Hiking the Rim Trail in Grand Canyon National Park
Distance (One Way): 12.7 miles / 20.4 km
The Rim Trail, also called the Grand Canyon Rim Trail or the South Rim Trail, in Grand Canyon National Park is a day hike on the South Rim of the canyon that connects the South Kaibab Trailhead near Yaki Point to Hermit’s Rest on the western end, encompassing all the best and most beautiful viewpoints through Grand Canyon Village and beyond!
It is for this reason that I believe the Rim Trail is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Grand Canyon National Park, largely because the seemingly long 12.7-mile (20.4 km) one-way distance is not reflective of the trail’s difficulty—notably because visitors can hike as much or as little of the trail as they wish, while relying on the free Grand Canyon Shuttle to return to whichever point along the trail they began.
In addition, the Rim Trail is easier than it may initially seem because, if hiked from east to west—South Kaibab to Hermit’s Rest—the hike is mostly downhill, apart from one uphill section following the Bright Angel Trail—much like the Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park or the Crater Rim Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
All this to say, the Rim Trail is one of my favorite day hikes in Grand Canyon National Park—especially when hiked in its entirety over one long day!
Rim Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Rim Trail is available at various points along the 12.7-mile (20.4 km) route, depending on how much or how little of the full hike you’re interested in.
That said, parking for both the Rim Trailhead at South Kaibab and the Rim Trailhead at Hermit’s Rest is not located directly at either trailhead because the National Park Service prohibits private vehicles on Hermit Road from March 1 to November 30, and they are banned year-round at the South Kaibab Trailhead. Instead, hikers are required to park in one of two designated areas.
First, parking for the South Kaibab Rim Trailhead can be found along Desert View Drive near the Pipe Creek Vista viewpoint, while parking for Hermit’s Rest is located as close as possible to the Hermit Road Shuttle Stop near the Bright Angel Trailhead, unless you happen to be visiting the Grand Canyon from December 1 to February 28 or 29.
Just keep in mind that if you want to start hiking shortly after sunrise, the Rim Trailhead at South Kaibab is the more practical option, as buses typically don’t run early enough to reach Hermit’s Rest by sunrise when the road is closed.
Google Maps Directions: South Kaibab Trailhead / Hermit’s Rest Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Grand Canyon
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Grand Canyon National Park.
Hiking the Rim Trail
This article is about the full Grand Canyon Rim Trail from east to west, beginning at the South Kaibab Trailhead near Yaki Point.
That said, it is much more practical to begin hiking the Rim Trail from either of the two Pipe Creek Vista parking areas, since these are the closest places that hikers can park to South Kaibab to begin the hike.
However, if you decide to hike the full trail, as shown here, a good plan is to park at Pipe Creek Vista and walk out to Yaki Point to catch the sunrise, in order to make the most of this 0.8-mile (1.3 km) stretch between the parking area and the true trailhead.
Along this first stretch, there isn’t much to know—except that the first 1.8 miles (2.9 km) of the Rim Trail is also the Greenway Trail, meaning that hikers can expect to see bikers here, and where the Greenway begins again after Monument Creek Vista.
This is where the Rim Trail passes by the two parking areas for Pipe Creek Vista, which is the same parking area referenced previously that serves both the South Kaibab Trail and the Rim Trail, since private vehicles are not allowed to park at the South Kaibab Trailhead.
Pipe Creek Vista
Pipe Creek Vista is located just 0.9 miles (1.4 km) into the hike, and it’s the first of 13 named viewpoints along the Rim Trail, which doesn’t include all the unnamed views through the heart of Grand Canyon Village.
Pipe Creek Vista Shuttle Stop
This is the second Pipe Creek Vista parking area and shuttle stop, which typically fills up early in the morning because the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point is so popular.
After Pipe Creek Vista, the Rim Trail begins a 'longer,' typically quiet, 1.4-mile (2.3 km) stretch between Pipe Creek and Mather Point.
