Grand Canyon Rim to River Hike Guide

[@janaburritt6939]

I did it in April 1984. Plenty of water and lots of food plus clothes to change as it was snowing above. I was crippled but my sister and friend helped me out. It was so beautiful. Worth the pain. Plan for all types of weather heat to cold. A backpacking water filter is blessing.

[@bernhardjost]

Still my favorite hike in the entire U.S, just make sure to start like 30min before sunrise, light on South Kaibab is spectacular

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, good tip and I agree, it's def a classic.

[@alejandrosanchez6683]

@@Hikingguydo you know if you can ride your own mule down there?

[@Sgv1tm]

I’m afraid of heights and will never do this trail, but I enjoy watching you taking us along. Thank you

[@ejud2001]

Wow. Most excellent video and description. First one I've seen that doesn't skip any parts. And the map work at the end is an extra bonus. Very hard to convey to a "stranger" what the Canyon is, but you have done well. I did this hike back in '71, and it was "one day down, two days up": that was like a "law". Only crazy people did it in one go- and the really extreme cases did this "rim to rim" thing! LOL! Now people run it! But even the most fit and athletic are tested by the Canyon. Thanks for a most excellent video.

[@stevedietrich8936]

This was an awesome summary and one I would recommend to anyone thinking of doing the hike. We did the hike (plus 2 nights at Phantom Ranch before going back up) 9 years ago. I would add that I am squeamish about heights and I didn't have ANY problems at all with feeling like I would fall off the trail. The S. Kaibab trail has a lot of steps, and the steps are taller than what you are used too. It is a bit hard on the knees. Hiking poles aren't mandatory but are useful when you are going down the steps. You'll no doubt run into a mule train, just obey the mule driver's instructions and he will tell you what he wants you to do, but as a general rule just stand on the side of the path. I recall zero water on S. Kaibab, but several opportunities on Bright Angel. We hiked in January, below freezing on the south rim but upper 50s-low 60s at the river. If you can't obtain reservations at PR, then ask if they have any cancellations. We hiked in January because that was when they had 2 consecutive nights of cancellations. We hiked to Ribbon Falls on the day between hiking down and the day we hiked out. No lie about the steepness of the last 3 miles of the Bright Angel, 3000 feet in 3 miles and it took us 3 hours.

[@Figjamquilter]

Great description of the this trail. I’ve been doing this trail annually for over 15 years. Never is it easy but always worth it.

[@shaneluck2570]

I hiked this at Turoweep when I was younger. Quite a stretch! Going in was ok, coming out was brutal. Water was a must.

[@SillySocial]

You really give an in depth route of these trails. Really enjoy it! The funny thing is that your suggestions ate like a high school principal to students. I love it. Grumpy voice adds points for interest too. You rock!

[@Thomas-wo4ei]

Hi, I am from Germany, after long search I found hiking guy´s recommendations. Best of all in photos, video, commend, maps and experience! Looking forward to do the hike in one day soon! TY

[@markmcc1]

One of the best overall videos and the mapping was great. Do one on R2R2R next.

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you! And I do have the R2R2R up thre now, check out the site 👍

[@cj4657]

Great video and description. We left SK at 4:00am and caught a spectacular sunrise.

[@venomfu007]

Did it in April. Absolutely gorgeous. Just to add it was 26F at the top(South Kaibab) in April when we started around 5:30AM. Needed to carry microspikes and winter clothes. 86F in the Havasupai Gardens. So, you need to carry extra clothing this time of the year.

[@pattihumiston4315]

Thanks!! Doing R2R N to S with 1 night at each CWC, BAC and HGC June 14-17 2023!! This was awesome video ❤

[@youtubeguy99]

Great video! Thanks for making that. This was one of the best Grand Canyon hiking videos I’ve seen. Can’t wait to hike there next week.

[@biskybisk1405]

What a nice job you did - thank you. Loved your view as you were hiking then showing us the birds eye view at the end. I’m planning a trip in late April and trying to figure out exactly what trails I’ll do. Thanks you!

