Guided hikes below the South Rim

7 min read Updated November 2026 Compare all tours

Walking below the rim shows you the depth of the Grand Canyon in a way no viewpoint can, and it asks more of you than any walk along the top. The trails drop steeply from around 7,000 feet, the way back is all uphill, and the National Park Service puts it plainly: do not attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day. A guided hike does not change the trail, but the guide knows where to turn round, carries part of the kit and keeps an eye on the heat and the clock.

No permit is needed for a day hike, so you are free to go on your own. A guide makes most sense on a first hike into the canyon, if you are travelling without a car, or if you want the geology explained on the way down.

Trail conditions this winter

A flash flood on 29 August 2026 damaged trails and facilities in the inner canyon. As of November 2026, Phantom Ranch, the Black and Silver bridges and the whole North Kaibab Trail remain closed. The South Kaibab Trail below the Tipoff and the River Trail reopened on 26 October 2026, and on the Bright Angel Trail repair crews may cause closures and delays. Water at Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse, Three-Mile Resthouse and Havasupai Gardens is off for the rest of the winter. Details are on our Bright Angel and South Kaibab page; the park’s key hiking messages are updated as things change.

Small-group hike on the South Kaibab Trail

This hike starts in the park itself: the group meets at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, in parking lot 4 behind the bike shop, and hikes down the South Kaibab Trail from Yaki Point. The National Park Service lists Ooh Aah Point at 1.8 miles round trip and Cedar Ridge at 3 miles; the guide continues towards Skeleton Point, 6 miles round trip, if the group’s pace allows. On the way the guide talks about the geology, history and ecology of the canyon. Groups are limited to seven, according to the tour details.

Lunch, snacks, a backpack and trekking poles are provided. Bottled water is not, and the South Kaibab Trail has no water at all, so bring plenty: in hot weather the park says to carry at least four litres. Park entry is not included either. The operator asks for at least a moderate level of fitness.

Private hikes with pickup

If you are staying in Flagstaff or elsewhere in northern Arizona, a private hike saves the drive and the parking. On the six-hour private day hike below the rim, the operator collects you from your hotel; it gets in touch within 48 hours of booking to agree the pickup time. All gear, snacks and food are provided, and the guide covers the canyon’s geology and history. Park entry is included, but the inclusions also state that the non-resident America the Beautiful annual pass is not, so non-US residents should ask how the nonresident fee is handled. The operator says the hike is not suitable for people with heart problems or limited mobility, and asks you to bring sturdy footwear.

Sunset hike with dinner below the rim

The same operator runs a five-hour evening hike on a trail that faces the sunset. You walk down through the late-afternoon light, eat dinner on the trail (a chicken wrap, according to the operator) and then climb back up to a spot chosen for the colours after sunset. Transport is included, as are all fees and taxes, Camelbak backpacks, trekking poles, headlamps for the walk out, snacks, water and Gatorade. The operator rules out flat-soled shoes, sandals and open toes, asks for light hiking clothes rather than denim, and does not recommend the hike for people with poor cardiovascular health or for pregnant travellers.

For sunset without the climb, our sunset and sunrise page covers the viewpoints and the tours that stay on the rim.

Full day from Sedona or Flagstaff

From Sedona or Flagstaff, a full-day hiking tour picks you up at your hotel and drives you to the South Rim. According to the tour details, the group hikes about 1.5 miles down a South Rim trail and back up, then after lunch chooses between a rim walk and a drive to the Village and the viewpoints east of it. One of those, Lipan Point, is closed until 23 December 2026, so that part of the day will differ until then.

The operator sets clear requirements: you must be able to hike at least 3 miles, carry at least 2 quarts of water and manage a 1,000-foot change in elevation, and you must be over the age of 8. Water, lunch, a snack, a guide, entry fees and permits are included; pets and open-toed shoes are not allowed.

The nonresident fee on hiking tours

Non-US residents aged 16 and older now pay a nonresident fee of 100 dollars each on top of the park entrance fee. The National Park Service states that this also applies to visitors on commercial tours; children aged 15 and younger pay neither the entrance fee nor the nonresident fee. A non-resident America the Beautiful annual pass covers the holder and, within a commercial group, three more non-US residents aged 16 and over (National Park Service, as of November 2026).

The hikes on this page handle it differently. On the full day from Sedona or Flagstaff, the tour company contacts you and charges the fee to your credit card before the tour date; bring a photo ID for the residency check. The South Kaibab group hike does not include park entry at all. The private day hike includes park entry but excludes the non-resident annual pass, and the sunset hike lists all fees and taxes as included without naming the nonresident fee. Ask the operator before you book. Our entrance fees page sets out the fees and passes.

Mules and ranger walks

Mule rides are not sold through our partners. They are run by the park concessioner, and the rides to Phantom Ranch are cancelled through February 2027 because of trail conditions. The four-mile Canyon Vistas ride on the South Rim runs all year, for riders at least 9 years old and 57 inches (about 145 cm) tall; booking opens up to 15 months ahead and rides fill early. See Grand Canyon Lodges for the details. Free ranger programmes are listed in the park’s digital calendar and on notices at the information desks.

Before you set off

Whoever you go with, the park’s advice for day hikers stays the same. In the warm months, avoid hiking between 10 am and 4 pm; summer temperatures in the inner canyon can exceed 110°F (43°C). Carry all the water you need with salty snacks, drink when you are thirsty and eat often. Plan for the way up to take about twice as long as the way down. Phone signal is nearly impossible to get and keep, the park warns that help may not come quickly, and in an emergency you dial 911. In winter, ice lingers on the upper trails, and the park recommends over-the-shoe traction devices.