Rim to Rim: The Grandest Hike on Earth

Hiking rim to rim, south to north, from Yaki Point to Bright Angel Point, Grand Canyon, via the Kaibab Trail and one long day. Simply the grandest hike on Earth. more: www.sierradescents.com/hiking/...

[@jeanniec.9307]

I am fortunate to live on the Colorado Plateau. I visit North and South Rims of Grand Canyon about 3 - 4 times a year and have done so for many, many years. It is addictive. The initial view of each visit still brings tears to my eyes. I love it so very much and never see it the same. The grandeur, the expansive panorama, the vastness is over powering and humbles the soul.

[@marklabombard1]

I find that the Canyon stays with me. Ive only visited twice. The most recent time , just this Sep, my wife and I hiked to the bottom and back. After our first visit I was semi obsessed with the Canyon...which lead to us hiking it this past summer. I thought that hiking it would get it "out of my system". If anything .... Its made me more obsessed. Its almost haunting. Sometimes when I shut my eyes, I can see it.....just like I'm there.

[@EagleLogic]

There’s something about the Grand Canyon that literature fails to describe. You get there and pictures do absolutely no fucking justice for the expansive panoramas you see when you get to one of the rims. When my family and I first got into the Grand Canyon national park I remember driving and seeing “glimpses” of the Canyon. Then we stopped and I ran over and just tears man. Just tears. When you see something that amazing sometimes the only reaction that is feasible is tears. I love the Grand Canyon. I dream of hiking rim to rim. Certainly seems like the grandest hike on this planet.

[@dutchrevolutionist1409]

You are lucky to live in the western usa! Greetz from the netherlands

[@peterchapman697]

Just did this in June. had to sit out the worst of the heat, around 105 (40C) in the shade. Brutal. Missed the high elevation views from North Kaibab because it was dark. Seeing the sun come up over the South Kaibab trail is an unbelievable experience. Great video. Captures it well.

[@kentcarper7585]

My son and I just made the trip to the South Rim! Just loved it! We watched the sunrise at 6:02 am with about 80 others, dead silence for 20 minutes amazed with God’s glorious work!

[@rondileem3111]

Beautiful video. You really captured the beauty and magic that is the Grand Canyon. Thank you!

[@emichin7010]

Thanks for sharing. Brings back some epic memories.

[@bob65203]

Outstanding! Well edited, thanks for taking the time to film, edit and upload this.

[@ronnyz10]

Thanks for the hike report, I really enjoyed it.

[@domenicomirante8057]

wonderful job on the hike andy brought back a lot of great memories did rim to rim 17 years ago many thanx

[@timennis3456]

Great video, very well produced. Much appreciate your efforts and your sharing it. Thank you.

[@idesof3]

Awesome accomplishment. Thank you for posting your video

[@filmic1]

Thank you for the video blog. Enjoyed that very much.

[@lanxfang1159]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[@renatedebruyn9612]

Thank you Andy for sharing this beautiful hike with us. The canyons are incredible ❤️

[@papapoodo6685]

That was very well done and enjoyable!! Thank you

[@juliaadams8647]

Thank you Andy! Your video is a wonderful way to see what some of us just can't get to. Very well done!

[@royalgeologist]

Fantastic mate! Well done! Thanks for sharing!

[@paulfiarkoski7544]

Thanks for taking the time to shoot this video and put it up on KZbin! I really enjoyed watching it. Prepping now for my first hike to the bottom in May 2014 and want to do rim to rim sometime in the next 4 years.

[@Stevenowski]

Wonderful video. The views were great. Thanks!

[@leahb.3936]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing. Makes me even more excited to do this, this summer.

[@davidkolhoff]

Thanks Andy. Well done.

[@markrobinson-he7xj]

Great vid Andy, all the best and keep on trekin

[@davidletourneau4217]

Thanks Andy! I agree that this must be the grandest hike on earth! A friend and I just did it North Kaibab and Bright Angel going north to south in one day. That route is about 24 miles. I'm 65 so trained for 8 months and although physically challenging, it was absolutely amazing! We're already planning south to north for next year. Great video! Thanks. David (Tornado)

[@saukin767]

In one of my Grand Canyon videos, I said the same thing you said at the end of your video "This video will not make justice to what my eyes are seeing". Excellent video. Tx for sharing.

[@clydesownershiloh]

Hiking this from North to South Rim in early June, camping 3 nights, Thanks for giving us an inside look at what to expect, it looks amazing,

[@sweetcheeks12007]

Thank You so very much a carrying us all threw your eyes upon this journey it has been so very wonderful and beautiful and i so hope one day i too will be able to see this with my own eyes :)

[@wyopobo5339]

Great video. well done. i went rim to rim and back again in Jan of 1995. i also did some off trail. as i recall it was an 7 or 8 day trip.

