What is a Rim-to-Rim Hike?
So, what exactly is the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim hike? As the name suggests, you start at one rim (North or South) and hike down into the canyon and then up the opposite side. There is one path into and out of the canyon on the north side, the North Kaibab Trail and two options on the south, the South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail. Traffic will therefore be higher on the North Kaibab trail because all Rim-to-Rim hikers need to use this trail independent of what they chose to hike on the south rim.
The Grand Canyon is often described as hiking an inverted mountain. Going down is optional but going up is mandatory! New hikers are cautioned not to underestimate the challenge with going downhill – especially on uneven terrain. Muscles that are seldom used can be strained leading to stumbles and falls. Going up can be as challenging as you think since you are raising your body weight up thousands of feet of elevation.
I found it surprising that there are lots of varying information on the elevation changes along the route. From the National Park Service I found that the top of the North Kaibab Trailhead is at 8241 feet, Bright Angel Campground is at 2480 feet, and the Bright Angel Trailhead is at 6880 feet. Therefore, you descend 5761 feet and climb 4380 feet. It is important to consider that it isn’t consistently up and down in each direction. Therefore, you do get in a few extra steps going up and down!
I stumbled upon a really great way to visualize the hike. There were a few of these types of videos out there but this one was on “random_cal” ‘s Instagram account.
I started my planning by utilizing Google and YouTube. I sought out introduction videos and pages to help me understand the hike and what to expect. A few of the videos that I booked marked are below. The first couple give tips on the hike while the other discusses fitness training.
Some people do the Rim-to-Rim hike in a day. Honestly, that may be impressive as a feat of strength and endurance but it pales in comparison to those that do the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike! The folks that choose these options are usually repeat visitors to the bottom of the canyon and get their kicks somewhat differently that what I was prepared for. For me, I wanted to enjoy the beauty of the canyon and take plenty of photos and videos. Hiking the canyon at a rapid pace was not aligned with this objective.
So, one of the first decisions that Wes and I had to make was how quickly we wanted to do the hike. Fortunately, we were both of the opinion that we didn’t want to rush through the canyon. We wanted to have a pleasantly slow experience and cherish our time below the rim.
Side Quest - Ribbon Falls
In our research, we learned that there are three campgrounds along the route. Starting on the north rim, the first campground is Cottonwood, followed by Bright Angel, and then Havasupai Gardens. The campgrounds are relatively evenly spaced across the hike. This assumes the Bright Angel trail is taken on the south route. There is no campground on the South Kaibab trail. Since we didn’t want to rush through the canyon, we thought it would be great if we could camp at each of the campgrounds and break up the hike into at least four days. In order to hike and camp in the canyon, you need permits. The various campgrounds have limited sites and permits would be needed for each campground.
Shortly after leaving Cottonwood Campground the morning of Day 2. We arrived at Cottonwood in the dark so I don’t have a picture of the campground.
Bright Angel Creek adjacent to Bright Angel Campground
Exploring Havasupai Garden Campground
Most of my hiking experience is around my home in Western Michigan and often takes place in cooler months. I’ve done some warm/hot weather hiking but not too much. I bring this up because in my research the experts talk about having the right clothes for hot weather hiking. Moisture wicking clothes are highly recommended, and, in particular, moisture wicking underwear. So, I had to ditch the cotton underwear and select an alternative. Selecting the right socks is also critical. Merino wool is often the material of choice. It is natural, helps regulate body temperature, helps keep you dry and sweat-free and is good for layering. In addition, it is odor resistant and soft.
Interestingly, in order to limit weight, hikers often only take one or two sets of clothing for the hike relying on rinsing out and drying one pair while wearing the other. I say “rinsing” because soaps and other hygiene products are not recommended. Yes, for four days, no soap was used! Toothpaste was the only thing brought into the canyon. Now I can guess what you are thinking, we were pretty ripe by the end of the hike. When you learn about our relationship with water in future posts, you’ll get a better picture of this topic! 😊
Hiking training in Holland, MI. Photo from the top of Mt. Pisgah down the road from my home. You can see our lighthouse, “Big Red” in the background.
With our preferred hiking plan, we had four main hikes per day. Two going into the canyon and two going out. For those with time and interest, there are “side quests” available. Ribbon Falls is a side hike off of the North Kaibab trail. Clear Creek Trail branches out from the North Kaibab trail before one reaches Phantom ranch. Off of Bright Angel near Havasupai Garden you have the Plateau Point trail. The Tonto trail, which runs along the canyon, crosses near Havasupai Garden and can be hiked a bit if someone has interest. Before my research, I thought that there would be many more opportunities to branch off of the main trail along the hike. I appreciated why that isn’t the case as I often hiked through narrow notch canyons with steep walls on each side!
I’ve mentioned that hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim comes with risks. There is no cell service in the canyon. You are off the grid whether you like it or not. In 2024, 16 peopled died in the canyon and typically about 250 people have to be rescued each year. Everywhere I turned on my research, the dangers of the canyon were front and center. I was committed to prepare for the hike so that if I had an issue in the canyon, it would not be due to insufficient training and preparations.
YogaGeorge