North Kaibab Trail: Hiking Guide for the Grand Canyon's North Rim Corridor

As of early 2026, the North Kaibab Trail is closed. Post-fire damage and rockslides have made sections of the trail impassable, and the NPS is conducting repair work. No reopening date has been announced. Check nps.gov/grca for current status before planning any trip.

That closure is worth knowing about before you read further. But this guide still matters. The North Kaibab is the only maintained trail from the North Rim into the canyon, and it’s one of two trails that make a rim-to-rim traverse possible. When it reopens, it’ll still be there. And the planning involved in a North Kaibab trip, whether for a day hike to Roaring Springs or a full rim-to-rim, is substantial enough that it pays to understand the trail well before the date arrives.

The North Rim sees about one-tenth of the visitor traffic that the South Rim does. The North Kaibab Trail reflects that. It’s quieter, more remote, and considerably more committing than any South Rim trail. The nearest hospital is 45 miles away in Kanab, Utah.

Trail Overview

The North Kaibab Trail runs 14 miles from the North Rim trailhead to Phantom Ranch at the Colorado River, dropping 5,840 feet along the way. It’s the canyon’s longest maintained corridor trail and the most remote.

The trail descends through the same geological layers as the South Rim trails, but the North Rim sits about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, which means the top section is forested and cooler. You start in ponderosa pines and transition to canyon shrubs and rock as you descend. The upper miles feel completely different from South Rim hiking.

Day hiker targets: Supai Tunnel at 2.35 miles from the trailhead (4.7 miles round trip, 1,050 feet gain) is the conservative option with good views and an emergency phone. Roaring Springs at 4.7 miles from the trailhead (9.4 miles round trip, 3,050 feet gain) is a serious day hike that delivers one of the best rewards on the trail, a massive year-round spring that gushes from the canyon wall with genuine force.

Beyond Roaring Springs, the trail is multi-day territory. Cottonwood Campground sits at mile 7, and Phantom Ranch at mile 14. Both require backcountry permits for overnight stays.

Getting There

The North Rim is not a casual detour from the South Rim. It’s 214 miles by road, roughly a 4-hour drive via US-89A and AZ-67. AZ-67, the final 44 miles to the rim, closes in late November and doesn’t reopen until mid-May.

The trailhead sits 2 miles north of Grand Canyon Lodge. During the operating season, a free shuttle runs from the lodge parking area to the trailhead in the morning and returns in the afternoon. The shuttle is worth using since the trailhead lot is small and fills early.

Kanab, Utah, is the closest town with services (gas, food, lodging) and sits about 80 miles north. Page, Arizona, is 90 miles east. Jacob Lake, 44 miles from the rim at the AZ-67 junction, has a gas station and small lodge. Don’t arrive at the North Rim running low on fuel or supplies.

No dogs are allowed below the rim on any Grand Canyon trail.

Trail Description

Trailhead to Supai Tunnel (0 to 2.35 miles)

The trail starts in ponderosa pine forest, which surprises people who expect to be in the canyon immediately. The North Rim’s elevation, 8,241 feet, keeps the upper trail forested and often cool in the morning. You’ll be descending through trees for the first mile or so.

The trail drops on switchbacks through limestone and sandstone, and the forest gradually gives way to open canyon terrain. Views develop as you descend. The upper section is the steepest part of the trail, losing about 1,050 feet in 2.35 miles.

Supai Tunnel sits at the 2.35-mile mark, bored through a cliff band of Supai sandstone. There’s an emergency phone here, the only one on the trail. This is the turnaround point for casual day hikers. The views back up toward the forested rim are unusual for the canyon, green and rocky rather than the typical red-rock panorama.

Supai Tunnel to Roaring Springs (2.35 to 4.7 miles)

Below Supai Tunnel the character of the trail changes. The canyon opens up and the terrain becomes more typically Grand Canyon: red and orange rock, big views, steeper walls. The trail descends through the Redwall Limestone, the same distinctive formation you see on every Grand Canyon trail.

At 4.7 miles from the trailhead you reach Roaring Springs. The name is accurate. Water erupts from the canyon wall here in a visible, audible rush, dropping down the rock face into a small pool before continuing as Bright Angel Creek. It’s the water source for both the North Rim and South Rim developed areas, piped up to the rim via a pump system. The sound of it carries well before you arrive.

This is the day hike turnaround point. The round trip of 9.4 miles with 3,050 feet of total elevation change takes most fit hikers 6-8 hours. Start by 6am and plan for the full day.

