Unlike the Bright Angel Trail which also begins at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and leads to the Colorado River, the South Kaibab Trail follows a ridge out to Skeleton Point allowing for 360-degree views of the canyon. GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – On Dec. 15 at approximately 7:41 a.m. the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a call reporting a fatality above the Black Bridge on the South Kaibab Trail. Most Views - South Kaibab trail If you’re looking for a hike with the most VPM (Views Per Mile) on a well-traveled corridor trail, look no further than the South Kaibab trail! ��1XDLɤ�LX* 224 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<7948FCA5A241BA47B3871CE6A8B52AA3>]/Index[196 49]/Info 195 0 R/Length 120/Prev 187207/Root 197 0 R/Size 245/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream The Tonto Trail heads west towards Indian Garden, and east towards Horseshoe Mesa and Hance Rapids. ). The other crossing of the Colorado is about ¾ downstream on the Silver Suspension Bridge, accessible from the River Trail. Trail description: (Note: If you are planning to camp anywhere below the rim you must get a backcountry camping permit through the … On the north site of the river the trail turns westward and descends slightly. South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park: Address, South Kaibab Trail Reviews: 5/5 A very popular long day hike or backpack is to descend the South Kaibab and ascend the Bright Angel Trail. South Kaibab Trail. Read more. Hikers begin with a steep descent through the Grand Canyon's upper rock layers: the Kaibab Limestone and Toroweap Formation. [5] Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted; camp stoves only. The South Kaibab Trail ends at the Kaibab Suspension Bridge, which heads to Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. Requests are taken beginning on the 1st day of the month, up to four months before the requested first night of camping. Maps South Kaibab Trail topographic map, South Rim location map. This was a tough hike but very doable. endstream endobj 197 0 obj <>/Metadata 12 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/Pages 194 0 R/StructTreeRoot 31 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 198 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 199 0 obj <>stream The South Kaibab Trail Getting to the Trailhead. Counterclockwise (descending the AZT - Passage 38 - South Kaibab trail and ascending the Bright Angel Trail) is the NPS's recommended direction of travel. %PDF-1.7 %���� [3], Water is available, along with restrooms, at the trailhead. Treated water is only available at the Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. It is the only trail at Grand Canyon National Park that so dramatically holds true to a ridgeline descent. The South Kaibab Trail offers wonderful views all along the trail making it very easy to lose track of how far down you have hiked. Most of the trail is paved. Most trails in Grand Canyon stay within the confines of a side canyon. South Kaibab Trail Length. The South Kaibab Trail reaches the Colorado River right at the entrance of the Black Bridge (aka Kaibab Bridge). j)Ɍ��b�k����Q�I������e2��2%-�3(K�g* Hikers may only camp at the Bright Angel Campground, where they can stay overnight with a permit issued by the Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Information Center. If camping, do so at the Bright Angel Campground, though a backcountry permit is required. At about 1/2 mile one can observe an excellent example of a pustule dome. Below here, the trail continues north around the east site of a prominent Supai sandstone tower named O'Neill Butte, descending gradually through the Hermit Shale and Supai Group to Skeleton Point, three miles (5 km) from the trailhead. At the Colorado River, additional hazards include hypothermia (due to the river's consistently cold temperatures), trauma (due to collisions with boulders in rapids), and drowning. There are also a lot of people so be patient as you hike out and back. Permits are also available on a first-come, first-served basis from the park's Backcountry Information Center three months out. South Kaibab Trail Shuttle The Grand Canyon runs a free shuttle service that takes you to and from various trailheads on site. Head up the well signposted trail to the canteen at Phantom Ranch to grab a snack or a cold drink (with ice! The trail cuts to the west of the point where hikers can get a view of Phantom Ranch, then quickly back to the east side of the point. From Skeleton Point, the South Kaibab plummets 1330ft in 1.6 miles to the Tipoff, where another series of switchbacks lead to the River Trail and the Kaibab Suspension Bridge. The South Kaibab Trail is a stunning Grand Canyon hiking trail that descends an exposed ridge all the way to the Colorado River. After the Tipoff the trail makes its final steep descent to the bottom of the canyon, through the Tapeats Sandstone and Vishnu Schist. This post covers hiking to Cedar Ridge and back for a total of 3 miles. Load up the panoramic lens on your camera and get ready for some of the most extensive visuals found below the rim. A sign marks the trail junction, which has toilet facilities. Through the first ¾ mile, the trail cuts through the eastern side of Pipe Creek Canyon until Ooh-ahh Point, where the canyon walls turn around Yaki Point and the view of the eastern canyon opens up. Hike