Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

Rim to Rim is the classic crossing of the Grand Canyon on foot, from the forested North Rim down to the Colorado River and up to the South Rim. The usual route follows the North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead (2,512 m, 8,241 ft) past Roaring Springs and Cottonwood Campground to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon, crosses the river on the Silver Bridge and climbs the Bright Angel Trail to Grand Canyon Village. It is about 38 km (23.5 miles) with about 1,800 m (5,900 ft) of descent and 1,500 m (4,900 ft) of climbing. Most backpackers take 2 or 3 days, sleeping in the inner-canyon campgrounds or at Phantom Ranch.

Closed in autumn 2026: read this first

A Rim to Rim crossing is not possible in autumn 2026. On 29 August 2026 a flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon destroyed nearly all the footbridges over Bright Angel Creek. The National Park Service has closed the whole North Kaibab Trail (including Cottonwood Campground), Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Black and Silver Bridges and the River Trail, with no reopening date. A planned closure for Transcanyon Waterline work (Redwall Bridge to Cottonwood, from 15 October 2026 to about February 2027) comes on top. On the south side, the Bright Angel Trail is open only to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse, with the section down to Havasupai Gardens closed until at least 22 October, and the South Kaibab Trail is open only to Tip-Off.

The South Rim is under Stage 4 water restrictions: the lodges in Grand Canyon Village are closed to overnight guests until at least 19 November 2026, and Mather Campground is dry camping only. Check the NPS Key Hiking Messages page before you book anything; the rest of this guide describes the crossing as it works when the trails are open.

The route

This guide follows the route mapped on OpenStreetMap from north to south, the direction most hikers choose, and splits the walk into 3 stages, about 12.5 km each.

• Day 1, North Kaibab Trailhead to Cottonwood Campground (10.9 km): a steep descent through burned forest, the Supai Tunnel and the Redwall Bridge, then along cliffs cut into the Redwall limestone to Roaring Springs and Manzanita. You lose almost 1,300 m.
• Day 2, Cottonwood to Phantom Ranch (about 11 km): a gentler walk down Bright Angel Creek, with a side trip to Ribbon Falls, through the narrow, hot walls of "The Box" to Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground beside the Colorado.
• Day 3, Phantom Ranch to the South Rim (15.9 km): across the Silver Bridge, west on the River Trail to Pipe Creek, then up the Bright Angel Trail past Havasupai Gardens and the Three-Mile and Mile-and-a-Half Resthouses to the trailhead at Bright Angel Lodge. NPS says 7 to 8 hours is average for this climb.

Many hikers add a third night at Havasupai Gardens (7.3 km below the rim) to split the climb.

When to go

The North Rim is normally open from 15 May to 15 October, so the crossing is a late spring or autumn trip. Late May, early June and late September to mid-October are best. From June to August the inner canyon is dangerously hot and can pass 43 °C (110 °F); NPS advises not to hike between 10 am and 4 pm from May to September. July to September also brings monsoon thunderstorms and flash floods, as in 2026.

How hard is it?

Hard. The distances are short, but the descent is long and steep, the climb out is relentless and heat is the main danger. You need good fitness, broken-in boots, trekking poles and a plan for water. NPS does not recommend going from the rim to the river and back in one day; a one-day crossing is only for very fit, experienced hikers.

Permits and booking

• Backcountry permit: required for every night below the rim. Apply in the Early Access Lottery on Recreation.gov, open from the 16th of the month five months before your start month to the 1st four months before. Remaining space goes on sale on the 1st of the next month. Fees: $10 per application plus $15 per person per night. Groups of 1–6 have better odds; 11 is the maximum. You may spend at most two nights in each campground.
• Phantom Ranch: cabins and hiker dorms (dorm beds $90 in 2026) are allocated by an online lottery run by Xanterra many months ahead; meals must be booked in advance.
• Park entry: $35 per vehicle or $20 per person on foot, and since 2026 an extra $100 for each non-US resident aged 16 or over unless they hold an annual pass.
• Day hikers do not need a permit, but organised groups of 12–30 need a Special Use Permit.

Getting there and away

The two rims are 346 km (215 miles) apart by road, 4 to 5 hours by car. The Trans-Canyon Shuttle runs between the South Rim and the North Kaibab Trailhead while the North Rim is open; book it before your permit dates are fixed. The South Rim is about 1.5 hours from Flagstaff (airport, Amtrak); Groome Transportation runs buses from Flagstaff to the village. The nearest lodging to the North Rim in 2026 is outside the park at Kaibab Lodge and Jacob Lake, because Grand Canyon Lodge burned in the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire.

Money and phone signal

The US dollar is the currency, and cards are accepted almost everywhere. There is a market and ATM in South Rim village, and only a small seasonal store on the North Rim. There is no mobile signal below the rim. Emergency phones stand at Manzanita, Cottonwood, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the resthouses on the Bright Angel Trail; carry a satellite messenger as well.

Water

Water is the key to planning. In a normal season taps run from mid-May to mid-October at Supai Tunnel, Manzanita, Cottonwood, Phantom Ranch, Havasupai Gardens and the Bright Angel resthouses, but pipeline breaks are frequent. In 2026 there is no drinking water anywhere on the North Rim, and in October 2026 every inner-canyon tap is off. Carry 3–4 litres, a filter or tablets for creek water, and salty snacks.

What to pack

Light, breathable clothing, a sun hat, a warm layer and rain jacket for the rims, sturdy boots, trekking poles, a headlamp, a light tent and sleeping bag, a gas stove (no fires below the rim), food plus a spare day, electrolytes and a blister kit. Use the metal food cans at each campsite: ravens and squirrels raid packs.

Safety

Start very early, rest in the shade at midday and watch for heat exhaustion, heatstroke and hyponatremia (drinking without eating). Stay out of narrow canyons when storms threaten: the burned slopes above the North Kaibab Trail now shed rocks, trees and debris flows. In an emergency call 911 if you have a signal, or use a trail emergency phone or your satellite device. Rescue may take hours, so leave your plan with someone at home.