Grand Canyon

The Arizona Trail is an ambitious project that traverses the length of Arizona from the Utah border to Mexico. A section of this trail enters the park near the North Entrance and roughly parallels the highway until it connects with the North Kaibab Trail, a distance of approximately 10 miles (16 km).

The Backcountry Info Center is open daily from 8 am–noon; and 1 pm–5 pm, and provides information, permits, and trip planning assistance about day and overnight hikes into the canyon. The building is located in the village by Parking Lot D, and across the railroad tracks from Maswik Lodge. Park in Lot D, then take the free, early morning Hikers' Express bus from Backcountry Info Center to South Kaibab Trailhead.

Parking Lot D has 150 standard parking spaces, and 30 sized for RVs or buses. Those planning to hike out or the canyon on nearby Bright Angel Trail, often will park here in Lot D. The Backcountry Information Center provides restrooms, water, trail information, and helpful park rangers ready to answer your questions and help plan your trip. The early morning Hikers' Express shuttle bus also stops here daily on its way to the South Kaibab Trailhead.

This trail follows the road (AZ 67) and connects Grand Canyon Lodge with the North Rim Campground, the Backcountry Information Center, and North Kaibab Trailhead. It is 1.9 miles through the forest, with minimal elevation gain. Bicycles and leashed pets are permitted on this hard-packed trail.

This trail follows the road (67) and connects Grand Canyon Lodge with the North Rim Campground, the Backcountry Information Center, and North Kaibab Trailhead. It is 1.9 miles through the forest, with minimal elevation gain. Bicycles and leashed pets are permitted on this hard-packed trail.

Thousands of feet of exposed rock layers at Grand Canyon provide a veritable playground for scientists to explore and this site tells the tale of a world far different than the one we see here today. With careful eyes the exposed fossilized remains of creatures from an ancient marine environment can be seen.

Located on Village Loop Road and just east of Bright Angel Lodge, this shuttle stop offers quick access to the canyon rim. Thunderbird and Kachina lodges (guest rooms) and Bright Angel Lodge (including Fred Harvey Burger, Bright Angel Coffee Bar and Fountain). The early morning Hikers' Express Shuttle, with service to South Kaibab Trailhead, also departs daily from this stop.

This narrow, paved path provides spectacular views, though it drops off dramatically on both sides in some places, and certain sections are surprisingly steep.

The most popular hiking trail at Grand Canyon, the Bright Angel Trail lets hikers walk in the footsteps of the canyon's Indigenous Peoples, miners, and early tourists, as they descend into the canyon's depths. Offering big views, morning and afternoon shade, resthouses, vault toilets, and water during the summer, this trail offers an excellent first trip into the canyon.

The Bright Angel Trailhead is located just west of Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio, and Kolb Studio. At 6,840 feet (2,085 m), it provides access for hikers and mules to many inner canyon destinations.

This relatively flat, forested trail leads hikers 2.1 miles (3.4 k) to the end of Cape Final, for a 4.2 miles (6.8 k) round trip hike. The trail begins at a dirt parking lot 2.4 miles (3.9 k) north of the Cape Royal parking lot. The first half of this rocky trail is entirely within the forest, but views of Grand Canyon begin peaking through the trees around the halfway mark. The trail comes to an end at Cape Final, one of the most spectacular viewpoints on the North Rim.

Cape Royal Road is a fantastic scenic drive leading to various points of interest, including Point Imperial and Cape Royal .Diverse viewpoints and several trails can be reached via this winding scenic drive.

Trailhead for Cathedral Wash hike

This short, unique trail is accessed from a pullout on the left side of a curve in the road, 0.3 miles (0.5 km) from Cape Royal. The trail heads down along a wash down into a forested ravine.

It can be hard to put into context how vast Grand Canyon is. Nestled between the Kolb Studio and the Bright Angel Trail, this wayside attempts to put it into perspective, while offering sweeping overlooks of the canyon itself.

CLOSED FOR THE WINTER between October 16, 2022 and June 1, 2023. Grand Canyon Conservancy's store within the North Rim Visitor Center building features a wide variety of books, maps, and gifts to help you plan or remember your trip to Grand Canyon and to learn more about its geology, ecology, and history. Opens for the 2023 season on June 2, 2023.

This terminal is the main hub for the park's free shuttle buses. During spring, Village (Blue) Route shuttle connects the Visitor Center Plaza with lodges, campgrounds, the Backcountry Information Center, and Market Plaza (market, deli, outside ATM, and U.S, Post Office) The Kaibab Rim (Orange Route) eastbound to South Kaibab Trailhead, or westbound to Yavapai Geology Museum. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Tusayan (Purple) Route shuttle is in service.

This popular viewpoint offers panoramic views of Grand Canyon from east to west, including several bends of the Colorado River to the east, a restroom, a hiking trail, and parking for larger vehicles.

First used by American Indians who gathered mineral paints on Horseshoe Mesa, and later by copper miners, the Grandview Trail is a rocky, exposed, strenuous trail requiring experience and caution. Big steps and extreme pitches intensify this hike.