This burn area and the sign associated is one the more interesting ones to read on the entire Rim Trail, because while decision-makers have certainly learned the importance of fire in our forests, this section of the Rim Trail serves as a good reminder of how quickly a controlled burn can have unintended consequences.
These Tiger Moth caterpillars look a lot like the Woolly Bear caterpillars that can be found throughout much of the country.
Rim-Greenway Junction
This is where the Greenway Trail leaves the Rim Trail at the 1.8-mile (2.9 km) mark, as the sections through Grand Canyon Village to come are considerably busier than everything hiked thus far.
That said, go straight to continue on the Rim Trail toward Mather Point.
At about 2.1 miles (3.4 km), Mather Point in the distance noticeably begins to look closer than the previous sections.
At a number of different points throughout Grand Canyon Village, the Rim Trail splits, with different parking areas, shuttle stops, among many other things just off the trail, which begin here near Mather Point and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, and continue all the way to the Bright Angel Trailhead.
However, as long as you stay along the canyon rim, you’re following the correct trail.
Mather Point Amphitheater
Just before Mather Point, the Rim Trail comes to the Mather Point Amphitheater, where the National Park Service hosts ranger programs and special events, which visitors can learn more about at the nearby Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
After the Mather Point Amphitheater, the Rim Trail passes by this air quality monitoring station, which is interesting because if you’ve ever visited the Grand Canyon on a clear day more than once, it becomes apparent how different the visibility can vary.
Some days Humphreys Peak from the North Rim and Mt. Trumbull to the west are visible, while on other cloudless days, these nearby summits are nowhere to be seen.
That being said, I recommend reading the sign and the air quality monitor to see what kind of conditions you’re experiencing!
These sections just the the east of Mather Point are some of the best places on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to catch the sunset!
Mather Point
Mather Point is located roughly 2.9 miles (4.7 km) into the Rim Trail.
That said, I always like to mention the Stephen Mather plaques in each National Park because there is not just one, but many of these plaques scattered throughout the National Park System. They honor the role Stephen Mather played in building both public and political support to establish the National Park Service as we know it today, making them a bit of an Easter egg throughout the entire country!
Other notable trails include the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park, among many others.
Mather Point is one of the best places to catch the sunset in Grand Canyon National Park, because of the way it lights up the canyon to the east, rather than offering a direct view of the sun setting to the west.
This is where the Rim Trail passes by the Mather Point Shuttle Stop.
Just to the west of Mather Point, there’s an alternative—and often less crowded—viewpoint worth checking out, which can be just as good a place to enjoy the sunset as the main Mather Point view!
From Mather Point to the Bright Angel Trail, the Rim Trail enters its busiest section of the entire hike, which becomes the most noticeable in the heart of Grand Canyon Village, around the Bright Angel Lodge, among other notable restaurants and shops along the rim.
Yavapai Point Amphitheater
Similar to the Mather Point Amphitheater, the Yavapai Point Amphitheater is another place on the Rim Trail where visitors can sit and listen to ranger-led programs.
To learn more about when they are hosted, simply walk over to the nearby Yavapai Point Geology Museum to find the times.
Yavapai Point
Yavapai Point is the third main viewpoint on the Grand Canyon Rim Trail, and it’s unique because of the almost perfect view up Bright Angel Canyon on the north side of the Colorado River.
If you’re unfamiliar, Bright Angel Canyon is the north half of the Rim-to-Rim corridor, which can be reached via either the South Kaibab or Bright Angel Trail, and it’s also why Yavapai Point is the best place on the Rim Trail to see the Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge that spans the river!
This viewfinder at Yavapai Point is my favorite on the entire Rim Trail because it allows hikers to see the Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge at the bottom of the South Kaibab Trail, which, as previously mentioned, is one of the very few locations on this section of the rim where the bridge is even visible.
