South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail: How to Hike Rim-to-River-to-Rim in One Day

Hiking the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail is one of the great day hikes in the US national parks. In one long, thigh-burning day, you descend nearly a mile from the South Rim to the Colorado River on the South Kaibab Trail, cross the river on two suspension bridges, and then climb back out on the Bright Angel Trail. It’s often called the rim-to-river-to-rim hike.

Tyler and I hiked it on Christmas Eve in 2018, when he was 15 years old. Six months later, Tim and I returned to hike the full rim-to-rim, North Rim to South Rim, to celebrate our 20^th wedding anniversary. Tyler loved this hike so much that he came back a few years ago with a friend and hiked South Kaibab to Bright Angel all over again.

We’ve done many of the big hikes in the US national parks, including Half Dome, Angels Landing, and the full length of The Narrows, and this one is still one of our favorites. In this guide, we share everything we learned from these three trips: trail stats, a step-by-step walkthrough, our split times, how fit you need to be, the best time of year to go, and what to pack.

Our Experiences in the Grand Canyon: We’ve visited the Grand Canyon four times over the years, exploring both the South Rim and the North Rim and hiking below the rim on three of those trips. We’ve hiked the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails in winter and summer, and we’ve crossed the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim. We’ve also visited 56 of the 64 US national parks. Hiking is what we plan most of our trips around, from the national parks to the Walker’s Haute Route in the Alps to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

The Essentials

DISTANCE | 16.5 miles (26.6 km)

DIFFICULTY | Extremely strenuous

TIME | 9 to 12+ hours for many hikers; our original hike took 6 hours, 48 minutes

ROUTE | South Kaibab Trail → Colorado River → Bright Angel Trail

BEST TIME | Spring and fall, when temperatures are generally more manageable

PERMIT | Not required for a day hike; required for overnight backcountry camping

OUR VERDICT | One of our favorite hikes in the US national parks, but only appropriate for very fit, experienced hikers

TRAIL CLOSURE (October 2026): On August 29, 2026, a flash flood caused major damage in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. The South Kaibab Trail is closed below the Tip-Off, both bridges across the Colorado River are closed, and Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground are closed. Right now, the full South Kaibab to Bright Angel hike is not possible, and there is no estimated reopening date. You can still hike a shorter version of this loop using the Tonto Trail (see below). Water is currently turned off on the Bright Angel Trail below the trailhead, so carry all of the water you need. Check the NPS trail status page before your hike.

Table of Contents

Things to Know Before You Hike South Kaibab to Bright Angel

This is one of the hardest day hikes in the US national parks, and the Grand Canyon is unforgiving if you get it wrong. Here’s what you need to know before you commit to it.

1. Hike down the South Kaibab Trail and up the Bright Angel Trail. You can do this hike in either direction, but this direction is better, and it’s the direction we did all three of our hikes. The South Kaibab Trailhead sits 400 feet higher than the Bright Angel Trailhead, so you skip some of the climbing. Bright Angel is also longer and more gradual, which makes it the easier way out.

2. There is no water on the South Kaibab Trail. You need to carry every drop for the first 7 miles. Normally, water is available year-round at the Bright Angel Trailhead and Havasupai Gardens, and seasonally at the 3-Mile and 1.5-Mile Resthouses (roughly late spring through early fall). Waterline breaks can shut these spigots off without warning, and right now water is turned off everywhere below the Bright Angel Trailhead. Carry all the water you need, plus a filter as a backup.

3. The National Park Service does not recommend this as a day hike. You’ll see warnings on the park website and signs at the trailheads telling you not to hike to the river and back in one day. Rangers carry out many rescues every year, often for hikers who underestimate the climb out. Plenty of people do this hike in a day, and so have we, but only fit, experienced hikers should attempt it.

4. Heat is the biggest danger. The bottom of the canyon is typically 10 to 20°F hotter than the rim, and in summer it can top 100°F. When we hiked rim-to-rim in June, the temperature ranged from 41°F (early morning when we started on the North Rim) to 100°F (at Phantom Ranch). The entire South Kaibab Trail is exposed, with almost no shade. Don’t attempt this as a day hike in summer. In spring and fall, start at sunrise so you’re climbing out before the hottest part of the afternoon.