Roaring Springs to Cottonwood Campground (4.7 to 7 miles)

Below Roaring Springs, the trail follows Bright Angel Creek downstream. This section is less steep and relatively pleasant hiking. The creek is audible and often visible, and the canyon walls rise around you as you descend. The Transept, a side canyon, opens to the east here.

Cottonwood Campground sits at mile 7 and 4,080 feet elevation. It has water, restrooms, and picnic tables. During the peak season a ranger is stationed here. A small creek-side flat makes it one of the more pleasant campsites in the canyon system. This is typically the first overnight stop for rim-to-river backpackers.

A side trip worth noting: Ribbon Falls, 0.5 miles off the main trail at mile 8.4, is a travertine-coated cascade that drops into a small grotto. Many backpackers add it to their itinerary. It’s not visible from the main trail but is clearly signed.

Cottonwood to Phantom Ranch (7 to 14 miles)

The lower section passes through The Box, a narrow slot canyon carved by Bright Angel Creek. In summer this stretch is extremely hot and offers almost no shade. The NPS strongly advises against hiking through The Box in temperatures above 90F. Hikers have died here in summer.

Phantom Ranch sits at the canyon floor at mile 14. It has cabins, a canteen, and a ranger station. Mule rides and cabin reservations book out months in advance. Hikers stay at Bright Angel Campground near the ranch.

Rim-to-Rim Hiking

The North Kaibab is the key piece of the rim-to-rim traverse. The standard route goes down South Kaibab from the South Rim, spends nights at Bright Angel Campground and Cottonwood Campground, and climbs out via North Kaibab to the North Rim. Total distance is approximately 23 miles.

Shuttle logistics are the main planning challenge. The two rims are 214 miles apart by road. Trans-Canyon Shuttle runs once daily between rims during the operating season. Most hikers either book a round-trip shuttle or arrange a vehicle shuttle with another party.

Backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays. Apply at recreation.gov. Popular dates fill months in advance.

What to Bring

The North Kaibab demands serious preparation. You’re starting 8,241 feet above sea level and finishing at the canyon floor. The temperature difference between the rim and the river can be 20-30 degrees. Layers matter.

Carry at least 2 liters of water from the trailhead. The first water is at Roaring Springs, 4.7 miles in. Don’t try to stretch a single liter that far, especially on warm days. A quality hydration system with reservoir is the right setup here. You want to drink on the move without stopping.

Ankle-support hiking boots make sense for the loose upper switchbacks. The descent through the Redwall is steep enough that foot placement matters. A trekking pole or two helps significantly on the return climb.

Sun protection is more important below Supai Tunnel than above it. The forest cover disappears and you’re in full canyon exposure. A sun hoodie and wide-brim hat both earn their weight.

Safety Notes

Call 911 in any emergency. The North Rim is 45 miles by road from the nearest hospital in Kanab, Utah. Emergency response time here is longer than anywhere else in the canyon.

The canyon floor is 5,000+ feet lower in elevation than the rim. Temperature differences are extreme. Start your return climb before the canyon floor heats up, not after. Most heat-related incidents happen to hikers who didn’t budget enough time and are climbing out in the afternoon.

The Box canyon section between Cottonwood and Phantom Ranch is one of the most dangerous stretches for summer heat in the entire park. If you’re doing a multi-day trip in summer, plan your schedule to pass through The Box in the early morning.

The North Rim’s remoteness is not just a scenic feature. It’s a real logistical factor. There’s one road in and one road out. If you’re injured below the rim, evacuation is a helicopter operation or a miles-long carry. Tell someone your itinerary before you go. Register your trip at the backcountry office.

Related Trails

The South Kaibab Trail is the natural partner to the North Kaibab for a rim-to-rim traverse. It’s steeper, has no water, and delivers some of the best exposed ridgeline views in the canyon. Most rim-to-rim hikers descend South Kaibab and ascend North Kaibab.

The Bright Angel Trail connects to the North Kaibab at the canyon floor via the River Trail. It has water sources and is the more forgiving climb if you’re doing a loop or a modified rim-to-rim.

For heat management on the canyon floor and in The Box, the heat management guide is required reading before any multi-day trip. And check the monsoon and flash flood guide before summer travel. Flash floods in Bright Angel Creek can affect the trail between Cottonwood and Phantom Ranch with very little warning.