Epic Grand Canyon 2025: South Rim to North Rim in One Day
This hike is in honor of the memory of my beautiful mom, Susanne Bobek, who passed on Mother's Day 2025. I carried one of her favorite scarves in my pack as I walked through the Grand Canyon, and painted my nails pink - her favorite nail color. She would have liked to hear about this adventure. Love you always, mom.
Trip Stats - South Kaibab Trail to North Kaibab Trail
South Kaibab Trail → Phantom Ranch at bottom = 7.4 miles (lose 4,700 feet)
+ Phantom Ranch → North Kaibab Trail = 14.3 miles (gain 5,750 feet)
TOTAL distance = 21.7 miles
Elevations: North Kaibab Trailhead = 8,250 feet, South Kaibab Trailhead = 7,260', Colorado river = 2,500'.
Date Hiked: May 21, 2025
Total elapsed time: 11 hours
Geology: The deepest rocks are metamorphic Vishnu Basement rocks on the lower part of North Kaibab trail as it enters the Box and Phantom Ranch and at Colorado River (Brama Schist, granite intrusive volcanics, pegmatite and aplite dikes). These are crystalline rocks (1.7 billion years) that are jumbled, inter-layered schists and gneisses, formed during Early Proterozoic time when continents were colliding, causing compression and mountain-building (orogeny).
Rim to Rim Resources:
NPS: Critical Backcountry Updates - Grand Canyon
NPS: Grand Canyon Backcountry Trail Distances
Arizona State University. North Kaibab Trail - Nature, Culture and History at the Grand Canyon.
Considerations: I recommend anyone undertaking this hike should train and be able to walk at least 15 miles continuously and hike 4,000 feet of elevation gain. We hiked this 24 years ago with 100-degree temps at Phantom ranch which slowed us down, but we had experience hiking in hot weather.
South Kaibab Trail → Phantom Ranch at bottom = 7.4 miles (lose 4,700 feet)
+ Phantom Ranch → North Kaibab Trail = 14.3 miles (gain 5,750 feet)
TOTAL distance = 21.7 miles
Elevations: North Kaibab Trailhead = 8,250 feet, South Kaibab Trailhead = 7,260', Colorado river = 2,500'.
Date Hiked: May 21, 2025
Total elapsed time: 11 hours
Geology: The deepest rocks are metamorphic Vishnu Basement rocks on the lower part of North Kaibab trail as it enters the Box and Phantom Ranch and at Colorado River (Brama Schist, granite intrusive volcanics, pegmatite and aplite dikes). These are crystalline rocks (1.7 billion years) that are jumbled, inter-layered schists and gneisses, formed during Early Proterozoic time when continents were colliding, causing compression and mountain-building (orogeny).
Rim to Rim Resources:
NPS: Critical Backcountry Updates - Grand Canyon
NPS: Grand Canyon Backcountry Trail Distances
Arizona State University. North Kaibab Trail - Nature, Culture and History at the Grand Canyon.
Considerations: I recommend anyone undertaking this hike should train and be able to walk at least 15 miles continuously and hike 4,000 feet of elevation gain. We hiked this 24 years ago with 100-degree temps at Phantom ranch which slowed us down, but we had experience hiking in hot weather.
|
|
|
"Endure. In enduring, grow strong." - Chris Avellone
"Because when you have fully given yourself over to a landscape, without consideration or reservation, and when you have come to love that place deeply with all your heart, you will do almost anything to celebrate and extend your connection to it."
- Kevin Fedarko, from Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon.
"Everyone can master a grief but he that has it."
- William Shakespeare
"Because when you have fully given yourself over to a landscape, without consideration or reservation, and when you have come to love that place deeply with all your heart, you will do almost anything to celebrate and extend your connection to it."
- Kevin Fedarko, from Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon.
"Everyone can master a grief but he that has it."
- William Shakespeare
Related Posts: (hover/touch image for caption)
The North Kaibab Trail (above two images) was completed in 1928. The Supai Tunnel and half-tunnels were carved with explosives, drills, and jackhammers, brought down by mules. The National Park Service built this trail to match the quality of the South Kaibab Trail and improve Grand Canyon visitor experience.