5. You need to be fit and fast. By the time you reach the Colorado River, your legs have already absorbed nearly a mile of downhill pounding, and you still have to hike up 4,380 feet. If you can’t comfortably hike 10+ miles with a pack and big elevation changes, don’t tackle this hike. (We cover how fit you need to be, and how to train, later in this guide.)

6. You can’t drive to the South Kaibab Trailhead. The road to the trailhead is open only to shuttle buses. Take the free Hiker Express Shuttle from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, which runs early in the morning. Hike out on Bright Angel and you finish in Grand Canyon Village, where the regular shuttles can take you back to your car.

7. Rim-to-river-to-rim is not the same as rim-to-rim. This hike is often called rim-to-river-to-rim, because you start and end on the South Rim. The “true” rim-to-rim hike crosses the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim, a 24-mile journey that requires a shuttle between rims. We’ve done both. If you want the Grand Canyon’s big inner-canyon experience without the logistics of the North Rim, this is the hike to do.

South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail Stats, Map & Elevation Profile

This information is for the hike on the South Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Campground to the Bright Angel Trail.

Distance: 16.5 miles (26.6 km)
Elevation Change: 4,780 feet (1,457 m) loss (to the Colorado River) and 4,380 feet (1,335 m) elevation gain (Bright Angel Campground to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail). As a reference, there are 5,280 feet in one mile.
Difficulty: Extremely strenuous
Length of Time: Usually done as a two day backpacking trip. 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
Permits: None needed for the day hike; you will need a permit to camp in Bright Angel Campground (if you do this as a two-day backpacking trip)
When To Go: This can be done year round, however, summer is the worst time to do this hike. Temperatures can soar, and with the heat, this can be a dangerous hike. Fall and spring are ideal. Winter is very pleasant but snow can make the trails slippery and dangerous.

The hiking distances and elevation data in this article were taken from the National Park website.

Map of the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail. The South Kaibab Trail is red and the Bright Angel Trail is blue.

Elevation profile of the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail

Getting to the South Kaibab Trailhead

The South Kaibab Trailhead is near Yaki Point, east of Grand Canyon Village. You cannot drive to the trailhead. The road to Yaki Point is open only to shuttle buses.

The easiest way to get there is the free Hiker Express Shuttle, which runs early in the morning from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center directly to the trailhead. Departure times change throughout the year, with the earliest buses in the summer and later starts in the winter, so check the current schedule before your hike. Park your car at the Visitor Center, since that’s where you’ll want to be at the end of the day.

There is a small amount of parking along Desert View Road, roughly a half-mile walk from the trailhead. Just remember that you’ll finish the hike in Grand Canyon Village, several miles away, so you’d need to take the shuttle back to your car.

Before you start, use the restrooms and fill up your water at the trailhead. This is your last chance for water until you reach the bottom of the canyon.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Start no later than sunrise. In winter, this gives you every minute of the short daylight (on our December hike, we had just under 10 hours of daylight). In spring and fall, you’ll cross the halfway point before the worst of the afternoon heat.

South Kaibab Trail: Rim to the Colorado River

As you hike down the South Kaibab Trail, there are several landmarks along the way. Here are their elevations and distances from the South Kaibab Trailhead.

South Kaibab Trailhead: 7260 feet
Ooh Aah Point: 6660 feet, 1.5 miles
Skeleton Point: 5200 feet, 3 miles
The Tip-Off: 4000 feet, 4.4 miles
Bright Angel Campground: 2480 feet, 7 miles

From the rim to the Colorado River, it is essentially a downhill walk the entire the way. There will be a few, brief sections where you walk uphill, but honestly, this gives your legs a nice break from the constant downhill pounding they take.

By the time we reached the Colorado River, I was thrilled to finally walk on level ground again. Sure, walking downhill can be fast, but it really does tire out your legs.

We started at 7:15 am. It took us two and a half hours to hike to the Bright Angel Campground. We were moving fairly fast but I also stopped a lot to take photos. The views on the South Kaibab Trail are more spectacular than those on the Bright Angel Trail.

Trailhead to Ooh Aah Point

The first section of the South Kaibab Trail is the steepest and most strenuous. For 1.5 miles, a series of steep switchbacks descend below the level of the rim.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you are doing this hike in the winter months, be prepared for ice on the trail. During our visit in late December, there was ice on the top part of the South Kaibab Trail. Hiking poles can help on these slippery surfaces and we saw some people using ice cleats.