This shuttle stop provides access to both the Bright Angel Trailhead and the first shuttle stop on the Hermit (Red) Route. During December, January and February, Hermit Road is open to private vehicles, and the Hermit Road Shuttle (Red) Route is not in service. Located at the western end of Grand Canyon Village, this shuttle stop also provides access to the historic village and the paved Canyon Rim Trail heading west along Hermit Road, 7.5 miles towards Hermits Rest.

The Hermit Trail was originally built by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1911 and provided access to the developed luxury Hermit Camp and Waldron Basin tourist areas. Today, the Hermit Trail still offers experienced, knowledgeable canyon backpackers a direct link to the excitement and romance of the early days at Grand Canyon.

Hermits Rest is the historic and iconic building at the end of Hermit Road. It offers a gift shop and snack bar. Hours of operations: 9 am to 5 pm daily. From March 1 through November 30, access is by Hermit (Red) Route shuttle bus, on foot, or by bicycle. Restrooms and a water bottle filling station are available outside, behind the main building. Hermits Rest was designed by Mary Colter to resemble an old miner's cabin, with native stonework and a giant alcove fireplace.

The final shuttle stop on the Hermit Road (Red) Route, where shuttle buses turn around and begin their return trip back to the Village, Hermits Rest provides access to the only water bottle filling station along Hermit Road, restrooms, a snack bar, gift shop, Hermit Trail, the western end of the Rim Trail, and beautiful canyon views.

Sitting directly on the rim of Grand Canyon in the center of the historic Village, this lodge is within close walking distance to restaurants, gifts shops, Kolb Studio, Verkamp's Visitor Center, and Bright Angel Trailhead .Kachina Lodge was built in 1968 as part of a plan by the National Park Service to expand services at parks across the country.

The 3 mile (4.9 km) eastern section of Ken Patrick trail from Point Imperial to Cape Royal Road is scenic with great views of the canyon and a recovering section North Rim forest which has experienced several fires in the area over the last few years.

This scenic, hilly section of trail follows the rim to Cape Royal Road. Many parts are recovering from wildfire, providing vast views and making it quite exposed to sun, wind, and cold. This is a great hike from Point Imperial, whether you hike the whole section or turn around after a few minutes.

Open 8 am to 7 pm daily. This restored building was a family home, auditorium and photography studio. As you enter the upper level, there is a shop with books, gifts, and souvenirs. Stairs descend into the exhibit hall where the Amazing Kolb Brothers Exhibit, A Grand Life at Grand Canyon is featured. Photographers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb helped turn the Grand Canyon into a national icon. They built Kolb Studio, one of the earliest tourist destinations on the South Rim.

Colorado River boat launch for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park ( permit required ).

From the Visitor Center shuttle bus terminal, Mather Point is the first stop on the Westbound Kaibab/Rim (Orange) Route. From here the bus travels to Yavapai Geology Museum, then returns directly to the Visitor Center. From this bus stop, a very short walk will take you to a wide open vista of Grand Canyon. However, the wheelchair accessible, Mather Point overlook is a short walk further east (to the right when facing the canyon).

The North Kaibab Trail is the least visited and most difficult of the major inner canyon trails at Grand Canyon National Park. Beginning 1,000 feet (305 m) higher than South Rim trails, hikers can glimpse the vast expanse of Bright Angel Canyon through fir trees, aspen, ferns and wildflowers. Built throughout the 1920s to match the quality and grade of the South Kaibab Trail, the present-day North Kaibab Trail replaced an older route infamous for crossing Bright Angel Creek.

The North Rim's Backcountry Office provides information, permits, and trip planning assistance for those looking to explore Grand Canyon on day and overnight hikes from the north side of Grand Canyon.

This picnic area, located just east of the shuttle-bus-only Yaki Point Road on the south side of Desert View Drive, has shaded picnic tables and restrooms. There is, unfortunately, no view of Grand Canyon from this picnic area.

This is the first pullout on the left as you head east toward Desert View on Desert View Drive. It can be accessed by private vehicle or by using the free Kaibab/Rim Route (Orange) shuttle bus, which departs from the Visitor Center Shuttle Bus Terminal. Pipe Creek Vista is not the "biggest" view of the canyon, but the drainage stretching away from you is nicely framed by Mather and Yaki points.

Located west of Yaki Point and the South Kaibab Trailhead, this shuttle stop provides visitors with spectacular views across the canyon from South Rim to North Rim. The paved Canyon Rim Trail may be accessed here. This section of the Rim Trail is also part of the Greenway bicycle path, which runs east from here to the South Kaibab Trailhead and west to the Visitor Center.

