South Kaibab Trail to Ooh-Aah Point
A short steep descent to the first wide-open South Kaibab viewpoint.
Route overview
Descend 0.9 mile on South Kaibab Trail to Ooh-Aah Point and return uphill.
Ooh-Aah Point provides a dramatic below-rim experience over a compact distance. The maintained ridge trail has almost no shade and no water. The viewpoint is unsigned, so hikers should use the official distance and recognize the broad opening in the canyon panorama.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Distance
- 2.9 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- approximately 183 m on return
- Best season
- Spring and autumn; early morning in summer; traction in winter
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
No shade, no water, heat, mule traffic, ice and exposed edges
Highlights
Ooh-Aah Point, Cedar Ridge views, open canyon panorama
Why find a buddy
A concise route for assessing comfort with steep canyon hiking before committing farther.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.