South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail: Best Day Hike in the Grand Canyon

Covering 17 miles and over 4800 feet of elevation gain, the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail is a strenuous hike that leads down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back to the South Rim.

Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time is a magical experience: the sheer vastness of the canyon is indescribable. But, the hoards of people around the South Rim make you feel like you’re in Disney World or Times Square. It’s not an ideal environment to enjoy the United States’ grandest geological formation.

If you’re like us, you need to get away from the crowds and experience the Canyon from below.

So if you’re up for a real challenge, keep reading to learn about the epic hike that allows you to explore the depths of the Grand Canyon and find solitude in this magical place.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hiking the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail, including details about the hike difficulty, importation safety information, and transportation logistics.

Before we get into it, you should know…

For full disclosure, the National Park Service recommends against attempting to hike to the bottom on the Grand Canyon and back in one day. If you decide to take on this adventure, make sure that you are fit enough and well-prepared before venturing into the canyon.

Do NOT attempt this hike in the summer. Temperatures in the canyon can be 10-15 degrees warmer than at the rim and shade is minimal, which can lead to heat exhaustion. We hiked in March with temperatures ranging from 30 to 50 degrees, so heat was not a problem.

How to get to the South Kaibab trailhead

This is a one-way hike that starts from the South Kaibab Trailhead and finishes at the Bright Angel Trailhead.

It is not possible to drive your own vehicle to the South Kaibab Trailhead as parking is not available. To get to the trailhead, catch the Hiker’s Express Shuttle bus from the Bright Angel Lodge. The bus ride takes about 20 minutes. You can park at the Bright Angel Lodge or take the bus to the lodge from your hotel.

Alternatively, you can take the Hiker’s Express shuttle from the Visitor’s Center directly to South Kaibab, and then take another shuttle back to the Visitor’s Center after the hike.

South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail | Hike Guide

Into the Grand Canyon: South Kaibab Trail

The hike starts immediately with a steep descent via the South Kaibab trail, with stunning panoramic views of the Grand Canyon.

Ooh Aah Point

One mile into the hike you’ll reach the first viewpoint, aptly named Ooh Aah Point. Hiking out and back to Ooh Aah Point is quite popular, so this spot gets crowded later in the day. We had the view to ourselves when we arrived at 8:00 AM!

Cedar Ridge

Half a mile past Ooh Aah Point at Cedar Ridge, you’ll catch a glimpse of the seemingly endless switchbacks on O’Neill Butte below. There are restrooms available here.

Skeleton Point

At 3 miles into the hike, you will reach Skeleton Point. This is a good turn-around point for folks looking for a 6-mile roundtrip hike, instead of the full 17-mile South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail hike.

From here you can see the Colorado River for the first time! At this point on our hike, the rain was heavy and the fog was thick, so I just barely managed to grab a photo of the mighty Colorado.

Fun Fact | Did you know the river actually changes color with the season?! From fall through spring, the river appears a light green color, but during the summer it changes to a reddish brown. This is due to the amount of sediment in the water, caused by heavier rains in the summer months.

Kaibab Suspension Bridge

After nearly 7 miles of downhill hiking, you’ll finally reach the bottom of the Grand Canyon! The trail leads through a dark tunnel and across the Kaibab Suspension bridge crossing the Colorado River.

On the other side of the bridge, take a left and continue to the Bright Angel Campground.

Bright Angel Campground

Bright Angel Campground is located about half a mile from the Kaibab Suspension Bridge. There are restrooms and a water station here.

Take a moment to fill up your water, have a snack, and rest. But remember you’ve still got a long hike ahead. The real hard part starts now!

Out of the Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail

The Bright Angel Trail leads from the Colorado River back up to the Rim.

After leaving the campground, cross another bridge over the Colorado River. Then continue to the right, following the Bright Angel Trail along a relatively flat path for about a mile. Here the elevation gain slowly starts to pick up.

As you continue back up, you’ll be constantly asking yourself “Is that the rim?” Hint: the answer will be “no” for quite some time!

Indian Garden

With 4.7 miles to go (and about 12.5 miles into the hike), you will arrive at Indian Garden campground.

By now, your thighs are throbbing and your feet are aching! Take a moment to rest and don’t forget the fill up your water.

