A Variety of Ways to See the Grand Canyon By Foot

There are two ways to hike at the Grand Canyon – hiking to see the canyon (along the rim) and hiking to experience the canyon (below the rim). By the way, we are focusing here on the South Rim which is open all year round and is the most popular part of the canyon.

Hoofing it on the Awe-Inspiring Rim Trail

Everyone at the South Rim will walk at least a portion of the Rim Trail during a visit to the Grand Canyon. Mostly level and often paved, the path winds for 13 miles from the South Kaibab Trailhead through Grand Canyon Village and out to Hermits Rest. A shuttle bus runs alongside the route to enable any length of hike between viewpoints.

Speaking of those viewpoints – where’s the Colorado River? Yavapai Point offers a slight glimpse of the mighty river but it is not until hiking just west of Bright Angel Lodge along the Hermit Road that you will be awarded fantastic views of the rapids below – a vertical mile below the rim. By the time you reach Monument Creek Vista you can beautiful, long stretches of the Colorado River.

Beneath the Rim

There are three user-friendly trails that are easily accessible to visitors to the main part of the park at the South Rim. Of these, the most famous – and popular – is the Bright Angel Trail, a well-maintained dirt path that snakes six miles down to Plateau Point, a destination renowned for its sunsets. Water is available seasonally and rest houses are available at the 1.5- and 3-mile points that make attractive destinations for turn-around points.

The South Kaibab Trail is also well-maintained and serves up spectacular canyon views on shorter hikes. Cedar Ridge is one and one-half miles from the rim and makes for a vigorous journey for casual hikers. Continuing another 1.5 miles to Skeleton Point offers the first views of the Colorado River and makes for a hearty 6-mile roundtrip journey.

The Hermit Trail at the far western terminus of the South Rim visitor area is unmaintained and steep. Below the rim it splits, offering hikes towards a couple of springs (water must be treated) which make enticing hiking destinations. Since the conditions are tougher than either of the two maintained trails, the Hermit Trail is recommended for experienced desert hikers if you wish to see the Grand Canyon this way.

Those are your best day hike options. At Four Seasons, we are not always in such a hurry to get back to the rim. We have three- and four-day adventures to the canyon floor that connect the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails and bed down in the historic canyon campgrounds. And a more off-the-beaten-path adventure connects the Hermit and Bright Angel trails.