Walking down the South Kaibab Trail.
Overview
Always looking for a challenge, this year we decided to make our Grand Canyon rim to rim (R2R) hike in one day even more difficult than last year's. By hiking south rim to north rim this time, instead of north to south, we added an extra ~ 1,400' elevation gain in a shorter distance. Last year's GC R2R hike was epic, but this year's South Kaibab to North Kaibab Trails journey was stellar!
To observe the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world from its rim is a memorable experience. But to walk all the way through the depths of it - 21 miles from south rim to north rim, crossing the emerald green Colorado River, is an experience of a lifetime. Your ability to tolerate a 50 or 60-degree temperature variation, drink enough water, and climb steep, relentless switchbacks will be tested.
This was our fifth R2R. The first R2R we did 24 years ago: we hiked across one day, spent the night on the south rim, then hiked across to the north rim the next day. That was the hottest trip, with Phantom Ranch temps at 100 degrees. Lots of dipping our hats in the creek to cool off.
This year, the Silver Bridge that connects the south rim's Bright Angel/River Trails to Phantom Ranch in the bottom of the canyon along the Colorado River was closed. This necessitated hiking the South Kaibab Trail and using the black bridge across the Colorado instead. This got no argument from me, since I think the Kaibab Trail is more stunning than the Bright Angel Trail.
Three Stops for Water
South Kaibab Trail: no water (we carried 2 1/2 liters with us). Our water stops were at Phantom Ranch (bottom of canyon), Cottonwood Campground, and Manzanita Rest Area. The ice-cold lemonade at The Canteen was great.
Lucky Us - No Need for a Shuttle
As she did last year, our awesome friend Lindy dropped us off and drove around to the north rim - a five-hour drive - and met us a few miles down in the canyon, hiking with us the final miles. You can hire a shuttle to take you to the opposite rim with Trans Canyon Shuttle for $120/person.
Always looking for a challenge, this year we decided to make our Grand Canyon rim to rim (R2R) hike in one day even more difficult than last year's. By hiking south rim to north rim this time, instead of north to south, we added an extra ~ 1,400' elevation gain in a shorter distance. Last year's GC R2R hike was epic, but this year's South Kaibab to North Kaibab Trails journey was stellar!
To observe the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world from its rim is a memorable experience. But to walk all the way through the depths of it - 21 miles from south rim to north rim, crossing the emerald green Colorado River, is an experience of a lifetime. Your ability to tolerate a 50 or 60-degree temperature variation, drink enough water, and climb steep, relentless switchbacks will be tested.
This was our fifth R2R. The first R2R we did 24 years ago: we hiked across one day, spent the night on the south rim, then hiked across to the north rim the next day. That was the hottest trip, with Phantom Ranch temps at 100 degrees. Lots of dipping our hats in the creek to cool off.
This year, the Silver Bridge that connects the south rim's Bright Angel/River Trails to Phantom Ranch in the bottom of the canyon along the Colorado River was closed. This necessitated hiking the South Kaibab Trail and using the black bridge across the Colorado instead. This got no argument from me, since I think the Kaibab Trail is more stunning than the Bright Angel Trail.
Three Stops for Water
South Kaibab Trail: no water (we carried 2 1/2 liters with us). Our water stops were at Phantom Ranch (bottom of canyon), Cottonwood Campground, and Manzanita Rest Area. The ice-cold lemonade at The Canteen was great.
Lucky Us - No Need for a Shuttle
As she did last year, our awesome friend Lindy dropped us off and drove around to the north rim - a five-hour drive - and met us a few miles down in the canyon, hiking with us the final miles. You can hire a shuttle to take you to the opposite rim with Trans Canyon Shuttle for $120/person.
How We Trained
To hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day requires mindful and effective training. It can make the difference between a positive, enjoyable experience and one that is a once-only, miserable experience.