[@dreamweaver5869]

Amazing man thanks for sharing👍🏻 My brother and I have been talking about this same hike for 5 years and it’s time💪🏻

[@ericsmith3609]

I have hiked rim to rim, and rim to river to rim, and this video is a fantastic reminder that it is indeed the grandest hike on Earth. It makes me want to go back right now and hike it again. Thanks for sharing.

[@lildeath00]

thanks for upload ,, visiting south rim in sept 2013, cant wait and good job

[@bessiewilson6838]

It was so amazing it's like heaven faith hope and love

[@gpf5204]

great, absolute, cosmic, so many compliments

[@scottyflintstone]

Excellent. Thanks for posting this.

[@RealSoundNow]

This is as good a job of capturing a rim to rim in all its elements as I've seen. Very well done.

[@AndyLewicky]

Thank you! :)

[@RealGood10]

awesome film!

[@edwardcruz8753]

omg that was amazing Andy, I've been to both sids north @ south rim of the canyon but unfortunately never in it , thanks because i felt like I've been down there now.

[@splasher7]

I enjoyed your video. Well done. Grand Canyon is a very special place. Took our kids to the bottom last year, have done the transcanyon hike 10 years ago and I used to live there and hike to Indian Gardens couple times a week 30 years ago in construction project that moved the campground to above the gabion stone walls. Also spent two summers on North Rim on electrical project.

[@dantefarnsworth2126]

great video guys, just awesome.....

[@jaapongeveer6203]

Spectacular!

[@valeryanderson6413]

LOVE Arizona!!!

[@NadiMich]

Thank you for such a nice video, we are hoping to do the rim to rim next September. Gave us a taste of what is up ahead.

[@BruceWyatt]

Andy, great job with videography and narration. Beautifully captures what it's like on the trail; nothing is like being there, tho! 4 friends and I did a 3-day, 25-mile trek April 21-23, 2010, starting/ending at Hermit's Rest Trail head. Enjoyed overnight camping at Hermit's Rest at the Colorado River 1 night and Monument Creek the next. It snowed on us only in morning of day-1, but got quite hot on the hike back out. Spring time is amazing! Rim2Rim hike is on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

[@scottstevenz8732]

you guys are my idols!

[@Fasterism1]

Great video, you taught me a lot on how to capture my future hikes in this video.

[@bloggerpillai]

Just a magnificent hike there, Andy. Jealous. We didn't do R2R or anything of that sort in 1999. We hiked down from the South, stayed at Phantom Ranch for the night (that place is indeed a slice of heaven) and hiked out the next day back to South.

[@davidm4160]

Nice video! The Grand Canyon is spectacular, my wife and I just returned from a trip to AZ. We hiked to Dripping Springs on Feb. 21, 2013. Short day hike, about six miles or so, It was about 15 or 20 degrees that day, perfect hiking weather.

[@mpl1700]

thanks, loved it !

[@sjames1946]

Fantastic video work. Thanks for sharing.

[@christinawhitt7213]

Thanks for the great video! I am doing this in August!!

[@ThatSingleStep]

I can't wait to go!!!

[@cavemanillustrations]

I have done South Kaibab to River/Phanton Ranch/Bright Angel out a couple of times...it is a great way to do permit-free full canyon hiking. Took me a bit over six hours.

[@davidm9618]

Excellent!

[@channel34mil]

Very cool video, It seems too easy to do it the way you did it considering that you went down from the shortes way to the phantom ranch, going up to the north rim is another story, you have to be very fit to do that clim in one day, :D. Grand Canyon is not a yoke, first timers should take good planning and rest a lot, getting to the north rim is a very different place from the south rim, you have to book accommodations, transportation well in advance, no wonder is one of the best hikes you can do, it is an unforgettable experience. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

[@bkbland1626]

Such a great place! We hiked in on S Kaibab and out Bright Angel a couple days later, but still a great hike. I'd like to check out the N Kaibab some time. Spectacular place to experience.

[@dlloyd4027]

Awesome awesome video! Congrats on a huge achievement, I'd love to cross this off my bucket list someday.

[@drewtsosie]

Same!

[@1121gsm]

Just finished the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and now I'm looking for another challenge. This was a great video. I appreciate your comments along the way. It helps to put things in perspective. Excellent photography--your photos do "do it justice."

[@davidrichard2765]

I think the photography was great, and I was struck by the silence and the intense atmosphere especially on the way down. I can't believe I worked three years in America in NJ and never visited the GC. I feel as though I've been on a great hike I was spellbound from beginning to end, thanks.

[@josephshelton6385]

+David Richard Unfortunately, most Arizona natives never hike the Canyon either. It took me 17 years of living before I got around to it.