The views are great all long the South Kaibab Trail but Ooh Aah Point gives you your first panoramic view of the Grand Canyon. And isn’t this just the best name for a viewpoint?

Ooh Aah Point sits at 6660 feet, which is 600 feet under the rim. Stretching out in front of you is the South Kaibab Trail, the Tonto Plateau, and the colorful layers of sedimentary rock that makes the Grand Canyon so beautiful.

Skeleton Point

The views keep changing as the trail curves out along the ridge to Skeleton Point, 3 miles from the trailhead. You still can’t see the Colorado River, but you’re now well below the rim.

For day hikers who aren’t going all the way to the river, Skeleton Point is the farthest point the NPS recommends hiking in one day. It’s 6 miles round trip with 2,060 feet of climbing on the way back up.

The Tip-Off

The section between Skeleton Point and the Tip-Off was one of my favorites of the hike. 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 Tip-Off sits on the Tonto Plateau, 4.4 miles from the trailhead, where the Tonto Trail crosses the South Kaibab Trail. There are toilets here. This is also where you can take the Tonto Trail west to Havasupai Gardens for a shorter version of this hike (more on that below).

From here, it is one final, steep descent to the Colorado River.

Black Bridge and the Colorado River

From the Tip-Off, one final, steep set of switchbacks drops you to the Colorado River. You get your first view of the river and the Black Bridge (Kaibab Suspension Bridge) on this descent, and it’s a thrilling moment.

By this point, my legs were starting to feel fatigued. As much as I was not looking forward to the massive climb, by the time we got to the Colorado River, I was thrilled to not be walking downhill anymore.

This part of the Colorado River sits at 2480 feet. Temperatures can average 10 to 20 degrees warmer here than on the rim. During the winter months, the river can be a brilliant green, like you see in these photos. However, for most the year, the river is usually brown from sediment in the water.

Walk through a short tunnel, cross the Black Bridge, and follow the trail along the north bank of the river.

Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch

Once on the other side, it is just a short walk along the north bank of the Colorado River to the Bright Angel Campground. Here you have access to toilets and water. This is the official end of the South Kaibab Trail, 7 miles from the trailhead.

Phantom Ranch sits another half mile up Bright Angel Creek. The canteen normally sells snacks and drinks to day hikers, and it’s a fun place for a break if you have time. It adds about a mile round trip to your day. We stopped here when hiking rim-to-rim, and the cold lemonade was just what we needed before tackling the hike up the Bright Angel Trail.

When Tyler and I did this hike, we did not walk to the Phantom Ranch. Instead, we stopped at the Bright Angel Campground just long enough to use the restrooms, refill our water, and eat a snack before starting the climb out.

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Bright Angel Trail: Colorado River to the South Rim

The Bright Angel Trail is longer than the South Kaibab Trail. But with less elevation gain over a longer distance, it is slightly less strenuous than the South Kaibab Trail. 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.

As you hike up the Bright Angel Trail, there are several landmarks along the way. Here are their elevations and distances from the Bright Angel Campground.

River Resthouse: 2480 feet, 1.5 miles
Havasupai Gardens: 3800 feet, 4.7 miles
3 Mile Resthouse: 4748 feet, 6.5 miles
Bright Angel Trailhead: 6860 feet, 9.5 miles

The climb isn’t spread out evenly. The first half, from the river to Havasupai Gardens, is a steady but manageable uphill walk. The second half, from Havasupai Gardens to the rim, is where the steep switchbacks are, and it’s where most hikers slow down a lot.

Along the Colorado River to River Resthouse

From Bright Angel Campground, cross the Colorado River on the Silver Bridge (Bright Angel Suspension Bridge). Enjoy the 1.5-mile, almost flat walk until you get to the River Resthouse. At this point, the trail turns away from the river and now the real fun begins. It’s time to start the climb back up to the South Rim.

Havasupai Gardens

From the River Resthouse to Havasupai Gardens, it is a 3.2-mile walk. At first, you hike along a small creek. The trail steadily gains elevation, but it is really not too bad. It’s a pretty walk but since you are in a canyon, you do not have the same sweeping views like you get on the South Kaibab Trail.