Yavapai Point Geology Museum
The Yavapai Point Geology Museum is a uniquely positioned museum on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, as it’s one of the best places for visitors to see and learn about the geology of the canyon from just one location.
To learn more, including the hours of operation, be sure to check the National Park website linked below.
National Park Service: Yavapai Point Geology Museum
After Yavapai Point, the Rim splits several times, with four different alternative paths that follow the edge of the canyon.
Generally speaking, these paths are narrower and hillier, meaning the route away from the edge of the rim is easier and more accessible.
Trail of Time
After 3.2 miles (5.1 km), the Rim Trail begins the Trail of Time, which is a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) portion of the Rim Trail that starts just west of Yavapai Point and extends all the way to Maricopa Point.
The Trail of Time is significant because, for the next 2.8 miles (4.5 km), the Rim Trail is marked every 1 meter—or about one long step—to represent 1 million years, until it reaches both the age of the Grand Canyon and the Earth.
Now, the Trail of Time will certainly feel more or less significant based on one’s beliefs surrounding the theory of evolution, but it’s definitely fascinating to see all the rocks that were pulled from different layers of the canyon, allowing visitors to easily observe what the Grand Canyon is comprised of—from the Colorado River to the rim.
Google Maps Directions: Trail of Time
After the 1-million-year mark, the intervals increase considerably, reaching all the way to the age of the Grand Canyon and the age of the Earth just before Maricopa Point.
The number of fossils that visitors can see on the trails that descend below the rim of the canyon is quite impressive.
That said, some notable places include the dinosaur fossils just past Two-Mile Corner on the Bright Angel Trail, and the switchbacks between Ooh Aah Point and Cedar Ridge on the hike down the South Kaibab Trail.
Rim-Headquarters Junction
This junction with the park headquarters is a nice sign that you’re just over halfway between Yavapai Point and Verkamp’s Visitor Center, in the heart of Grand Canyon Village.
This is certainly an interesting way to write 1 billion.
This is the fourth and final alternative route on the Rim Trail between Yavapai Point and the Verkamp’s Visitor Center, but honestly speaking, I think there are better unnamed viewpoints just off the trail in Grand Canyon Village—if you know where to look!
Verkamp’s Visitor Center
Verkamp’s Visitor Center is the end of the Grand Canyon portion of the Trail of Time, but the trail still continues for another 1.7 miles (2.7 km) from this point to Maricopa Point.
Hopi House
Just past the visitor center, hikers will come to the Hopi House—a historic structure built in the Puebloan architectural style in 1905—where visitors can learn about the Native Americans from the Grand Canyon area, as well as shop inside.
El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, & Thunderbird Lodge
Just past the Hopi House begins a string of four adjacent South Rim hotels where visitors can stay within the park.
In order from east to west, they are the El Tovar Hotel, the Kachina Lodge, the Thunderbird Lodge, and the Bright Angel Lodge shortly ahead, with the El Tovar Hotel being my favorite!
Book Here: El Tovar Hotel / Kachina Lodge / Thunderbird Lodge / Bright Angel Lodge
Bright Angel Lodge
The Bright Angel Lodge is the last place to stay before the Bright Angel Trail, but of the four main options on the South Rim, my first recommendation goes to the El Tovar Hotel, because the historic 1905 hotel is widely regarded as the nicest and most beautiful, with the best location on the canyon rim!
Book Here: Bridge Angel Lodge
Lookout Studio
The Lookout Studio may look like it’s just a gift shop on the canyon rim, but what I think makes the Lookout Studio special is the lookout itself!
I say this because during bad weather, it’s one of the best places on the rim of the Grand Canyon to stay safe from overhead lightning, while enjoying the beauty of the often violent thunderstorms that pass over the park regularly.
I’ve spent countless hours in here watching the lightning on bad-weather days, but when the skies are blue, I recommend getting out to enjoy the weather!
Rim-Kolb Studio Junction
Just before the Kolb Studio, the Rim Trail splits.
