Grand Canyon N.P., Arizona
Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim
The classic crossing — two billion years in a single day.
Closures & alerts
Checking official closures and alerts…
Straight from the managing agency, but postings lag. Always call or check the park page the week you go.
Strenuous
Difficulty
24 mi
Distance
5,800 ft
Elevation
3.75 h
Drive time
May, Sep – Oct
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim — 24 mi · Strenuous
The map loads automatically. Open Trailforks below for trail names and difficulty ratings.
Overview
North Kaibab down, Bright Angel up. It is the most famous day in American hiking for a reason: you descend through five ecosystems, cross the Colorado, then climb back into pine forest.
Permits: No permit for day crossing. Corridor campsites require a backcountry permit.
Where to get your permit
- Grand Canyon backcountry permit
Only needed if you sleep below the rim.
- Park entrance pass
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
- Bright Angel & Cottonwood corridor sites
- North Rim Campground
- Mather Campground (South Rim)
- Grand Canyon Lodges
Phantom Ranch and rim hotels.
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Roaring Springs at sunrise
Ribbon Falls detour
The Black Bridge crossing
Indian Garden cottonwoods
Suggested itinerary
Night before
Sleep at the North Rim
Shuttle logistics sorted, packs laid out, 3am alarm set.
Day 1
Rim to river to rim
Start 4am from North Kaibab. Phantom Ranch by midday. Climb Bright Angel through the afternoon shade.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 5 items to sort out.
- 3L water capacity
- Trekking poles
- Salt tabs
- Headlamp
- Light windshell
- Blister kit
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
5 L
Per person, per day
3 L
Heaviest carry
6.6 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
6.6 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- Real food every 90 minutes
- 1,200 calories of bars and chews
- Lemonade at Phantom Ranch canteen
Weather & conditions
Next few days
National Weather Service
Alerts & notices
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
National Park Service · Grand Canyon National Park
- • Inner canyon heat closures on the Bright Angel and South Kaibab corridor, 10am–4pm in summer.
- • North Rim road and services close mid-October to mid-May.
Land-manager notices are curated; the Forest Service and Park Service don't publish an open alerts feed, so confirm on the official page before you drive.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.