Eventually, you come to your first series of switchbacks. They don’t last long but they can be tiring, and this is a nice preview of what is coming at the end of the Bright Angel Trail.

The views open a little bit more at the top of the switchbacks.

Havasupai Gardens

Havasupai Gardens is a shady oasis 4.5 miles below the rim, with restrooms, a ranger station, a campground, and drinking water that is normally available year-round. Formerly called Indian Garden, it was renamed in 2022 at the request of the Havasupai Tribe, who lived and farmed here for generations.

This is a great place to take a real break, eat, and refill your water before the hardest part of the hike. From here, a 1.5-mile spur trail leads to Plateau Point and its view of the Colorado River. It adds 3 miles round trip, so on a day hike to the river, most people skip it.

The Final Climb

From Indian Garden, it is just 4.8 miles to the rim. Doesn’t sound so bad, right?

But then you look up at the rim and it’s just a giant wall of rock. It looks nearly impossible to hike up it. I had this weird combination of excitement and dread for what was still to come. But not Tyler. He was still smiling and full of energy.

The 3-Mile Resthouse, named for its distance from the rim, is a stone shelter with an emergency phone and seasonal water (typically late spring through early fall).

By now, you have already started winding your way up the switchbacks. Your thighs are burning, your lungs are burning, and most likely, part of you is wondering why you ever thought that this was going to be a fun thing to do.

The final three miles is killer. Take frequent breaks and even though you might not care anymore, try to enjoy the view across 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.

You will hike past the 1.5-Mile Resthouse, which has restrooms, an emergency phone, and seasonal water. We also had cell service on these last few miles of the hike.

The last 1.5 miles to the rim are the hardest of the day. Near the top, you pass through two short tunnels carved into the rock, a sure sign you’re almost done. And then, finally, you reach the Bright Angel Trailhead in Grand Canyon Village. Take a few celebratory photos, then go get a well-deserved meal. We usually celebrate with margaritas and salty Mexican food at Plaza Bonita in Tusayan.

From the Bright Angel Trailhead, enjoy the view and take a few celebratory photos.

Me and Tyler at the top of the Bright Angel Trail

From the trailhead, it’s a short walk to the Village Route shuttle bus, which takes you back to the Visitor Center and your car.

Our Hike: Split Times and Lessons Learned

Our original plan was to do this hike on Christmas day as a family. However, Kara was recovering from an injury so she had to sit this one out.

On Christmas Eve, Tyler and I did this as a day hike while Tim and Kara went on a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

The morning started off cold, with temperatures in the teens. Later in the day, the high temperature reached 52°F in Grand Canyon Village. This was great weather for hiking. We never got hot and we didn’t sweat very much, which meant that our demands for water were low. Tyler and I each carried 3 liters of water and maybe drank 2 liters during the hike.

We did have to be fast since limited daylight was a big factor. Sunrise was 7:30 am and sunset was at 5:15 pm. That gave us about 10 hours of daylight.

But we did this fast. Tyler and I did the entire hike in 6:48, including time to take photos, eat, and use the restroom.

Here is a breakdown of our times:

South Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Campground (7 miles): 2.5 hours
Bright Angel Campground to Havasupai Gardens (5 miles): 1.75 hours
Havasupai Gardens to South Rim (5 miles): 2.5 hours

The first seven miles goes fast. Since it is all down hill, it is easy to keep a fast pace. However, the views from the South Kaibab Trail are so spectacular that we stopped a lot for photos.

Our fastest section was on the Bright Angel Trail along the Colorado River and up to Havasupai Gardens. It’s an uphill walk but not overly steep so we kept the same pace as on the South Kaibab Trail. Plus, the views on this part of the Bright Angel Trail are nothing special, so we took very few photos.

The final four miles on the Bright Angel Trail take the longest. By now, you’re most likely feeling wiped out and those last, steep switchbacks really slow you down.

What We Learned:

The downhill is fast, but it’s not free. The South Kaibab Trail went quickly, even with all of our photo stops, because the views are so good. But by the river, my legs were already tired, and those same muscles still had 4,380 feet of climbing to do.

