailhead to 1½-Mile Resthouse 1,131 feet (345 m) 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 1½-Mile Resthouse to 3-Mile Resthouse 981 feet (299 m) 1.5 miles (2.4 km) Before doing this hike, I was doing long runs of 8 miles with shorter runs during the week. Be Prepared: No water on South Kaibab Trail. South Kaibab Trail shows you the sights of Grand Canyon National Park that you longed to see when you planned your trip here. And if you are here when the weather is warm, you can knock out a portion of the hike before the temperatures really heat up. Did we miss anything? Winter can be a great time to do this hike but snow can make the trails slippery and potentially create a dangerous situation. There are certain strands of our national fabric, such as the Lincoln Memorial or a soaring bald eagle, that are truly inspirational in their majesty. Doing this as a Day Hike In order to do this as a day hike, you need to be fit and fast and know what you can handle. However, Kara was recovering from an injury so she had to sit this one out. Zion Narrows: Hiking the Top-Down Route in One Day, Angels Landing Survival Guide: What You Need to Know Before You Go, How to Day Hike the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park, Climbing the Half Dome Cables: A Journey in 18 Photos, Hiking Bryce Canyon: Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trails, Hiking the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, Hiking to Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park, 16 Amazing South Rim Viewpoints in the Grand Canyon, 14 Amazing Hikes in Norway for Your Bucket List, 20 Amazing Things to do in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland, Hiking Jiankou to Mutianyu on the Great Wall of China, Hiking to Rysy in the High Tatras of Slovakia, One Day in the Grand Canyon: Best Things to Do, Best Things to do on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike: Planning Guide and Checklist. The varying conditions between the rim and river can not be overemphasized. This final push will terminate at the Bright Angel Trailhead on the western side of Grand Canyon Village, very near Kolb Studio. I used microspikes as I approached Bright Angel. This is one of my favorite gadgets. Unfortunately I parked at the visitors center and there wasn’t a shuttle from BA so I had to do an extra 3 miles to my car you were SO right about starting at South Kaibab. Congrats on the hike! This was a tough hike but very doable. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? Started Bright Angel at 13,30 and finished at 20,30. In 2017, we hiked Half Dome in Yosemite as a day hike. Bright Angel trail: 4,360 ft ascent, 9.5 miles. This is the final landmark until you get to the Colorado River. Good luck! The trailhead is located near Yaki Point. Grade soon levels out and traverses northward below the towering rim wall of Yaki Point. Bright Angel Trailhead: elevation 6,860 feet (2,093 m) Elevation Change Mileage Change . 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