Here, it truly doesn’t matter which direction you decide to go, as both routes meet shortly ahead.
However, the photos I have below are of the true Rim Trail, which follows the path up to the left past the Kolb Studio.
Bright Angel Trailhead
The Bright Angel Trail is the second Rim-to-Rim route on the South Rim of the canyon, the other being the South Kaibab Trail, which begins at the same East Rim Trailhead.
That said, both the South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail are popular for different reasons, as visitors typically hike the South Kaibab Trail to get to Ooh Aah Point, while the Bright Angel Trail is often hiked as far as Havasupai Gardens—the first established campground on the hike from the South Rim to the North Rim—which you can learn all about in my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Rim to Rim Trail (Bright Angel to North Kaibab)
Hermit Road Shuttle Stop (Red Route)
After the Bright Angel Trail, the Rim Trail passes by the bus stop for Hermit Road and all the viewpoints that continue on the way out to Hermit’s Rest.
I think it’s important to mention that taking the Hermit Road Shuttle is quite the journey, to say the least, because it takes so long to travel out to Hermit’s Rest and back due to all the stops along the way.
That said, if your goal is to hike down from Hermit’s Rest to Dripping Springs or other locations, I highly recommend getting on the first shuttle in the morning. I say this because as the day goes on, the shuttle inevitably gets slower because of all the people who arrive in the park later.
Alternatively, the Hermit Road Shuttle is essential for catching sunset at some of the best locations along the South Rim, but to do so without missing sunset, I recommend arriving at least an hour and 15 minutes early to get out to Hopi Point or Mohave Point with plenty of time. You might arrive at either a little too early, but it’s much better than waiting for a later shuttle and possibly missing sunset, as the Hermit Road Shuttles become less frequent the closer it gets to sunset.
National Park Service: Hermit Road Shuttle (Red Route)
After the Hermit Road Shuttle Stop, the Rim Trail begins what’s often seen as the 'second half' of the hike.
However, this stretch between Bright Angel and Hermit’s Rest is actually significantly longer, as the distance from South Kaibab to this point measures 5.1 miles (8.2 km), while this section along the Red Route measures 7.6 miles (12.2 km).
This is the start of the one notable hill on the entire Rim Trail, climbing roughly 260 ft. (79 m), while, at the same time, the Grand Canyon Rim Trail loses about 620 ft. (189 m) overall.
Bright Angel Fault Fossil Beds
The Bright Angel Fault Fossil Beds is a unique geologic area that is just as it sounds.
Here, hikers can see where the Bright Angel Fault lifts up and exposes fossils that would otherwise be underground, allowing geologists to study the natural history of the Grand Canyon with relative ease.
Trail View Overlook
Contrary to how it may seem, the Bright Angel Trailhead is not the best place to see the Bright Angel Trail down Garden Creek Canyon.
Rather, these two back-to-back viewpoints are the best places to enjoy the view, which is why I think they are worth hiking up to—even if you don’t plan to hike the entirety of the Rim Trail.
These switchbacks can certainly make the Bright Angel Trail, or any descent into the Grand Canyon, seem intimidating, but know that Bright Angel is actually considered the easiest route of the three trails that make up the Rim-to-Rim corridor, because it has the least amount of elevation change between the trailhead and the Colorado River.
Trail View 2
The second Bright Angel Trail viewpoint is located just 0.4 miles (0.6 km) past the first.
After the second Bright Angel viewpoint, the Rim Trail continues for another 0.4 miles (0.6 km) before reaching the next stop at Maricopa Point.
Maricopa Point
Maricopa Point marks the end of the 2.8-mile (4.5 km) Trail of Time that began after Yavapai Point.
Both Maricopa and Powell Point are the two best viewpoints off Hermit Road to catch sunrise, but between the two, I personally enjoy Powell Point more for the reasons mentioned below.
