Beginning October 15, 2026, a section of the North Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park will close to all public access for critical pipeline rehabilitation work on the Transcanyon Waterline. The closure area will be between Redwall Bridge (2.5 miles north of Manzanita Rest Area) and the northern end of Cottonwood Campground. This hard closure will remain in place through approximately February 2027. There are no alternative routes or detours available through this section of trail. This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of both visitors and work crews operating in a narrow corridor with heavy equipment and active construction. Cottonwood Campground will remain open during this closure period. Backcountry reservations are available through Recreation.gov. Water at Cottonwood Campground will be turned off beginning Oct. 15, and backcountry users should plan to treat creek water. The remainder of the North Kaibab Trail is expected to remain open and accessible during this time. The trail will be open from the North Kaibab Trailhead south to Redwall Bridge, as well as from Phantom Ranch north to the northern end of Cottonwood Campground. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, check current trail conditions and water status, and adjust itineraries accordingly. For more...
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Location
- South Kaibab Trailhead to North Kaibab Trailhead
Length
- 20.7 miles
Resources
- MAP
- PROFILE
- TRACK
- Waypoints: GPS | MP
- Arizona Euro-American History
- A Guide to the Arizona Trail at Grand Canyon website
- USGS Topographic Maps: Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Point
- Grand Canyon National Park map
- BLM Information Center maps
Southern Trailhead: South Kaibab Trailhead
- GPS Coordinates: 36.05335° N, 112.08344° W
Access
There is no overnight parking or camping at the trailhead. You must take a shuttle from Grand Canyon Village, near the intersection of US 180 and AZ 64. Information is available within the Park Guide you’ll receive at the entrance kiosk, and also at the Visitor Center.
Northern Trailhead: North Kaibab Trailhead
- GPS Coordinates: 36.21699° N, 112.05666° W
Access
The parking area is on the east side of AZ 67, 41 miles south of Jacob Lake and 2.3 miles north of Grand Canyon Lodge. The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot.
Trail Route Description
Passage 38 crosses the Grand Canyon from the south rim to the north rim. This physically strenuous and awe-inspiring section follows the well-maintained South Kaibab Trail that descends sharply from the south rim to the Colorado River, then ascends steeply to the north rim on the North Kaibab Trail. Your hard work will be rewarded by the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon and what is possibly the most scenic section of the Arizona National Scenic Trail!
This section completes the epic “rim-to-rim” route and is both spectacular and challenging. In fact, many people see the route through this section as a bucket list experience on its own.
Prepare yourself for extreme changes in elevation and climate, a variety of ecosystems, and a journey through two billion years of geological history that is unlike anywhere else in the world!
The journey begins on the South Kaibab Trail, a high-quality trail with scenic vistas, little shade, and no water. The trail makes a stunning descent of over 4,000 feet within the first six miles, following a series of switchbacks down the canyon wall to meet the mighty Colorado River.
After passing by Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon, the trail becomes the North Kaibab Trail, where it continues gently toward Cottonwood Campground. After this landmark, North Kaibab truly begins its arduous climb out of one of the world’s deepest canyons. It ends at the North Kaibab Trailhead at an elevation of 8,000 feet, where temperatures remain cold and snow may persist into late spring.
There are no words or photographs that can convey the magnitude of the Grand Canyon’s unique landscape. The only way to appreciate the canyon’s grandeur is to hike into its depths, a place that gets fewer than one percent of the park’s total annual visitors. A short side trail leads to Ribbon Falls, one of the most photographed features within the canyon’s inner gorge. Don’t miss it! To learn more about the cultural significance of Ribbon Falls to Zuni people, watch this short video (courtesy of Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon Trust).
Grand Canyon National Park requires a camping permit, and camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds (along the AZT, that’s Bright Angel and Cottonwood). Although Grand Canyon backcountry permits can be very challenging to obtain, you can apply through recreation.gov. The Park has set aside two small sites for AZT thru-hikers (each site is 1-6 people, so for the two sites a total of 12 hikers per night are available) at Bright Angel Campground from April 4 – May 31. Hikers are also welcome to try to get a last-minute walk-up permit from the Backcountry Office on the South Rim or North Rim. For those last-minute permits, you may still have to wait a day or two to get through. Attempting to camp in Grand Canyon without a permit is not recommended and will guarantee you a big ticket…this is, after all, one of the most heavily patrolled parks in the National Park system. And while hiking through the entire canyon in a day is possible, a magical part of the AZT experience is camping within the canyon — one of the seven natural wonders of the world. So do your best to score a permit and camp in Bright Angel and/or Cottonwood.
For the ultimate guide to the Arizona Trail to the Grand Canyon, please check out this comprehensive website developed by trail steward extraordinaire and Grand Canyon expert Forrest Radarian.
Difficulty
- Difficult
Season(s)
All year. Snow may be present after winter storms
Water
Water can be found at the Colorado River, Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Creek, Cottonwood Camp and Roaring Springs. Check the online Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.
Notes/Warnings
- All water found in creeks and springs should be purified prior to use.
- Mountain bikes are prohibited from being ridden in the canyon. You may carry your bike on your back but the wheels must never touch the ground. You can also send your bike to the other side of the canyon on the TransCanyon Shuttle while you hike across.
- Horses are not recommended in the canyon. Please contact the Backcountry Office for more information.
- A reservation and permit are required to spend a night below the rim. Day hiking does not require a permit. For more details on this, go to the Permits page.
- North Rim facilities are closed from mid-October to mid-May.
For more information
- The Passage Steward
- Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (928) 638-7888
- Backcountry Information Center, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (928) 638-7875
- BLM Information Center (602) 417-9300
Current Passage Info
Grand Canyon Walk-Up Permits
February 17, 2026
Starting March 15, Grand Canyon National Park will be issuing walk-up permits for AZT thru-hikers at Bright Angel Campground. Here are the walk-up permit procedures, specifically for AZT thru-hikers: Head to the South Rim Backcountry Information Center, located within Grand Canyon Village. If it is March 15 or later, inform the Ranger that you are thru-hiking the AZT and would like a walk-up permit for Bright Angel Campground at the stock site. The Backcountry Office usually book permits for the following day, but they may have same-day permits available depending on how many people are coming through. The stock site will hold up to 6 hikers per night, so if there is a big bubble of hikers, permits may be limited. Walk-up permits are only for 1 night, so no doubling up with 2 nights at Bright Angel Campground. As a reminder, AZT hikers cannot book this site until they arrive at the park. AZT thru-hikers must show up at the Backcountry Information Center between 8 am-12 pm or 1-5 pm to book a permit in-person. *Note: These walk-up spots are set aside specifically for AZT thru-hikers and bikers. If non-thru hikers begin to request these sites, there will not...
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25.5 Miles of Arizona Trail Closed Due To Wildfires
November 1, 2025
The Dragon Bravo Fire has forced 25.5 miles of the Arizona Trail to close from the Clear Creek Trail junction just north of Phantom Ranch to the Kaibab Plateau Trailhead at the Park/Forest boundary along Forest Road 610. Highway 67 is closed south of the Kaibab National Forest/Grand Canyon National Park boundary. Please avoid the AZT within Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim until further notice, and check back for updates.
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