The last 4.5 miles take the longest. It took us as long to hike from Havasupai Gardens to the rim as it did to hike the entire 7 miles of the South Kaibab Trail. Plan for this when you’re setting your turnaround time. Being halfway done by distance is not the same as being halfway done by time.

Winter is a great time to do this hike, if you’re fast. Cool temperatures made this hike much easier on our bodies, and we didn’t need to carry or drink a lot of water. The trade-off is short daylight and ice on the upper South Kaibab Trail. If we did it again, I’d pick November, when it’s cool, crowds are low, and you get a little more daylight.

How Hard is South Kaibab to Bright Angel?

At the end of the hike, my Garmin watch told me that I just climbed 899 floors. If you were going to climb up the Empire State Building, it’s only 102 floors to the top. Imagine doing that almost 9 times.

In 2017, we hiked Half Dome in Yosemite as a day hike. The Half Dome hike is roughly the same distance but has slightly more elevation gain than this rim-to-rim hike. Even so, I say that this hike is slightly more difficult.

What makes hiking the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail so hard is the elevation profile. By the time you get to the Colorado River your legs are already feeling fatigued. Those same muscles now have to get you back up to the rim.

This is a true test of your endurance and you need to come prepared.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: If you want a similar experience but a shorter route, you can connect the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails with the Tonto Trail. The Tonto Trail runs from the Tip Off on the South Kaibab Trail to Indian Garden on the Bright Angel Trail. Essentially, the Tonto Trail is a short cut. You will not hike all of the way down to the Colorado River, but this is an option to shorten this loop. This hike is about 13 miles long.

How Fit Do You Need to Be?

If you are hiking the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail in one day, you need to be a very fit and fast hiker.

Before doing this hike, I was doing long runs of 8 miles with shorter runs during the week. I also swim and bike several days a week. Tyler was running Track and Cross Country and he had a very high level of physical fitness. Honestly, I struggled to keep up with him.

You also need to have hiking experience. There are no technical sections and the trail is so well marked that it would be almost impossible to lose your way, but it helps to have experience doing big climbs and big descents.

This is not a good hike for beginners since it covers such a long distance with so much elevation change.

If you plan to do this hike, you need to be in great physical shape. You should be able to walk 10 miles while wearing a backpack with little difficulty. 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.

I also recommend spending some time on a Stairmaster. I did not do this but I think it would help a lot, especially during the final three miles of the Bright Angel Trail.

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Best Time to Hike South Kaibab to Bright Angel

The best months to do this are in the spring and fall. Temperatures are pleasant and just as long as you are not here on a holiday weekend, crowds should be low.

The summer is the worst time to attempt this as a day hike. Soaring daytime temperatures can create a dangerous situation. Your water demands will be very high and you run the risk of getting heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

Winter can be a great time to do this hike but snow can make the trails slippery and potentially create a dangerous situation. When we did this in December, there was some snow and ice on the first section of the South Kaibab Trail.

If we did this again, I think that November would be a great time to do this hike. It’s cool but not too cold. Crowds will be low (aside from the days around Thanksgiving). And you have more daylight than during the winter months.

43°F 16°F

Jan

47°F 17°F

Feb

53°F 24°F

Mar

63°F 27°F

Apr

69°F 33°F

May

84°F 42°F

Jun

86°F 51°F

Jul

83°F 51°F

Aug

78°F 42°F

Sep

66°F 32°F

Oct

54°F 21°F

Nov

46°F 16°F

Dec

Average High/Low Temperatures – Grand Canyon South Rim

1.3in

Jan

1.0in

Feb

1.4in

Mar

0.4in

Apr

0.8in

May

0.4in

Jun

1.6in

Jul

2.4in

Aug

1.1in

Sep

0.9in

Oct

0.7in

Nov

0.9in

Dec

Average Precipitation – Grand Canyon South Rim

Shorter Option: South Kaibab, Tonto Trail, and Bright Angel

SOUTH KAIBAB, TONTO TRAIL & BRIGHT ANGEL LOOP | Open as of October 2026
DISTANCE | 13.5 miles
ELEVATION LOSS | 3,260 feet to the Tip-Off, plus rolling terrain on the Tonto Trail
ELEVATION GAIN | About 3,060 feet from Havasupai Gardens to the South Rim, plus small climbs on the Tonto Trail
DIFFICULTY | Very strenuous
TIME | 7 to 10 hours for most hikers
WATER | None on the South Kaibab or Tonto Trails; Havasupai Gardens water is currently turned off

If you want a big Grand Canyon day hike but without going all the way to the river, there’s a shortcut. The Tonto Trail runs across the Tonto Plateau, connecting the South Kaibab Trail at the Tip-Off with the Bright Angel Trail just below Havasupai Gardens. Linking the three trails creates a 13.5-mile hike that skips the steepest descent to the Colorado River and the 1,000-plus feet you’d have to climb back up from it.