South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point (and back) Distance: 3 miles one way (6 mile hike round trip) Elevation: 5,160 ft (1,575 m) Time: Allow 4-6 hours. Book your tickets online for South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park: See 1,677 reviews, articles, and 1,516 photos of South Kaibab Trail, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 82 attractions in Grand Canyon National Park. Despite the name, the natural color of the rock is light beige or gray. For the trail from the north rim, see, Grand Canyon National Park, Overnight Use of Trans-canyon Corridor Trails, Winter edition, List of trails in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Trail Association, Official Website, Backcountry Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Appendix G, Section C, p.39, Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry FAQ, Treating Water, Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Use Permit Procedure, Grand Canyon National Park, Official site, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Kaibab_Trail&oldid=983911386, Hiking trails in Grand Canyon National Park, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 October 2020, at 00:26. The Bright Angel Campground is located just past here, and Phantom Ranch is about ½ mile past the campground. Grand Canyon National Park officials said 23-year-old Jaiquan Carter was hiking along the South Kaibab Trail when he fell. h�bbd``b`�;��c �c�$@,7a The South Kaibab is a hiker's trail. h�ĘmO�8���?����Kl'R�Z�P(�z��b�\��6 -ܯ�'�M� �N:�Fv�=���WJ�8��0aa� Cedar Ridge has toilet facilities and offers a place for hikers and mule trains to rest. The South Kaibab Trail is extremely strenuous, but the views are worth it. It is also frequently billed as the most scenic of the south rim trails, making it an ideal descent route. The Kaibab Rim is the Orange Route –they’re colored coded and maps are posted by the lines and at each boarding point so you can verify where you’re going. Mule trips from the south rim cross this bridge except when it is closed to traffic. Use of the campground overnight is regulated by the National Park Service, and they call for a maximum number of groups (7 to 11 people) and parties (1 to 6 people), as well as a maximum total number of persons. [2] The thru-trail continues north from here along the North Kaibab Trail. Grand Canyon National Park categorizes the South Kaibab Trail as a corridor trail. The South Kaibab Trail is one of the most incredible hiking experiences of my lifetime. South Kaibab Trail Descent. South Kaibab Trail technically goes all the way down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and crosses the Colorado River. With this designation it receives regular maintenance and patrols by park rangers. So, there’s no need to march along the sandy River Trail that hikers on the Bright Angel Trail endure. The Black Bridge (above) marks the end of the popular South Kaibab Trail . From Ooh-ahh Point the trail turns around a few switchbacks in a natural break in the Coconino Sandstone until Cedar Ridge, where the trail begins to level off slightly. Unlike the Bright Angel Trail which also begins at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and leads to the Colorado River, the South Kaibab Trail follows a ridge out to Skeleton Point allowing for 360-degree views of the canyon. If you’re planning an overnight backpack to Bright Angel Campground or Phantom Ranch, consider hiking down the South Kaibab Trail and returning via the Bright Angel Trail, which is longer but slightly more gradual. Author: 12 News, Colleen Sikora Published: 6:52 AM … The trailhead is located near Yaki Point. All water found from natural sources must be filtered, treated, or boiled prior to consuming.[4]. South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park: Address, South Kaibab Trail Reviews: 5/5 There are numerous switchbacks to descend the 1,200 feet (370 m) through the Redwall Limestone, Muav Limestone, and Bright Angel Shale to the junction with the Tonto Trail, 4½ miles from the trailhead. About ¼ past the junction is a point called the Tipoff, where an emergency phone is located on the east side of the trail. There is no water along the trail (except at the very beginning and end), and little shade. Date of experience: November 2020. After Skeleton Point, the trail begins a sharp descent through a natural break in the Redwall Limestone. About ½ mile past the bridge is the junction with the River Trail and North Kaibab Trail, marking the official end on the South Kaibab Trail seven miles (11 km) from the trailhead. It’s one of the best trails to hike for views, adventure, and to gain a tremendous appreciation for the size and grandeur of the Canyon. h�b``�```:�����w/� 2� EY8&0̳j``X fRz�V�P���Q����A���, �L�i) ��X M�ڸ�A�A�A���KS#c���-� �g�q))Lici�h``�y������2C��1 Pwp10��������fd`� ���n���" b&� This well worn path leads thousands of travelers down the steep canyon walls and onto the canyon floor where it meets the mighty Colorado River. Most choose to descend to the river on the South Kaibab Trail as this trail is shorter and steeper. There is a spur that leads to Boat Beach on the Colorado River, just downstream from the black bridge. A compost toilet sits at the trail junction. But the South Kaibab is one of the few trails to follow open ridgelines that provide panoramic views of the main gorge. 