[@christopherhaak9824]

Cris, this is a great hike, I did this with my son in March 2020 right before all of the Covid stuff started happening. As you note, this is not for the casual hiker. On our hike, we caught up with a middle aged couple near the black bridge and then had lunch with them down at the bottom. They were not hikers, just out at the GC from Vegas as they were in town for a convention. I can't really imagine how they were when they finally reached the top. It is a tough one, training needed for sure and disciplined water consumption needed as you start heading up as it is easy to get dehydrated if you are not careful. Don't feed the squirrels at Indian Gardens, their presence and aggressive nature are the bane of that stop.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, that's crazy, I've always seen people like that too. I guess you don't know what you don't know but still, it seems pretty clueless even for a non-hiker. Glad you got to experience it with your son, such a cool spot and great hike.

[@DadGoesCamping]

Just finished our hike on Nov 7 Your tips were very helpful and I watched this video multiple times……….just wanted to say thanks !

[@Hikingguy]

Great, congrats on the hike and glad the guide was handy!

[@andymarinshaw911]

Perfect, great job, exactly what I was looking for. Very descriptive and informative. Appreciate how you pointed out all the markers, water spots, difficulty and expectations. Thanks trailguy

[@YumikoMuto]

I did one day hike last fall. It was tough but fun.

[@markcrowell2727]

I did this hike over three days with Wildland Trekking from Sept 26-28- it was very challenging, but an amazing experience. We were pretty well prepared. I now look forward to doing a rim-to-rim...learned a lot from my first time doing a hike like this.

[@Hikingguy]

Ah that's great - how was Wildland? I've heard good things and people ask for guided trips here. Would you recommend it to others?

[@markcrowell2727]

@@Hikingguy Sorry for the late reply. I really liked Wildland. This year, I did Bryce Canyon/Esclante with them as well - it was even better!

[@OutsideChronicles]

Thanks for all of the detail and guide. Looks amazing and far less logistics than rim to rim. Hoping to get out there soon.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, that's the nice thing, you just need to plan the water, which is pretty easy if everything is running, and you still get to experience much of R2R.

[@1105jk]

GREAT Video to prepare me for my Rim to River Rim Hike. Thank you!!!

[@deeking1840]

Thank you for this detailed video! Outstanding quality! Using to plan my hike.

[@tirac2895]

Fantastic video! So, helpful! Thank you so much!

[@beverlyfilippi1900]

Just did the hike. This video help. Thanks

[@sreeramraj4791]

Excellent Video.. Thank you very Much

[@dennisbrock3397]

I did it at 73 years old 3 years ago. Believe me. It’s tough.

[@AnthonyJMendoza-f7i]

I did it three weeks ago at 69. Yea, it was tough.

[@michaelwalling8281]

Excellent video! Well done.

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

Thanks for a grand trip!

[@matthewspecker]

Well done as always. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@travisschroeder6650]

Awesome video. Really appreciate you taking the time to put this together. I did R3 a couple years ago in a day, and have been dying to go back. Taking my fiancé to do the rim2river hike in a few weeks so this really helped her get a good idea of what to expect! Thanks again, subscribed!

[@Hikingguy]

Ah that's great, glad it was a good prep video - hope you guys have fun. Just saw that it snowed at the GC this week. Have fun! 👍

[@faithcircus14]

Hey, Hiking Guy, great guide! I’ve been training my butt off to do this and I’m within sight of the start. I’d love to download the guide on your website to have on my phone just in case and none of the save as options include all the pictures. Do you happen to have it in PDF format that would include all your helpful pics?

[@srivenkat3142]

Thanks for all the hints 👍, I did not know that there is a water refill station after phantom ranch towards bright Angel. I forgot to fill up at phantom ranch 😀 so I did not hv enough water until Indian garden.

[@Hikingguy]

Oh man, yea, and that's a tough stretch too, hopefully it wasn't too bad. I usually carry a filter too, sometimes you can fill up in Garden Creek in a pinch (with a filter).