[@MrBucsub52]

So excited the wife and I are going July 8 of this year didnt want to watch the video to spoil it for me, but got great ideas on times and our abiities. Thanks

[@fivepoints]

Thank you

[@EagleLogic]

Really wanted to do rim-to-rim ever since I saw this video, but I have lost the weighted lottery two years in a row. Crossing my fingers I can go next summer I am free. Thanks for sharing this great video.

[@carrottreecoffee]

we did this same route on october 10th, 2012! Grueling....but beautiful!

[@40desertfox1]

Wife & I hiked r2r in Sept. over 5 days (3 days years earlier) from north to south up Bright Angel Trail. Enjoy the slower pace with many stops. Had 40 lbs of camping gear each and we're 69 & 70. Love the GC...very addicting. Great photography with slow, awesome views, not usual jerky, mostly face-time footage. We said this would be our last time...but then, we said that the last time. Went to Sedona afterwards for 4 days of hot tub time. We have been down/up the South Kaibab twice.

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Nice Rim Job👍

[@jimgreen9059]

I did this over a 2-year period, hiking Bright Angel to Phantom Ranch and out S. Kaibab in '91 (4 hrs. in, 6 hrs. out. Even though I'm from flat Illinois, I made it down and back with no Kaibab Shuffle at all (calf muscles so sore the next day, you can't walk, or varying stages along that scale). In '92 I came down the N. Kaibab to Phantom Ranch, and back out the next day--7:20 in, 10:45 out, but really no worse for the wear.

[@bgchal4662]

did this north to south in 9 hours. that was one hell of a hike. but so awesome we started at north rim tho

[@StephenLandry]

Fantastic views!! Wonderful video. Bittersweet for me, though; my son and I had a permit for a R2R South to North in late May and hiked down the South Kaibab but were turned around at Phantom Ranch due to a pipeline break and washout of the North Kaibab Trail. We hiked out the Bright Angel Trail and ahd a great time, but I still want to do a R2R some day. I'll need moe than a day, tough! Congrats on your excellent hike! And thanks for sharing.

[@gearsandgod]

Great vid! Love the narrative, kindda sounds like Snagglepuss

[@Fukarichief]

Awesome!

[@krishnamurthyiyengar5307]

lovely hike you lucky guy sitting here in india i wish i could also do it may be some day age permitting

[@cathleenbond3983]

I an trying to get a permit now for June. A Start at the N rim via NK trail stay at Cottonwood for 2 nights and up BA with a night at Indian Garden to S rim and the shuttle back to the N rim to get car. I could never do this in less time, good for you though. Awesome video

[@36janders]

I highly recommend the Death in the Grand Canyon book for anyone who thinks that warning is overly cautious. It totally depends on skill level and each person's threshold for environmental stress.

[@josephregallis3394]

Excellent video. I felt like I was there. You probably have some of the best audio I've ever heard in a video. I'm definitely going to research the Sony RX100 camera. They probably have a better one by now. I hope one day to do this hike. I have been having problems with an old hernia injury. I hope to get that taken care of. I live in South Florida and it's now our hiking season. If I do the Grand Canyon, I plan to go down the north side and up Bright Angel Trail. I think that would be easier.

[@JackTar361]

Excellent photography. I ride motorcycles and we have a saying, "Ride your own ride." Sounds like that would work for hiking the canyon. BTW, what camera did you use. Very good definition. But, when it's all said and done, you have a good eye for what is interesting to look at. Thanks for taking the time to video it for those of us who may never make it down to the river. :-)

[@FoorTrek]

Great vid. I did RRR this past Oct. Also Hermit - Tonto - Bright Angel in late Nov. Nothing like it!

[@johno.432]

Great video, great accomplishment. I just got back in May'13 from a speed-hike, R2R in a day (we ran when we could, we hiked when we had to). That one warning below should be taken seriously, I would not attempt a day-crossing from Jun-Sep due to the excessive heat and sun as you ascend the North Kaibab trail. Choose late MAY (North rim opens May15th usually), or Oct before the North side closes. Check for water supply outages! If some is out you need to carry more (thats more weight too). HARD.

[@anthonybenjamine3760]

Few days ago hiked to the river and back in one day..hardest hike I've ever done

[@maxxxxxx74]

+anthony benjamine I'm planning to do that on the bright angel trail. What month did you do it in?

[@AndyLewicky]

About 21mi via South & North Kaibab trails.

[@rawveganfoodforthought2333]

thank you for the awesome video. how long was it? how long did it take? good on ya!

