Grand Canyon North Rim - The North Kaibab Trail

Hiking

The trailhead, as shown below, is 2 miles from the North Rim Visitors Center.  There is a shuttle which departs the visitor center at 5:45am and 7:45am.  If you are driving, there is a parking lot at the trailhead.

The trail takes you down along the right canyon ridge, visible in the photo below (click photo for larger resolution). For the first mile or so it is mostly ponderosa pine, firs, and aspen.

Click here for a full screen slideshow of the North Rim's Kaibab Trail.

As the crow flies the north and south rims are 10 miles apart. Hiking from one rim to the next -- 'rim-to-rim '  --  is 23 miles.  14 miles to the Bright Angel campground/Phantom Ranch, then 9 miles to the South Rim Visitors Center.  It is definitely a major hike, with a strenuous end to the hike, no matter whether you end at the south rim or the north rim.  The Phantom Ranch complex at the bottom of the canyon is a pleasant waystation between the two rims.  In addition, the north rim trail has Roaring Springs rest area, and the South Rim has Indian Wells, both about halfway between the Colorado River and the rims themselves.

From the North Rim to Phantom Ranch

Below is the view from the North Rim trailhead: At Roaring Springs (shown in the photo below, near the last white lines indicating the trail), hang a right -- at that point you have another 12 miles to just to Phantom Ranch -- all of it a gradual downhill slope -- but beware, 'The Box', which is the last four miles of the hike before Phantom Ranch, is not something to be trifled with during the summer months. Have plenty of water, it gets really hot.

The Park Service Says:
The day hiker and the overnight backpacker must be equally prepared for the lack of water, extreme heat and cold, and isolation characteristic of the Grand Canyon.

You will find typical national park trail conditions for the first part of the trail. Note there are lots of mule rides on the first 2 miles of the trail. You will likely have to give way on the trail to these mule trains with people happily enjoying a unique experience. The mule rides go as far as the Supai Tunnel

Cococino Overlook

Unlike the South Kaibab Trail, which has expansive views of the Grand Canyon, the first part of the North Kaibab trail has restricted views, much like parts of the Bright Angel Trail on the south rim. Cococino Overlook is one of the rare overlooks that offers sweeping view.

When you reach Supai Tunnel, 2 miles from the North Rim trailhead, the trail opens up to a bigger canyon. The trial here is blasted out of the canyon cliff walls -- a lot of toil went into this area. This was the work of the CCC during the depression years.

Red Wall Hiking Bridge, 3 miles from the North Rim trailhead

The hike follows along these sheer cliffs until it approaches the switchbacks to Roaring Springs, 4.7 miles from the north rim.  Click the photo below to see the trail hugging the canyon wall.

View of the trails' switchbacks to Roaring Springs. Click for larger photo.

Ribbon Falls A little bit of paradise in the desert -- you will find lots of hikers enjoying this spot, frolicking behind the travertine falls, under the falls, behind the falls, everywhere.  The spray from the falls is a welcome cooling off experience.  Note the hole in the falls travertine canopy in the photo below, you can climb into the hole.  You also climb behind the falls and walk on the cliff-side next to the falls.  

Hiking towards 'The Box'

'The Box' -- you now have 4 miles of steep canyon walls on either side.  The trial follows the Bright Angel Creek the entire way to the Colorado River -- bend after bend it goes, after each bend you hope to see an opening indicating you are at the river, but it is a long, hot haul.  

Click to see a larger version -- you can see 'The box' as it appears from the south rim.

Hiking in 'The Box'

Video of a portion (cliff-side trail hiking) of the North Kaibab Trail
Elevations:
North Rim - 8,241 feet
Supai Tunnel- 6,800 feet
Roaring Springs - 5,200 feet
Cottonwood Camp - 4,000 feet
Phantom Ranch - 2,425 feet