The 12 Best Hiking Trails at the Grand Canyon

This is the one and only officially maintained hiking trail that enters the Grand Canyon from the North Rim. Just like the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails, this trail has steep switchbacks the entire way down to the river. If you’d rather do a day hike rather than the rather demanding 14 miles down and back up again, use one of the numerous turnaround points on the trail.

At about five miles, you can turn back at Roaring Springs, the source of the park’s drinking water. Potable water is only available seasonally a healthy half-mile after at the Manzanita Rest Area, and 1.4 miles later, you can camp at the Cottonwood Campground, but you’ll need a permit. On the plus side, this trail is less crowded than its various southern counterparts, if you enjoy solitude.

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