[@UyenTranonyoutube]

Would you please give me name of the trail head , how many miles of the loop or out and back? Elevation gain and highest point?. Planing to hike there . Your video is awesome. Thank you for sharing

[@mike90susanoo84]

Amazing, wonder how long did it take to hike all the way down there and back up

[@alanjohnson8396]

Great video and shows a hike I may do when I visit. How many miles is it from rim to rim? I'm considering having someone drop me off and drive around to pick me up on the other side. Thanks for posting.

[@bloggerpillai]

Just a great video.. I am getting the urge to go back and do this - we were down there at Phantom in 1999. So why not go back for a 15 year anniversary, right?

[@thedaresmith]

roughly ten hours with breaks not bad ? I've got a idea to do the South Kaibab then up the bright angel trail and do it in about the same amount if time ? ( solo though?) lol

[@theodorethomas3417]

The only thing that would make this better would be on horseback. See how much of the time their eyes are focused on the trail....You have to choose either footing or scenery, but you can't have both at the same time and remain safe. If you watch your footing, you're missing the scenery and all the delightful little nuances along the way; unless you stop, which cuts down on the amount of distance you cover and the sights you miss out on. Horses can easily manage the footing on Federal park trails (thanks to the friendly, hard-working and wonderful US Forestry staff), while you watch the scenery. Hike as far as you want, but the horse (or mule) is there if you become fatigued, the temperature gets high, or you get cold n lonely at night. The Canyon is never the same place twice. Thanks for sharing. 12,119

[@36janders]

Great video! Just to clarify... this was all done in one day? What time did you start and end? How much water did each person take? Trying to work out the logistics.

[@AndyLewicky]

Sony RX100 -- highly recommended!

[@sl33pyriceboi]

great video. now you should hike back to where you start and try and make it under 24hrs for a rim to rim to rim.

[@aniharutyunyan6768]

wow this was awesome!!!... i'm going to on Friday from Cali... the only thing that scares me is scorpions.... did you come across any? I am terrified to the point that I get a rash on my body if I see one..

[@rossichiang9599]

how do you prepare for this hike? what kind of training do you recommend before it? I really want to do this someday!

[@samhubbard1458]

Cool

[@vkoptchev]

Thanks, man, this was great. I've been lucky to visit the south rim, but had no time to do this. Wondering have you done the hike to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite and how would you compare the two?

[@AndyLewicky]

I do have a video of the cables section of Half Dome in my channel--sorry, can't post a link in comments. Yosemite is sublime, but Grand Canyon is incomparable. :)

[@monkeebeardog9004]

Half dome is definitely tougher no more dangerous

[@BruceWyatt]

On my 3-day hike in late April 2010, no scorpions or snakes were spotted. A few squirrels and lizards though.

[@KareszPente]

Hello! Congratulation! As I know(as I read about it) it is not recommend to hike one day. But... i want to take a "rim to rim" on april. How long (time) was the hiking for you? thanks for help Karoly

[@JackDLynch-bv7sj]

Andy, the colors of the canyon on your video are great. What kind of camera did you use?

[@AndyLewicky]

+Jack D. Lynch This was shot on a Sony RX100 MI camera. The current version is the MIV; they are excellent for shooting video and fit (mostly) in your pocket. :)

[@josephshelton6385]

You hiked the whole thing in 1 day? Wow, you really have to be in great shape. That's over 20 miles with extreme elevation differences. You really should have checked out Ribbon Falls, the water is so clean you can drink it without any filtration. Native American legend is that they were "born" from Ribbon Falls, which you can kind of understand why they would think that when you see it. In my opinion, the best way to experience it is to stay a couple of days on the bottom.

[@slavka012]

Elevation itself is not extreme and is not such a large issue. Managing heat and water is what makes the hike brutal.

[@liqa8724]

Thanks for making the video - I travelled down part of the S. Kaibab trail last week and wanted to see the rest of it. You did this hike in one day, and took 8 hours? How about all those signs all over the place warning against doing it in a day? Do you think that's overly cautious?

[@slavka012]

Not overly. Majority of people don't poses stamina for such hike and/or experience of managing heat, water, salts over the duration of the hike.

[@PabloCruise91]

What month of the year was this?

[@jbsinyard]

Great video! What month did you hike it?

[@AndyLewicky]

this was October

[@rimtorimclub]

Love and so appreciate this video Andy! It brings back memories for all of us Rim to Rim hikers! Hikers, please feel free to join the Rim to Rim Club = it's free www.rimtorim.org. To all that have hiked Rim to Rim = welcome and congratulations on your accomplishment!

[@mrmaat]

What type of camera did you record this on?

[@1cooterdog]

Good job with the video. My husband and I did the S. Kaibab and up the Bright Angel last month and our video recordings were quite shaky. We plan to do it again next spring and you are right -- the pictures do not do it justice. Ck out our pics on youtube - "hiking the grand canyon with Dennis and Linda"