Three-Mile and Mile-and-a-Half Resthouses

After Indian Garden, there are rest stops at 3 miles and 1.5 miles from the rim, conveniently named Three Mile Resthouse and Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse.

By this point, you’re likely feeling pretty fatigued. This is definitely the hardest part of the hike. Nonetheless, even after 7 hours in the Grand Canyon, we were truly still in awe at this magical place!

Closer to the rim, the trail starts to get more crowded as casual tourists venture down the Bright Angel Trail to take in the views.

Back on the Rim

When you finally reach the South Rim again, it is time to celebrate your hard work! We finished our day relaxing in pajamas with a cold beer and takeout pizza and fell asleep by 8pm after a long, hard, and truly incredible day in the Grand Canyon.

Pro Tip | The restaurants in the Grand Canyon village leave little to be desired. We highly recommend picking up a pizza from Canyon Village Market.

South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail | FAQs

When is the best time to hike?

• Ideal | Spring (March to May) or Fall (September to October)
• Avoid | Winter (November to February) and Summer (June to August)

The best time to hike the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail is during the spring or fall. We hiked in mid-March and it was the perfect weather (aside from the rain and fog) for hiking: not too cold and not dangerously hot.

In the winter, snow and ice can make the cliffside trail very treacherous. I would not attempt this hike in the winter. Even in the spring, the trail near the rim was covered in ice, making it a bit unnerving given how close to the edge the trail leads.

In the summer, extreme temperatures and lack of shade can lead to heat exhaustion and dehydration. If you are planning to visit during the summer, do NOT attempt to complete this hike in one day.

How difficult is the South Kaibab to Bright Angel hike?

The difficulty of the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail hike is compounded by the fact that it is a reverse summit, meaning you start by descending and finish with a steep climb back to the Rim.

While this may seem obvious, it’s relatively easy to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon without realizing how far you’ve come, and just how much farther you have to go! By the time you reach the most challenging section, you’ve already been hiking for 8 to 9 miles.

How does the hike compare to the traditional Rim-to-Rim?

The traditional “Rim-to-Rim” hike starts at the North Rim and ends at the South Rim, a 22 to 24 mile one-way trek that requires you to camp at least one night in the canyon.

The South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail hike covered in this article starts from one side of the South Rim, descends to the canyon floor, briefly crosses the Colorado River, and then ascends up another side of the South Rim.

There are a few advantages to this hike over the traditional Rim-to-Rim hike:

• You can complete it as a day hike (if you are an experienced hiker).
• The South Rim is always open, while the North Rim closes due to snow from mid-October to mid-May.
• It’s less logistically complicated. The North Rim is about a 4-hour drive from the South Rim, and requires taking a shuttle one way.

Which direction should I hike?

We recommend that you hike down the South Kaibab and up the Bright Angel Trail for two reasons.

First, the view descending the South Kaibab is amazing. Going down you’ll be facing into the canyon with an incredible bird’s eye view the entire way.

Second, the South Kaibab trail is steeper. While the Bright Angel Trail is longer, it’s more gradual and (slightly) less strenuous.

Is it possible to shorten the hike?

If the prospect of a 17-mile hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon seems too daunting to you, we get it! The night before this hike we had anxious butterflies in our stomachs, and almost bailed a couple times.

It’s possible to shorten the hike by going a few miles out and back along the South Kaibab Trail. Here are a few shorter options on the South Kaibab Tail:

• Hike down to Skeleton Point, and then return to the rim: 6 miles
• Hike down to Cedar Ridge, and then return to the rim: 3 miles
• Hike down to Ooh Aah Point, and then return to the rim: 2 miles

Can I backpack the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail?

Yes! The South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails can be completed as a two-day backpacking trip. You need a permit to camp, and backcountry permits are in high demand at the Grand Canyon!

Plan your trip | You can find more information about backpacking in the Grand Canyon and how to obtain a backcountry camping permit here.

Other useful resources

Looking for more great hikes and outdoor adventures in the American Southwest? Check out these articles for more inspiration!

The South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail is one of our all-time favorite hikes and a big reason we got so into hiking. If you are thinking about doing it please feel free to reach out with any questions!