That said, both can make for very practical sunrise hikes, as Powell Point, at the furthest, is only a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) hike from the Hermit Road Shuttle Stop.
The hike between Maricopa and Powell Point is just under 0.5 miles (0.8 km) each way.
Powell Point
Powell Point is the third main viewpoint on the Hermit Road Shuttle Route, and it’s the second of two viewpoints on the Red Route that make for a great place to catch the sunrise!
I say it like this because most of the viewpoints off Hermit Road are best for sunset, but Powell Point is arguably the best because it faces to the north, offering great views of both the sun rising and the changing colors within the canyon to the west!
Powell Memorial
Powell Point is named after Wesley Powell, an American explorer known for a three-month-long expedition down both the Green River—through places like Canyonlands National Park—and the Colorado River—through Grand Canyon National Park.
The hike between Powell Point and Hopi Point is the shortest of any along Hermit Road—the Red Route—and it’s one that shuttle bus drivers often recommend walking instead of taking the bus for, since it’s only a 0.2-mile (0.3 km) stretch between the two.
This is where the pavement on the Rim Trail ends for the first time, which continues past Hopi Point until the trail joins the Hermit Road Greenway.
Hopi Point
Hopi Point is the single most popular viewpoint off Hermit Road, which largely has to do with its expansive west-facing view that makes for a great spot to watch the sunset!
Is Hopi Point or Mohave Point Better for Sunset?
This is certainly a fun debate among park staff, the shuttle bus drivers, and photographers that have been visiting both viewpoints for many years, and while I have my own opinions, use this breakdown if you only have time to visit one or the other.
First, both Hopi and Mohave Point are beautiful west-facing viewpoints, but what sets them apart is the view of the Colorado River.
Mohave Point is a favorite among many photographers and it’s a sunset print you will see throughout the buildings in Grand Canyon National Park because the view includes the Colorado River.
However, Mohave Point is not as expansive as Hopi Point, which is why Hopi Point is a favorite for sunset because seemingly everything in every direction makes for a good photo. By this, I mean that both the views and the colors to the east and west of Hopi Point are incredible when the sun gets low, which is not as true about Mohave Point, as it is primarily looks to the west.
Finally, if you care most about the amount of people that visit each viewpoint, know that Hopi Point will almost always be more crowded than Mohave Point, because it is often advertised by the bus drivers and visitor center staff as the best place on the South Rim to catch the sunset.
At the west end of Hopi Point, go right to continue on the Rim Trail.
After leaving Hopi Point, the Rim Trail becomes unpaved once again and continues this way until Monument Creek Vista, where it remains paved for the rest of the hike to Hermit’s Rest.
Past Hopi Point, the Rim Trail will follow Hermit Road at several different points where there is no room for both the road and the trail.
If you decide to hike the entirety of the Rim Trail, be sure to wear a hooded sun shirt, as previously mentioned, as the long 12.7-mile (20.4 km) adventure will inevitably mean a lot of time spent in the sun!
Mohave Point
Mohave Point is the second most popular viewpoint off Hermit Road, behind only Hopi Point, just 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the east.
That said, this short stretch between the two viewpoints is one of my favorites on the entire Rim Trail, and it’s one I recommend considering if you’re interested in hiking some, but maybe not all, of the Grand Canyon Rim Trail.
If you haven’t read my side-by-side comparison of Mohave Point vs. Hopi Point regarding sunset, go back to Hopi Point to learn more about which of the two is better.
After Mohave Point, the Rim Trail begins the least crowded section of the entire hike, since both the Abyss and Monument Creek Vista are not popular shuttle stops, making the next busy viewpoint, Pima Point, about 3.8 miles (6.1 km) away.
I’ve always thought these picnic tables on the Grand Canyon Rim Trail have to be some of the most beautiful places in the world to sit and enjoy the view!