Right now, this is the only way to hike from the South Kaibab Trail to the Bright Angel Trail. After the August 2026 flood, the South Kaibab Trail is closed below the Tip-Off and both river bridges are closed, but the full loop on the Tonto Trail is open.

How the Route Works:

South Kaibab Trailhead to the Tip-Off (4.4 miles): Hike down the South Kaibab Trail past Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point, exactly as described above.
Tip-Off to Havasupai Gardens on the Tonto Trail (4.6 miles): Turn west onto the Tonto Trail. It rolls across the open Tonto Plateau, in and out of side drainages, with views down into the inner gorge.
Havasupai Gardens to the Bright Angel Trailhead (4.5 miles): Climb out on the Bright Angel Trail past the 3-Mile and 1.5-Mile Resthouses.

What to Know:

You won’t reach the Colorado River. The Tonto Trail stays high above the river, so you miss the bridges and the walk along the river at the bottom. For a river view, take the 1.5-mile spur from Havasupai Gardens to Plateau Point, which adds 3 miles round trip.

The Tonto Trail is completely exposed. There’s no shade and no water on this section, and it gets hot on the Tonto Plateau. It’s also narrower and much less traveled than the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails, so you may have it to yourself.

Carry all of your water. In normal conditions, you could refill at Havasupai Gardens before the climb out. Right now, the water is turned off there and at both resthouses, so carry enough for the entire day, plus a filter for emergencies.

It’s still a very big day. This route is shorter, but you still descend more than 3,000 feet and then climb more than 3,000 feet back to the rim. The NPS advice about day hiking below the rim applies here too.

Who it’s best for: This is a great choice for fit hikers who want a big Grand Canyon day without committing to the full 16.5 miles. It’s also the best option for anyone visiting while the inner canyon is closed.

Packing List

Tyler and I each wore a hiking backpack. Here is what we carried with us:

Food: Energy bars, beef jerky, pretzels, dried fruit
Water: 3 liters each in a Camelback Reservoir
Katadyn Water Filter
Canon 5D Mark IV camera on a cross-body strap
First Aid Kit
2 Petzl Headlamps
Cell phones (we had service on the final 4 miles of the Bright Angel Trail)
Garmin GPS
Hiking poles
Sunscreen

I also wear a Garmin Fenix 8 watch. This is one of my favorite gadgets. While hiking, I had instant access to all kinds of numbers like altitude, heart rate, time and distance. It even shows the hiking trail and our location on a map.

Hiking Gear Guide

Essential Hiking Gear: What Should You Bring on a Day Hike?

If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails.

Tips to Have the Best Experience

Start early in the day. This will give you the maximum amount of daylight. 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.

Check trail and water conditions the day before. Closures and waterline breaks happen often in the Grand Canyon. Check the NPS trail status page or stop at the Backcountry Information Center the day before your hike, and plan your water around what’s actually turned on.

Eat salty snacks along with your water. Drinking lots of water without eating can be just as dangerous as dehydration, because it dilutes the sodium in your blood (hyponatremia). Pair your water with salty snacks or electrolyte drinks, especially on warmer days.

Carry a headlamp, even if you plan to finish in daylight. Tyler and I each carried one. Early starts often begin in the dark, and if anything slows you down, you don’t want to be on the switchbacks after sunset without a light.

Take care of your feet. Wear well-broken-in hiking shoes with good grip. Trim your toenails before the hike, since 7 miles of downhill jams your toes into the front of your shoes. Pack moleskin or blister tape and use it at the first hot spot.

Use the shade and water to cool down. On warm days, take your breaks in the shade at Havasupai Gardens and the resthouses. Soaking your hat or shirt in water is one of the best ways to stay cool on the climb out. When we hiked rim-to-rim in June, I would lie down in the river to cool off.

