North Kaibab Trail

The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a World Heritage Site, and geological heaven. It is hard to overpraise the canyon’s raw, outlandish shapes and formations: they are justly famous. The sheer size of the Grand Canyon is astounding.

This outstanding hike is the only one from the north down into the heart of the world’s most famous canyon, down the long, straight, stately Bright Angel Canyon to Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel campsite near the Colorado river.

The North Kaibab combines with the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails to make the Grand Canyon’s best-known crossing. See our Crossing the Canyon page. 

Revel in huge views across the vast canyon; enjoy the changing colours and fantastic shapes of the cliffs, buttes and spires. Enter another world with wildly varying ecosystems as you plunge deeper into the gorge.

The trail begins with a tough 7.6km (4.7 mile) switchback down Roaring Springs Canyon to Roaring Springs. It then winds gently down Bright Angel Canyon to the Cottonwood Campground in a total time so far of 11.3km (7 miles) or so. From there it is a 12 km hike down along the Bright Angel Creek to Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Campground near the Colorado. It is a gentle and beautiful walk, passing side-canyons and giving the opportunity to seek out some of the Canyon’s stunning flora and fauna, until you reach the deep, deep chasm known as The Box and thence to the riverside.

You can make this walk in 2 days or one long one. How far down you walk is optional: there are various points along the way with great views, where you can enjoy the magnificence of the Canyon below the rim then get back up without excessive suffering. It is still a tough walk if you go a significant way down: don’t underestimate it, limit how far down you go to the reality of your fitness. Remember that you have to get back to the rim: “Descending is optional; ascending is compulsory”, as the signs say, approximately. Walking to the Colorado river is not recommended as a day walk.

This is tough walking in hot, dry conditions. Come fully prepared, including carrying plenty of water.

The Cicerone guide has good information on these walks.   Find this and other books on Amazon.

See our Grand Canyon page for much more on the canyon, and detailed practical information.