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Rim Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Easy
 4.6 (73) RECOMMENDED ROUTE
  1. Areas
  2. AZ
  3. …Flagstaff and Northern AZ
  4. …Grand Canyon National Park
  5. South Rim
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“A fantastic trail along the Grand Canyon south rim with views, shade, and low grades. ”

Nicholas Shannon
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Map Key

13.1

Miles

21.0

KM

Point to Point

7,181' 2,189 m

High

6,660' 2,030 m

Low

469' 143 m

Up

990' 302 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

20%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

ADA Accessible The Rim Trail is ADA accessible except for the section between Hermits rest and Monument Creek due to due to steep grade and/or unpaved surface. Users can take a shuttle between the two points.

Family Friendly This is an unchallenging trail with plenty of access from the shuttle for various distances.

NO water directly along the trail. Water is in the Grand Canyon Village area and at Hermits Rest.

Overview

A spectacular, family-friendly hike along the Grand Canyon's southern rim. Plenty of barely believable viewpoints along this trail that make for short and wonderful side trips to your adventure.

Description

Begin from any viewpoint in Grand Canyon Village or along Hermit Road. You are also able to access the trail from many of the shuttle bus stops.

The Rim Trail stretches from the South Kaibab Trailhead west to Hermits Rest, a distance of approximately thirteen miles (21 km), most of the trail is paved. Between Pipe Creek Vista and Bright Angel Lodge, only a few short sections of the trail have grades that exceed accessibility standards.

West of Bright Angel Lodge, the Rim Trail narrows and climbs the Bright Angel Fault to viewpoints along Hermit Road. Between Powell Point and Monument Creek Vista, the trail is a three-foot wide dirt trail. The section of the Rim Trail between Monument Creek Vista and Hermits Rest is also known as the Hermit Road Greenway Trail.

There is shade along the Rim Trail, which is great on a hot summer day. Most of the trail is paved and makes for excellent walking with quiet views of the inner canyon, or just for visitors who desire an easy hike with minimal elevation change. However, please beware of lightning during summer thunderstorms.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Grand Canyon National Park

Shared By:

Nicholas Shannon
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 73 votes

#4

in South Rim

#95

Overall
  4.6 from 73 votes
5 Star
64%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
5%
2 Star
1%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#4

in South Rim

#6

in Arizona

#95

Overall
48 Views Last Month
7,893 Since May 13, 2015
Easy
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Photos

Coming down Bright Angel.
Apr 7, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
Grand Canyon National Park Cloud Inversion: November 29, 2013
May 12, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
Grand Canyon as seen from the Rim Trail.
Apr 7, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
View from Mather Point - Grand Canyon
Jan 20, 2016 near Grand C…, AZ
Grand Canyon Nat. Park: Rock Squirrel
Jul 7, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ
An awesome view of the Grand Canyon.
Dec 8, 2015 near Grand C…, AZ

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Check-Ins

Sep 24, 2022
Jean Bousquet
5mi
Sep 12, 2022
Adrienne Westlake
Jul 22, 2022
Brandon Cole
1mi
Jul 2, 2022
Parker Antwine
1mi
Jun 10, 2022
Cameron Booth
From Hermit's Rest to Bright Angel Trailhead. 8.5mi — 3h 56m
May 28, 2022
Effe DiPo
May 25, 2022
Maura McLay
Apr 21, 2022
Solanyi Tengbeh

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