196 0 obj <> endobj Cedar Ridge Once you finally reach the north shore of the river, the trail turns west toward Bright Angel Campground. The South Kaibab Trail is also part of the Arizona Trail system, crossing the state of Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Possible Itineraries along the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails. See first hand the beauty of the Grand Canyon on this Rim to River run down South Kaibab Trail. The views are absolutely worth it though. By that I mean it has all the qualities that delight: it is the shortest, steepest, most scenic, most efficient path to the bottom of Grand Canyon. Houe had hiked about four miles along the South Kaibab Trail on June 24 as the group headed to the Phantom Ranch lodge. From the trailhead, the trail heads north. The Rim Trail on the South Rim is a good option for novice hikers and families as the path stays fairly level as it follows the rim’s edge for about 13 miles from South Kaibab Trailhead west to Hermits Rest. The National Park Service completed the cross-canyon “corridor” trail system in 1928—the same year it took control of the Bright Angel Trail. The trailhead for the South Kaibab Trail is located off of the Yaki Point Road, which is closed to private vehicles. The South Kaibab Trail is the alternate superhighway into the Canyon, the primary one being the Bright Angel Trail. From the trailhead on the the south rim, elevation 7260', the South Kaibab trail takes you to … It is highly recommended that you do not hike from the rim to … The trail was originally called the Yaki or Yaqui Trail because it began at Yaki Point, about 5 miles east of Grand Canyon Village.The trail was later renamed for the nearby Kaibab National Forest.The word “Kaibab” in the Paiute language means “Mountain Lying Down,” their term for the Grand Canyon. Vӂ&$V�Yb�:bWp�����I!�г�^�j���@-���p.a}�۷�s8`�qZ:�=�Oy1�S��a�'�M���10�aUq�`p��Q5s0|�:�����r0���|Z��޾R�i. The South Kaibab trail drops about 5,000 feet for an exhausting but spectacular journey into one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This section is the steepest of the South Kaibab Trail at an average of 22%. Lots of stairs so a walking stick would be helpful. Plan on taking twice as long to hike up as it took to hike down. The point is named after a common reaction to the view. Hikers seeking panoramic views unparalleled on any other trail at Grand Canyon will want to consider a hike down the South Kaibab Trail. %%EOF When the Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919, the popular trails like the Bright Angel were privately owned and charged a toll. endstream endobj startxref One-half mile past the junction, there is a tunnel that leads to the Black Suspension Bridge crossing the Colorado River. Located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, this hike is a must for any hikers bucket list! [7], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}36°03′10″N 112°04′59″W / 36.0529°N 112.08304°W / 36.0529; -112.08304, This article is about the hiking trail at the south rim of Grand Canyon. Bring plenty of drinking water!!! The South Kaibab Trail is the first trail from the rim to the river that was built by the Parks Service. [6], Hazards hikers can encounter along the South Kaibab Trail include dehydration, sudden rainstorms, lightning, bootpacked ice, flash flooding, loose footing, rockfall, encounters with wildlife, and extreme heat. We took the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point. Additionally, the steepness of the trail is very misleading on the way down. Six miles from the trailhead, there is a junction with the River Trail at its eastern terminus. 244 0 obj <>stream The South Kaibab Trail is a hiking trail in Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. Water is not available at any point along the South Kaibab Trail, except on the north side of the Colorado River. There is a restroom and water spigot at the junction. Cross the Colorado River on the suspension bridge, and continue another 0.5 miles to Bright Angel Campground. "JA�A�@�3�"n�.��MHpE �D !�$���� zWAJ�@��A,n���@Bӓ���!����6�&�w �x 0 The South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails are the most popular trails in the park. Both of these trails are well maintained and offer some spectacular views of the Canyon. The South Kaibab Trail is the fastest route to the river, descending 4,780 feet in 7 miles. Here a small deposit of less dense more buoyant evaporite has punctured through a layer of harder limestone above. The trailhead can be accessed via either the Rim Trail or the free Grand Canyon National Park shuttle bus. Cameron, who owned the Bright Angel Trail and charged a toll to those using it, fought dozens of legal battles over several decades to maintain his personal business rights. The best way to get to the trailhead is to take the free Grand Canyon shuttle from the Visitor Center directly to the trailhead. Officially, hiking to Skeleton Point is the furthest recommended spot to go to as a day hike when temperatures aren’t incredibly high. The South Kaibab Trail is a modern route, having been constructed as a means by which park visitors could bypass Ralph Cameron's Bright Angel Trail. The South Kaibab Trail is a hiking trail in Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. Here along the South Kaibab Trail is shorter and steeper here along the River. Place for hikers and mule trains to rest miles to Bright Angel trails the Point named... 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