Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim

Route overview

A multi-stage route through Grand Canyon National Park, with highlights including North Rim, Colorado River, Bright Angel Canyon, South Rim.

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim gives hikers a structured way to experience Grand Canyon National Park over several days. The route is best approached as a staged hike, with planning attention on permits, accommodation, weather, navigation and daily distance. For BuddieHikes, it is a strong candidate because the trail is long enough or remote enough to benefit from a hiking partner, while still being understandable as a clear route objective.

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim is a 38 km hiking route through Grand Canyon National Park, suited to hikers who want desert canyon hiking terrain and a clear multi-day objective.

Trail facts

Country

United States

Region

Grand Canyon National Park

Distance

38 km

Typical duration

1–3 days

Difficulty

Hard

Elevation gain

Not specified

Best season

May to October

Trail type

Canyon traverse

Access and logistics

Permits and access

Check current permit, quota, park-entry or guided-access rules with the official source before planning this route.

Bookings

Book accommodation, huts, campsites or required permits ahead in peak season.

Safety context

Heat, water availability, sun exposure, flash-flood risk and long distances between services require conservative planning.

Highlights

North Rim, Colorado River, Bright Angel Canyon, South Rim

Why find a buddy

This route is well suited to finding a hiking buddy because the distance, logistics and multi-day structure are easier and safer to manage with someone who has a similar pace and planning style.

Primary source

Open the primary route source.

Explore and prepare

Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.