How to Find Trails in Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park, featuring a huge and beautiful hole in the ground in Arizona, is a destination for thousands of visitors yearly. No matter when you look into the canyon, you'll see something different. You can even look away and look back and see that the light has changed. See the canyon by taking the trails that meander up and down and through it. Just remember that every step you take down into the canyon leads to another step up to return.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hiking shoes
• Daypack with water and emergency supplies
• Maps
• Camera

1. Hike down Bright Angel Trail. Go down to the 1.5 Mile Rest House, 3 Mile Rest House, Indian Garden (4.5 miles) or Plateau Point (6 miles) overlooking the Colorado River. This is where the one-day mule trips go and is easily visible from the lodge area.

2. Try the Kaibab Trail. Go down to Cedar Ridge, 1.5 miles down.

3. Do a day hike on Grandview Trail. It's 3 miles to the mines on Horseshoe Mesa. There is no water and some exposure, but you'll have wonderful views.

4. Hike South Kaibab Trail. The trail begins on the South Rim near Yaki Point and descends to the Colorado River. Elevation change from rim to river is 4620 feet, along a 6-mile trail. There is no water available and little shade on this trail. Most people hike down the Kaibab and up the Bright Angel. This is strenuous and only the most experienced hikers should try it. The temperature can reach over 100 degrees F at the bottom of the canyon, and the only water available is what you have carried.

5. Try an easer hike on River Trail. This trail has little elevation variation and follows the Colorado River for 1.7 miles between the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails.

6. Try Bright Angel Trail, constructed in 1891. Elevation change from rim to river is 4420 feet along the 9.5 mile trail to Bright Angel Campground at the River. Usually there is water at the 1.5 Mile Rest House and the 3 Mile Rest House. There is a campground and water at Indian Garden.

7. Go to the north rim of Grand Canyon to the North Kaibab Trail.The trail begins on the North Rim at the head of Roaring Springs Canyon and descends via Bright Angel Creek to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. Elevation from rim to river is 5841 feet along the 14.5-mile trail.

8. Be careful of The Nankoweap Trail. It descends 5240 feet from Saddle Mountain to the Colorado River in 14 long, hot, exhausting miles. This trail is considered to be the hardest of the trails in the Canyon. There have been deaths from heat exhaustion. Do not try this unless you are an experienced hiker.

9. Hike the Lava Falls Trail. This is the shortest trail to the River, giving access to one of the most exciting and spectacular of the rapids, Lava Falls. The trail begins at Vulcan's Throne. Although it is only 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the Colorado River, the descent is an amazing 2500 feet. This is a difficult trail that was probably used by the Anasazi thousands of years ago.

Tips & Warnings

• The hiking trails in Grand Canyon can be dangerous. The mule trip to the bottom shows you how the temperature changes and makes you wonder how your mule stays on that narrow path with you on its back.