These pullout viewpoints, which begin just after Hopi Point and continue all the way to Pima Point, go largely unused since the National Park Service began restricting vehicles on Hermit Road in 2008—from March 1 to November 30—meaning the only way to access them is by hiking at least some portion of the Grand Canyon Rim Trail during this season.
The Abyss
The Abyss is the only named viewpoint between Mohave Point and Monument Creek Vista, but even though it is a shuttle stop off Hermit Road, The Abyss is often absent of other park visitors, who are more interested in continuing to Pima Point.
Between the Abyss and Monument Creek, the hike is roughly 1.0 mile (1.6 km).
At the pullout for the Monument Creek Vista, take the path that leads up to the road, not along the base of the wall.
It’s an easy mistake to make, but the Rim Trail continues along road.
Monument Creek Vista
Similar to The Abyss, Monument Creek Vista is often uncrowded, as few shuttle stop riders get out for these lesser-known viewpoints.
With that in mind, it would make for a very long day to see the viewpoints off Hermit Road by getting off at every shuttle stop, spending time at a viewpoint, and waiting for the next shuttle to continue on to the next one. This is why I honestly think that hiking the Rim Trail is a much less tiring way to have the same experience—if your group is comfortable walking for a few miles.
Hermit Road Greenway
Past Monument Creek Vista, the Rim Trail begins the Hermit Road Greenway, which becomes paved again and remains so all the way to Hermit’s Rest.
Along the Hermit Road Greenway, there are a number of different unnamed viewpoints that hikers and bikers can enjoy, which almost always have no other visitors, as they cannot be reached directly from a shuttle stop.
This is the second of four unnamed viewpoints between Monument Creek Vista and Pima Point.
These downhill sections are some of the most fun sections of the Hermit Road Greenway to bike!
This is the fourth and final pullout viewpoint before Pima Point.
At this junction with the Red Route, go right to continue toward Pima Point.
When the Rim Trail meets Pima Point Road, go right at this junction, regardless of whether you want to hike out to Pima Point or not.
At this second split, hikers have the option to go right to continue to Pima Point, or left to skip Pima Point and continue to Hermit’s Rest and the end of the Rim Trail.
I chose to go right toward Pima Point.
Pima Point
Pima Point is the final viewpoint on the Red Route before Hermit’s Rest, and it’s where the number of visitors on the Rim Trail increases considerably, compared to the sections between Mohave Point and here.
After Pima Point, go right to follow the paved trail off the road to get to Hermit’s Rest, about 1.0 mile (1.6 km) from the viewpoint.
Between Pima Point and Hermit’s Rest, there is just one pullout viewpoint off the Greenway, compared to the four between Monument Creek and Pima Point.
This is the final split in the Rim Trail before Hermit’s Rest.
That said, go right here to finish the Grand Canyon Rim Trail at Hermit’s Rest, about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) away.
It’s always amazing to see the thunderstorms that form in the high mountain desert of Grand Canyon National Park, but at the same time, this should serve as a warning, as much of the Rim Trail is exposed and unsafe if the weather isn’t ideal.
Hermit’s Rest
Hermit’s Rest is the end of the long but truly rewarding 12.7-mile (20.4 km) Rim Trail, and if you take your time like I did on this day, expect to arrive at Hermit’s Rest in the late afternoon or evening hours, depending on the time of year.
That said, Hermit’s Rest is not the end of the trail, but rather another jumping-off point—just like the South Kaibab Trailhead is for the South Kaibab Trail and the hike to Shoshone Point.
To learn more about one of the most common day hikes down the Hermit Trail, check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Dripping Springs Trail (Coming Soon)
Hermit’s Rest Shuttle Stop
If you’re lucky, you may just arrive at Hermit’s Rest to a waiting shuttle, because they often take a break here before starting the 7.0-mile (11.3 km) trip with limited stops back to the beginning.
To learn more about the shuttle schedule, check out the National Park website for the Red Route linked below.
National Park Service: Hermit Road Shuttle (Red Route)