We all trained together: Lindy, Robin, Jeff, Fred and I for about two months prior. This time was even more special than last year because Robin was able to go. She and I did a lot of training in Snow Canyon State Park together.
These are our recommendations for an enjoyable and safe rim to rim hike in this incredible canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, based on our experiences:
To hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day requires mindful and effective training. It can make the difference between a positive, enjoyable experience and one that is a once-only, miserable experience.
We all trained together: Lindy, Robin, Jeff, Fred and I for about two months prior. This time was even more special than last year because Robin was able to go. She and I did a lot of training in Snow Canyon State Park together.
These are our recommendations for an enjoyable and safe rim to rim hike in this incredible canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, based on our experiences:
- Be able to hike at least 15 miles continuously
- Be able to hike 4,000 feet in elevation
- Be able to tolerate hiking in heat, as Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon will be a lot warmer (one year it was 100 degrees for us but we had a lot of Palm Springs, California hiking experience).
- We use just one - two bottles of electrolyte drinks mixed in with water (our friend thought that one had to drink electrolytes continuously on this hike, so he felt adverse effects of electrolyte overload). I'm not an expert on this, please check with your physician.
- Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Training 2025: Utah Hikes and Hip Strengthening Exercises
- 2024 Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day training near St. George, Utah.
- Kolob Arch, Skyline Trail and Goblet Squats!
- Scrub Benchmark in the Beaver Dam Mountains.
- Burger Peak in Pine Valley Mountains
- Skyline Trail in Palm Springs gains 8,000 feet on the longest portion of the Cactus to Clouds hike.
Our Hike
Instead of parking at the entrance road to South Kaibab Trailhead, we took the first shuttle to the trailhead and began our descent at 6:15 a.m. Hikers that had already been to the bottom were hiking up . Other groups begin their hikes at 3:30 or 4:00 a.m., but they cannot see the Grand Canyon's grandeur with just the light of their headlamp. I understand hikers want to beat the heat, but we felt that with our desert hiking experience, we would be able to tolerate hiking through the bottom in close to 90 degrees.
South Kaibab Trail is a shorter, steeper trail than the Bright Angel Trail, also on the south rim. My legs were getting a bit tired just in the descent, as you hike 6.3 miles with a loss of 4,700 feet.
The dark red, brown and grey Vishnu Basement rocks are one of my favorites of this hike, as you enter the core of the Grand Canyon. It forms the rough, contorted, massive base for the prettier rock layers above. It's not often that you get to walk in some of the Earth's oldest rocks; in this case the Vishnu schists, gneiss and granite are 1.7 billion years old.
Hiking out of Phantom Ranch, we had to create a good enough pace to beat many miles in the heat, but at the same time save our legs for the relentless, steep north rim switchbacks. We kept a steady pace, but didn't rush. For miles, I just wanted to jump into the clear, cool waters of Bright Angel Creek.
At Cottonwood Springs, a shady oasis surrounded by sun-baked canyon walls, we filled our water bladders up again with ~ 1 1/2 liters of water, knowing that we would be able to fill up for the last time at Manzanita Rest Area in only 1 1/2 miles.
The last 5.4 miles from Manzanita to the north rim is tough. Just when you've had enough of switchbacks, you turn the corner to find another, even steeper one staring you in the face. We passed a few groups.
The Redwall Bridge, aptly named for the Redwall Limestone rock layer in which it is built, is a good landmark. At this stunning portion of the north rim trail, walls have been blasted out for long stretches to make the trail, where you hike under an overhang, the canyon tumbling hundreds of feet below. This bridge spans Roaring Springs Canyon, a steep descent into the floor of the Grand Canyon. Only 2,200 more vertical feet to go!
The wild roses that grow on the walls near the dynamite-blasted Supai Tunnel are another favorite of mine. This tunnel is aptly named for the Supai Group of red sandstones and siltstones deposited 300 million years ago.
We finally reached the top of the north rim in the white/yellow cliffs of the Kaibab Formation, a 270 million year old layer of limestone and siltstone. Friends of hikers were waiting to congratulate a group we had passed.