[@ericksfunruns]

@@Hikingguy do you know if there is water at all in late November? Is it possible to fill up at phantom ranch at least?

[@ericksfunruns]

@@Hikingguy great video by the way so valuable for us

[@Hikingguy]

@@ericksfunruns yes water all year, check the link for my website - I talk about water quite a bit

[@lalar24]

Great video thank you for your great description looking to do this hike soon!

[@SillySocial]

I don’t know how you do these hikes in collared shirts.

[@overwatchxrescue]

Those signs telling you not to do the trail in a day definitely seem like more of a challenge than a warning!

[@farbeyonddriven2876]

Good info!! Did you hear anything about Phantom Ranch being closed soon for renovations?

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, I heard that the dorms will be closed but I think the canteen is still open. Not sure exactly though.

[@TJB590]

Hi Hiking Guy, I am set to do this exact hike with two friends this coming October 2023.. We are doing the hike as follows. Day 1 Hike down South Kaibab and camp at Bright Angel Campground. Day 2, Hike up to Havasupai campground and camp overnight. Day 3 Hike out . I have an older model Kelty Red Cloud 56 L pack which seems a bit large. I am considering an Osprey Kestrel 48 as an option. I notice on your web page you referenced an Osprey 24 for the day hike, Do you figure the Osprey 48 would be sufficient for the 3 day timeline. We also plan to have dinner at the lodge on day one, so that also minimized food a bit. Your web page and this video have been very helpful. I am grateful for the tip on Trail Runners vs Hiking shoes. Any help with a pack size recommendation would be appreciated. Thanks Tom

[@Hikingguy]

If you like the Kelty, I'd just stick with that. A little extra room is okay. But I like the Osprey Exos - it's well balanced and keeps your back dry: amzn.to/3O9O5h3

[@Pipeliner250]

How would I follow the route as it seems easy to take the wrong trail? I’m keen to complete this in June, not I ideal weather I know.

[@Hikingguy]

Try the AllTrails app, it works on your phone - just make sure you put it in airplane mode and download the maps for offline.

[@Niksuniverse80]

I really benefit from watching all tour videos, do you have patreon or something to donate to ? Peace.

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you!! Support info here > hikingguy.com/support-hiking-guy/

[@brianbailey7128]

Thanks. How is this compared to Bright Angel to River, and back?

[@cmu3rd]

Great video. This is a bucket list hike for me. How does the difficulty compare to the Half Dome hike?

[@Hikingguy]

It's a good question. If you take the cables out of the equation, they're both pretty similar in terms of effort on paper. I think the "climb at the end" aspect of this hike prob makes it a little tougher.

[@christinerolle3876]

Cris ,what company would u recommend for a guide to do a backpacking trip .? Thank so much again.!!

[@Hikingguy]

I've heard good things about the Wildland Trekking company but haven't used them myself. Have fun, it's an epic hike!

[@dr.brentmyers825]

Curious if anyone has skipped the phantom ranch part and took a break at the junction to Bright Angle after you cross the black bridge or somewhere nearby. It certainly saves a bit and I believe there is water nearby. Is it really worth the extra 1.5 miles at this point?

[@Hikingguy]

There's water at the junction on the N side, so you can def skip Phantom Ranch. It's just an iconic spot and has frontcountry food. If that doesn't interest you, you can def skip

[@jefffiolek4058]

Awesome video! If you have time to answer 1 question. If we were doing this very early am and would hit the turn around at Phantom Ranch before they opened for the day would it be a good idea to skip Phantom Ranch and just head towards Bright Angel trail after crossing the river? Hope that makes sense. Thanks again for the awesome video.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, if you don't need to stop for food you can just get your water refill along the river (from spigots) and skip Phantom Ranch. Def cross the bridges though, that is worth it.

[@ChristianB-n7u]

@@jefffiolek4058 We did this hike without the Phantom Ranch part on Labor day. Never really understood the point to go there.

[@lauranelson4625]

GREAT Video! Super helpful! What gear did you use to capture this?