Dress in layers. Temperatures can swing 20 degrees or more between the rim and the river. On our December hike, it was in the teens when we started and comfortable at the bottom. Start with a warm layer you can take off, and keep a light jacket for the end of the hike.

Tell someone your plan. Share your route, start time, and expected finish time with someone who isn’t hiking with you.

Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at The Grand Hotel in Tusayan. It is the highest rated hotel in the area. The hotel looks impressive from the outside and the lobby is very nice but the rooms are nothing special. On Booking.com it is listed as a 5-star hotel but it looks and feels a lot more like a 3 to 4 star hotel. However, the rooms are clean and quiet and fit our needs.

Is South Kaibab to Bright Angel Worth It? Our Take

Yes, absolutely, if you’re fit enough and you go at the right time of year. Of all of the big hikes we’ve done in the US national parks, this one is still one of our favorites.

What we love: Nothing beats standing on the rim, looking out at the Colorado River nearly a mile below, and knowing you’ll walk there and back in one day. The South Kaibab Trail has some of the best views in the entire park, and crossing the Colorado River is unforgettable. There is something truly special about walking from the rim to the river and getting a sense of how immense the Grand Canyon is. We also love doing hard things, and this is a tough day hike.

Who should do it: Strong, experienced hikers who are comfortable with long days and big elevation changes, and who can time their hike for spring, fall, or winter.

Who should skip it: First-time hikers, anyone visiting in summer, and anyone unsure whether they can climb 4,380 feet at the end of a long day. Hike to Skeleton Point, hike down to Havasupai Gardens, or try the shorter Tonto Trail loop instead. You’ll still get an amazing look inside the Grand Canyon.

Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim

If South Kaibab to Bright Angel leaves you wanting more, the next step is the full rim-to-rim hike.

Six months after hiking the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails, Tim and I returned the Grand Canyon and hiked rim-to-rim…North Rim to the South Rim. It’s a massive hike, 23.5 miles in length, that crosses the Grand Canyon from one side to the other.

It’s challenging, it requires advance planning, and a high level of physical fitness and prior hiking experience are a necessity.

Current closure: The North Kaibab Trail is fully closed after the August 2026 flood, so rim-to-rim hikes aren’t possible right now.

We have two guides to help you plan it. The first covers the hike from start to finish, and the second covers the logistics: training, packing, arranging a shuttle between the rims, and whether to do it in one day or several.

Rim-to-Rim Hike in One Day: Everything You Need to Know

Pinterest Facebook Flipboard Awe-inspiring, challenging, exhausting, unforgettable…these are all words to describe the trek across the Grand Canyon. If you are up for a big adventure, hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim is one for the bucket list. This is the land of extremes. In the summer months, the temperature can fluctuate along the trail as […]

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike: Planning Guide and Checklist

Hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim is a bucket list adventure. Over the course of nearly 24 miles, hikers descend below the level of the rim, cross the mighty Colorado River, and climb back up the other side. It’s challenging, it’s exhilarating, and it is truly an unforgettable experience. However, this is a massive hike and […]

Plan Your Trip to the Grand Canyon

See the best of the South Rim: Our Best Things to Do on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon guide covers the top viewpoints, hikes, and experiences for your visit.
Want to see the canyon from above?: Our Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour guide covers what Tim and Kara’s flight was like and how to choose a tour.
Planning your whole visit: Our Grand Canyon National Park Travel Guide covers all of our articles about the park.
Visiting from Las Vegas: Our Grand Canyon Road Trip: 5 Itineraries from Las Vegas guide covers how to fit the Grand Canyon into trips of different lengths.
Tackle more epic national park hikes: Our Best Hikes in the US National Parks guide covers our favorite big hikes, including this one.
Visiting more national parks: Our Ultimate Guide to the 64 US National Parks covers every park, with links to our guides from the 56 we’ve visited.

Did we miss anything? If you have questions or want to share your experience, comment below! Many other people have written in with their experiences, which you can also read in the comment section.

Our Grand Canyon & US National Park Hiking Guides

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How to hike the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. Learn how to do this as a day hike, with map and lots of photos so you know exactly what to expect.