North Kaibab Trail

Trail Overview

The North Kaibab Trail is the North Rim's primary corridor trail into the Grand Canyon. Unlike the South Rim, which is open year-round and heavily visited, the North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May due to snow. This makes the North Kaibab a more remote, less crowded experience - you'll see a fraction of the traffic of the South Rim trails.

The trail descends 5,780 feet in 14 miles from the North Rim (8,297 ft) to the Colorado River (2,480 ft). The most common day-hike destination is Supai Tunnel at 6.8 miles, where there's a seasonal water spigot and a stunning view into Roaring Springs Canyon. For overnight trips, the trail continues to the river and connects to the River Trail and Bright Angel Campground.

The North Kaibab is steeper and more remote than the Bright Angel Trail, with less infrastructure. There's no water between the rim and Supai Tunnel (6.8 miles), and the trail sees fewer ranger patrols. But the solitude and the views are exceptional - this is the Grand Canyon as it was before the crowds arrived.

Trail Milestones

What It's Really Like

The North Kaibab is consistently described by hikers as "the Grand Canyon without the crowds" and "the most peaceful trail I've hiked in the park." The North Rim sees only about 10% of the visitors of the South Rim, so you'll often have long stretches of trail to yourself.

The descent starts through dense pine forest - a stark contrast to the exposed South Rim trails. The first 2 miles are through the Kaibab Limestone and Toroweap Formation, with views opening up at Coconino Overlook (Mile 0.7). The trail then drops steeply through the Supai Group and Redwall Limestone.

Supai Tunnel at Mile 6.8 is the classic day-hike turnaround. The tunnel itself is a historic feature - hand-carved through the Redwall Limestone in the 1920s. Beyond the tunnel, there's a stunning view into Roaring Springs Canyon, and a seasonal water spigot (typically May-October). This is a 13.6-mile round-trip day hike with 3,897 feet of elevation change - a full-day commitment.

The lower canyon from Supai Tunnel to the river is remote and rarely hiked as a day trip. The trail drops through the inner gorge, passing Cottonwood Campground (Mile 9.5) before reaching the river. This section is steep, hot, and has limited water. Most hikers doing rim-to-river trips do this as an overnight.

Insider tip from reviewers: The North Rim is only open mid-May to mid-October. Book lodging early - the North Rim has limited accommodations and they fill up fast. Start early (before 6 AM) for the Supai Tunnel day hike - it's a long one. And bring all the water you need - there's none between the rim and Supai Tunnel.

Day Hike vs. Overnight

Water & Safety

Permits & Regulations

History & Lore

The North Kaibab Trail was built in the 1920s by the National Park Service as the North Rim's primary corridor trail. The trail's most famous feature is Supai Tunnel, hand-carved through the Redwall Limestone in 1928. The tunnel is 140 feet long and was a major engineering feat for its time.

The trail also passes the ruins of Supai Lodge, a historic ranger station built in the 1920s. The lodge was abandoned in the 1960s and now sits as a reminder of the early days of Grand Canyon tourism.

The North Rim has always been the "quiet side" of the Grand Canyon. While the South Rim developed into a major tourist destination with lodges, restaurants, and crowds, the North Rim remained wild and remote. The North Kaibab Trail reflects that character - it's a trail for those who want the Grand Canyon without the congestion.