The highest point on the rim of Grand Canyon at 8,803 feet (2,683 m), Point Imperial is also the most northern boundary of the park. From here, visitors have views of the Painted Desert and the eastern end of Grand Canyon. It is from this area that the canyon transforms from the narrow walls of Marble Canyon, visible only as a winding gash, to a more open and dramatic "grand" canyon. Layers of red and black Precambrian rocks, not visible at Bright Angel Point, add contrast

Talk to a park ranger beforehand if you are interested in this trail, as it has not been maintained recently.<br /><br />Located at the left end of the Point Imperial parking lot, this 4.0 mile (6.4 km) trail passes through areas burned by the 2000 Outlet Fire and ends at the northern park boundary. From there, connections are possible to the Nankoweap Trail and Kaibab National Forest.

A mostly paved path along the edge of Grand Canyon offers countless views of wide canyon vistas and the mighty Colorado River along the south rim of Grand Canyon from South Kaibab Trailhead to Hermits Rest.

The South Kaibab Trail is a well-defined, well-maintained dirt trail offering wonderful expansive views. This can be a great trail for short trips into the canyon of half a day or less, but the openness of this trail lends itself to extreme heat during the summer months and little to no protection from passing storms.

Just a 6-minute ride from Grand Canyon Visitor Center, this shuttle stop is the easiest way to access South Kaibab Trailhead. Running from pre-sunrise, to just after sunset year-round, the bus will drop you off next to the water filling station and vault toilets, a short walk from the trailhead. From this location, you also can walk west along the paved Canyon Rim Trail and return to the Visitor Center, a distance of 2.3 miles/ 3.7 km.

Designated water bottle filling stations have been installed in high traffic areas on both the South and North Rims, making it easy to refill your reusable water bottle or any container you might have with you. Grand Canyon National Park does not encourage the use of disposable water bottles, and these water stations promote the use of reusable water bottles and reduce waste.<br /><br />Water filling stations, fountains, and sinks provide free, Grand Canyon spring water from the park's approved water supply via pipeline from Roaring Springs. <br /><br />The pipeline is one of the most complicated civil engineering infrastructures in the entire National Park Service with water traveling by gravity assist from the spring near the North Rim all the way to the South Rim. This lone spring provides water to over 2,000 year-round residents in the park and more than 6 million annual visitors.

This simple stone corral marks the beginning of the longest running tour operation in Grand Canyon history, the mule rides of Grand Canyon.

This historic trail is the primary access for hikers into eastern Grand Canyon. It ranks as one of the most difficult and demanding trails in the park.

From this bus stop, you can follow the sidewalk and cross at the crosswalk to the train depot, or take the stairs or a wheelchair accessible ramp to climb a hill to reach the rim of the canyon and enjoy classic Grand Canyon vistas by El Tovar Hotel, Hopi House, and Verkamp's Visitor Center.

This moderate level trail wanders up and down the canyon rim along The Transept, a beautiful side canyon to the west of Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Campground. It also links to the northern portion of Bridle Path and the Backcountry Information Center. While this trail is not overly difficult, be advised that some portions wind steeply through woodlands and open vistas.

This moderate level trail wanders up and down the canyon rim along The Transept, a beautiful side canyon to the west of Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Campground. It also links to the northern portion of Bridle Path and the Backcountry Information Center. While this trail is not overly difficult, be advised that some portions wind steeply through woodlands and open vistas. <br /><br />Be on the lookout for Mule deer and other wildlife!

The Uncle Jim Trail is a loop accessed via the Ken Patrick Trail from the parking area for the North Kaibab Trailhead. After winding through the forest on Ken Patrick Trail for 0.9 miles (1.5 km), bear right and walk for another 0.4 miles (0.6 km). At this point, you have the option of heading left or right. Either direction is part of the same loop on this trail. Both lead to a point overlooking the canyon and North Kaibab Trail switchbacks.

Located west of Bright Angel Lodge, at the start of Hermit Road and beside a canyon overlook, this shuttle stop is just a few steps west of the Village (Blue) Route shuttle stop for the Hermit Road Interchange and Bright Angel Trailhead. Hermit Road, is a scenic 7 mile (11 km) road out to Hermits Rest, and the Hermit Trailhead. Along the way, there are 9 outstanding viewpoints, each with a designated bus stop.

Wander through a blend of spectacular forest and canyon scenery, even if just for a portion of this 5-mile trail. The first 3 miles of the trail meander back and forth along the rim of Transept Canyon, so turning around within that portion makes for a lovely round trip hike that is less than 6 miles. If you choose to hike to Widforss Point at the end of the trail, you'll be rewarded with a unique and expansive view.

Yaki Point is the only viewpoint on Desert View Drive that is closed to private vehicles. It can only be visited on foot, bicycle, or by taking the free Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route shuttle, departing from the Visitor Center Transit Terminal. Yaki Point is often a quiet place from which to enjoy sunset or sunrise, with expansive views both to the east and west. 

Located on the northeast end of the parking lot below Yavapai Geology Museum, this shuttle stop is for passengers arriving from, or returning to the Visitor Center. The small restroom building is alongside the parking lot. The level footpath behind the shuttle stop goes to the outdoor amphitheater on the rim. Follow the path up the hill to Yavapai Geology Museum and Yavapai Point. The paved Canyon Rim Trail goes both east and west from here.