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you! & GoPro

[@lauranelson4625]

@@Hikingguy Nice!! A group of us are hiking this route today...in a couple hrs, actually... And then my hubby and I are doing Rim to Rim in 2023. I hoped to use a GoPro to capture the experience but OTHER videos I've seen didn't come nearly as amazing as yours. Great work!! And thank you again!!

[@Hikingguy]

@@lauranelson4625 Thank you and have fun! Yea, with GoPro, you just need a lot of light - when it's sunrise or sunset, they can get grainy.

[@MOAB-UT]

Is there a good halfway point if someone (ok-me) did not want to do the entire trail- a spot where you can still see the water but make it back without giving myself heat exhaustion. I wouldn't mind doing ~5'ish miles each way. I could do more but 10 miles in a day, as long as I can see some amazing views would be plenty good enough. I really don't ant to have to camp. I could easily begin my hike well before sunrise with my trusty headlight. When I did the 17 miles half dome hike it was FAR more enjoyable in the early hours- hiking up that mist trail in the moonlight was nothing short of magical and exciting. The view at the top was amazing. To anyone reading, if you plan to do it in the future- if it's on your bucket list (should be!), please clip onto the cable. A woman died the next day on them. It very easy to slip on that final smooth rock ascent. The rain randomly came in up there (even on sunny days.) This is common. R.I.P. Danielle, 9.2019. She had a harness but was not clipped in at the time. Tragic and very avoidable. They discourage clipping on- which is dumb.

[@Hikingguy]

Check out my guides for Skeleton Point and Plateau Point, both offer what you describe

[@TampaBayLabradoodles]

Just have a quick question for you. I saw your video on hiking from rim to river and saw that you went up bright angels Trail. When you get to the top, is there a bus that will take you back to the south Kaibab trail? Also, how long did it take you to do this day hike?

[@Hikingguy]

Check out the link in the description for the time, bus info etc. and yes, there is a shuttle between Visitor Center and South Kaibab

[@hikeryoga7079]

Doing this hike next year for my 50th birthday

[@MOAB-UT]

Great video and amazing views. I want to do this one next year. Is it best to hike down, then up or is there a way to go up first and down when you are tired? Like River to Rim. Can you camp anywhere along the trail? If I started at say 4am could I do it all in one day. We did that with Half Dome and it worked out fine. It is almost identical in length- 17 miles. 4800 feet elevation- but you hike UP first. Also much of it was in the shade so I think Yosemite would be a bit easier. It was also very crowded so you never felt in real danger- extremely well travelled trail.

[@Hikingguy]

Nope, only way is to go down>up unless you raft in. That's what makes the GC hikes a bit tougher.

[@MOAB-UT]

@@Hikingguy Thanks. I think I would only go half way in that case. I think there is an indian campground. Will I still enjoy good enough views doing that? I like a nice long hike- but at my age I don't really need a heat attack either. It is very exposed and dry. Is it safe to starting the dark- concern is rattle snakes.

[@leticialopez8900]

What state is that beautiful 😍 trail?

[@ruthsalinas9479]

Why can’t we go in the water at Pipe Creek Beach?

[@zbutler111]

Do you have a guide for suggested training for someone close to sea level that lives in a very flat area (south GA) who wants to Hike the R2R?

[@Hikingguy]

Get used to the distance on flat and work in some stairmaster sessions of 1-2 hours

[@MOAB-UT]

With the heat I bet there have been many heart attacks- on the way up. That sun and dehydration can do you in real quick.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, sunstroke is real and lots of rescues from folks that are unprepared.

[@MOAB-UT]

@@Hikingguy Exactly. I wan to avoid that. Even if I start in the dark, that sun will come up fast. What is the best half-way point- or other, perhaps easier but still amazing hike in the area you can recommend? If you ever hike in MOAB, I can share my top hikes.

[@staceyet4176]

How long did this take you to hike including rests ?

[@Hikingguy]

check out the link in the description

[@mike9856]

Achei a volta muito menos perigosa que a ida, com certeza faria todo o trajeto por uma única rota. kkkkkkk