An Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon: Top Tours, Trails, and Tips

Editor's Note: While travel may have its challenges, explore our inspiring trip ideas to prepare for your next dream adventure.

Exploring Grand Canyon National Park is not for the timid (or those with weak legs). This immense desert expanse is characterized by towering cliffs, steep drop-offs, and loose, rocky terrain. The weather can be unpredictable, swinging from intense heat to fierce thunderstorms, depending on the season and the section of the canyon you venture into. Fortunately, we've compiled the best hiking trails, tours, and tips for the Grand Canyon, ensuring you're ready for your next excursion, whether you’re tackling the canyon from rim to rim or embarking on a simple day hike.

"No trail in the Grand Canyon is easy," states Andrea Ross, a former ranger and hiking guide. Stretching 277 miles from East Rim to West Rim, the canyon measures about 18 miles across from North Rim to South Rim, plunging more than 6,000 feet from the top to the canyon floor. However, for those fit enough to handle the steep descents and even steeper climbs, hiking through this magnificent canyon rewards you with breathtaking views and incredible wilderness adventures.

From short day hikes to multi-night backcountry adventures featuring slot canyons, waterfalls, and more, it's easy to see why the Grand Canyon is a must-visit destination for any thrill-seeking hiker.

Hiking Tours in the Grand Canyon

For over a century, explorers have been immersing themselves in the immense and timeless beauty of this national park on foot. While hikers can obtain permits through a lottery system up to a year in advance for certain trails, trusted outfitters offer a range of tours that alleviate the hassle of logistical planning while providing an added layer of expertise and safety. "In the backcountry, it’s reassuring for people to be with someone familiar with the trails, trained in first aid, and equipped to communicate effectively if necessary. Guides offer all of that," explains Andy Kronen, REI Adventures program manager who collaborates with local guides to craft REI's Grand Canyon trips. "There's also the educational element, enjoying the experience with someone who can share insights about the natural history, geology, flora, and fauna you encounter."

A highlight of REI Adventures' Grand Canyon offerings is a seven-day, rim-to-rim journey that features two nights at the iconic Phantom Ranch. The trip includes guiding services, meals, permits, and the hard-to-get reservations for Phantom Ranch, all covered in the package price.

For over 25 years, the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute has partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) "to deliver educational programs that enhance the park's interpretive initiatives." They provide day hikes and multi-day excursions, including mule-assisted adventures.

Wildland Trekking provides a variety of hiking and backpacking adventures in the Grand Canyon. Their base camp trips enable hikers to set up a campsite in the park and embark on day hikes along the rim and into the canyon, returning each evening.

Hiking Trails of the Grand Canyon

Beginner: Cape Final – This 4-mile roundtrip hike on the North Rim offers a secluded, tranquil experience with a relatively flat path, making it accessible for all skill levels. The trail diverts from busier paths and rewards hikers with expansive views of the eastern Grand Canyon, featuring Vishnu Temple and Jupiter Temple.

Moderate: South Kaibab Trail – Starting at Yaki Point on the South Rim, this trail leads hikers down 4,500 feet over nearly seven miles along a ridge to the Kaibab Suspension Bridge, which crosses the Colorado River. Classified as a moderate hike, the 1.5-mile trek to Cedar Ridge makes for a fantastic day hike, or you can continue to the river for an overnight adventure. This trail conveniently connects to Bright Angel for a longer but more gradual ascent the following day. If it's your first time hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim, consider the North Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Trail route.

Moderate: Ribbon Falls – Once you reach the canyon floor, the trek to Ribbon Falls is an 11-mile roundtrip hike starting from Phantom Ranch or a nearby campsite. This hike offers a refreshing escape from the heat as it leads adventurers through vibrant vegetation to a hidden, cool oasis.

Expert: Grandview Trail – One of the Grand Canyon's lesser-known routes, Grandview is less maintained than others and is classified as an expert-level hike. Originally developed as a mining path, this trail features steep drop-offs, with upper sections often covered in snow and ice during non-summer months.

Best Day Hike in the Grand Canyon

Spanning nearly 10 miles one-way, Bright Angel is the most popular hiking trail in the Grand Canyon. Easily accessible from the South Rim—its trailhead is located just west of Bright Angel Lodge in Grand Canyon Village—this trail provides stunning views and can be shortened at any point for a day hike. The dirt path includes several water stations and shaded rest stops, making it the safest trail in the canyon. The initial four miles are steep, featuring a series of switchbacks until reaching Indian Garden, where the trail levels out and culminates at Bright Angel Campground.

Hiking Tips for the Grand Canyon and Essential Information

Park entry fees: According to the National Park Service website, a Vehicle Permit for Grand Canyon National Park costs $35, allowing one vehicle and all its passengers to enter for seven days. An annual pass is available for $70, while motorcycle entry costs $30. If you reach the Grand Canyon by alternative means, such as biking, park shuttle bus, walking, private rafting, or the Grand Canyon Railway, a fee of $20 per person for an individual permit applies (children under 15 enter for free).

Always visit the Grand Canyon website before planning your trip — it contains crucial updates regarding accessibility and potential hazards within the park.

Weather at the Grand Canyon

Northern Arizona experiences all four seasons, so hikers should be ready for extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, depending on the season. In summer, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, prompting many hikers to start their journeys before dawn and finish by noon. The best times for hiking are spring and fall.

Tips for Staying Safe

Hiking in the desert emphasizes the importance of hydration and nutrition. Due to the dry air, high altitudes, extreme temperatures, and limited water sources, hikers should carry plenty of water and food with salt to help retain fluids. The sun can be harsh during summer, making adequate headgear essential. For challenging sections, good balance is crucial, and hikers should be ready for steep drops and exposed trails.