Love You Always, Mom
For the fifth time, I'm grateful that I am able to do this hike and witness this natural wonder - up close and personal, step after step, one foot in front of the other. This rim to rim hike held the sadness of my mom passing, and I thought about her often. She would patiently listen to me talk about my latest adventure, and I'm sure she would have been amazed by this one.
We all celebrated afterward at Jacob Lake Inn Hotel, near Fredonia on the north rim. Never did a beer and pork schnitzel taste so good!
Instead of parking at the entrance road to South Kaibab Trailhead, we took the first shuttle to the trailhead and began our descent at 6:15 a.m. Hikers that had already been to the bottom were hiking up . Other groups begin their hikes at 3:30 or 4:00 a.m., but they cannot see the Grand Canyon's grandeur with just the light of their headlamp. I understand hikers want to beat the heat, but we felt that with our desert hiking experience, we would be able to tolerate hiking through the bottom in close to 90 degrees.
South Kaibab Trail is a shorter, steeper trail than the Bright Angel Trail, also on the south rim. My legs were getting a bit tired just in the descent, as you hike 6.3 miles with a loss of 4,700 feet.
The dark red, brown and grey Vishnu Basement rocks are one of my favorites of this hike, as you enter the core of the Grand Canyon. It forms the rough, contorted, massive base for the prettier rock layers above. It's not often that you get to walk in some of the Earth's oldest rocks; in this case the Vishnu schists, gneiss and granite are 1.7 billion years old.
Hiking out of Phantom Ranch, we had to create a good enough pace to beat many miles in the heat, but at the same time save our legs for the relentless, steep north rim switchbacks. We kept a steady pace, but didn't rush. For miles, I just wanted to jump into the clear, cool waters of Bright Angel Creek.
At Cottonwood Springs, a shady oasis surrounded by sun-baked canyon walls, we filled our water bladders up again with ~ 1 1/2 liters of water, knowing that we would be able to fill up for the last time at Manzanita Rest Area in only 1 1/2 miles.
The last 5.4 miles from Manzanita to the north rim is tough. Just when you've had enough of switchbacks, you turn the corner to find another, even steeper one staring you in the face. We passed a few groups.
The Redwall Bridge, aptly named for the Redwall Limestone rock layer in which it is built, is a good landmark. At this stunning portion of the north rim trail, walls have been blasted out for long stretches to make the trail, where you hike under an overhang, the canyon tumbling hundreds of feet below. This bridge spans Roaring Springs Canyon, a steep descent into the floor of the Grand Canyon. Only 2,200 more vertical feet to go!
The wild roses that grow on the walls near the dynamite-blasted Supai Tunnel are another favorite of mine. This tunnel is aptly named for the Supai Group of red sandstones and siltstones deposited 300 million years ago.
We finally reached the top of the north rim in the white/yellow cliffs of the Kaibab Formation, a 270 million year old layer of limestone and siltstone. Friends of hikers were waiting to congratulate a group we had passed.
Love You Always, Mom
For the fifth time, I'm grateful that I am able to do this hike and witness this natural wonder - up close and personal, step after step, one foot in front of the other. This rim to rim hike held the sadness of my mom passing, and I thought about her often. She would patiently listen to me talk about my latest adventure, and I'm sure she would have been amazed by this one.
We all celebrated afterward at Jacob Lake Inn Hotel, near Fredonia on the north rim. Never did a beer and pork schnitzel taste so good!
I brought my mom's scarf in my pack and painted my nails pink in honor of her.
South Kaibab Trail Images (hover over images for caption)
South Kaibab Trail after we finally get a view of the Colorado River - almost to the bottom!
Phantom Ranch and North Kaibab Trail (hover over images for caption)
The steep switchbacks in Roaring Springs Canyon on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
The Redwall Bridge, which spans the steep sides of this canyon, is seen mid-left in the image.
The Redwall Bridge, which spans the steep sides of this canyon, is seen mid-left in the image.
Celebrating a long day in an incredible canyon - we did it!
Time for a beer......
Time for a beer......