How long is the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point?

The hike to Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail is about 1.8 miles round-trip with 600 feet of elevation gain. Most hikers complete it in around 1 hour.

How long is the South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge?

The hike to Cedar Ridge is about 3 miles round-trip with 1,180 feet of elevation gain. It usually takes 2–3 hours. In summer, the National Park Service recommends Cedar Ridge as the farthest turnaround for most day hikers.

How long is the South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point?

The hike to Skeleton Point is 6 miles round-trip with about 2,040 feet of elevation gain. Most hikers take 3–4 hours, but it can be longer in hot weather. The National Park Service advises consulting a ranger before attempting Skeleton Point as a day hike, especially in summer.

Is there water on the South Kaibab Trail?

There is no water anywhere on the South Kaibab Trail except at the trailhead, and seasonal shutoffs can occur. Always carry the water you need: at least 1 liter to Ooh Aah Point and 3–4 liters if going to Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point in warm weather.

How do I get to the South Kaibab Trailhead?

The South Kaibab Trailhead is on Yaki Point Road, which is closed to private vehicles. The easiest way to get there is via the free Orange Shuttle from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, or by walking 2.2 miles along the Rim Trail from the Visitor Center. The Hiker's Express Shuttle is available early in the morning for an early start.

Are mules on the South Kaibab Trail?

Yes. Mules carry riders and supplies along the South Kaibab Trail. They have the right-of-way—stand on the cliff side of the trail when they pass and follow the mule handler's instructions.

Is the South Kaibab Trail dangerous?

The South Kaibab Trail is well-maintained and safe if you are prepared. The main hazards are heat, lack of shade, and the strenuous climb back out. Fatal falls have occurred when people venture too close to the edge for photos. Always stay on the trail, carry enough water, and know your limits.

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South Kaibab Trail Guide

By Cris Hazzard, Professional Hiking Guide
Updated August 11, 2025

Hike Stats

Total Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 1 hour
Total Climbing: 600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Crowds: Crowded
Dogs: No Dogs
Gear: What I Use
Weather: Latest Report
Park: Grand Canyon National Park

The South Kaibab Trail is a must‑do Grand Canyon hike with big views from start to finish. Follow the ridge to iconic spots like Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point, each offering a different perspective of the canyon. The NPS recommends Skeleton Point as the farthest turnaround for most day hikers, and there’s no water anywhere on the trail, so start early and come prepared. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to hike each section the easy way.

South Kaibab Trail Options

South Kaibab Trail 33 — If you hike all the way down to Skeleton Point, you'll get some nice views of the Colorado River.

You can choose how far you want to hike down the South Kaibab Trail. Simply turn around and hike back up from the destination that you're hiking to.
Cedar Ridge is the farthest the National Park Service recommends going on a summer day hike.
Similarly, they also don't recommend continuing past Skeleton Point as a day hike outside of summer without consulting with a park ranger.

Destination	Total Distance	Total Climbing	Time	Difficulty	Notes
Ooh Ahh Point	1.8 miles	600	1 hour	Moderate	Panoramic Canyon Views
Cedar Ridge	3 miles	1180	2-3 hours	Hard	Interior Canyon Views
Skeleton Point	6 miles	2040	3-4 hours	Hard	River and Canyon Views

Kaibab is a word of Southern Paiute origin meaning "mountain lying down," aka inverted mountain.

South Kaibab Trail Difficulty

Victor Vomit Grand Canyon — Meet "Victor Vomit," the sign you’ll spot before heading down the South Kaibab Trail. It may look funny, but the warning is real. People have died here. Take the trail, and the conditions, seriously.

Overall the South Kaibab Trail is safe. I've seen people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness levels do these hikes. The trail is well-maintained, easy to follow, consistently about 4 feet wide, and has wider sections for passing. But you still need to be mindful of a few things.

When people get into trouble on the South Kaibab Trail, it’s usually because of the heat. The trail is totally exposed with no shade, so in hot weather it can be brutal. Even in the shade, summer temperatures often exceed 100F (38C). Check the weather and park alerts regarding the heat.
The hike back up is much harder than going down. Many first-time Grand Canyon hikers overcommit on the easy downhill and pay for it on the climb out. A good rule of thumb: expect the hike up to take about twice as long as the hike down.
Snow and ice can linger on the upper sections in winter, especially in the morning. Be prepared for slippery, frozen sections near the rim, so bring microspikes.
Outside of the trailhead and Colorado River, there is no water anywhere on the South Kaibab Trail. You have to carry all the water you need, and in summer that can mean several liters per person.
The trail is generally wide enough to hike comfortably and pass other hikers. But people have also died after getting too close to the edge (taking pictures). Be conservative.
Mules also use the trail, so be ready to step aside in safe areas when they pass.

Mules On South Kaibab Trail — If you encounter mules on the trail, they always have the right-of-way. Stand against the cliffside of the trail and follow instructions from the mule handler. If you are stuck behind them, keep your distance until (and if) the mule handler lets you pass.

South Kaibab Trailhead

South Kaibab Trail Location — The South Kaibab Trail starts about 2 miles east of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. But you can't just drive there.

The road to the South Kaibab Trailhead (Yaki Point Road) is closed to vehicles. Here's what I would recommend.

Take the free Orange shuttle bus from the Visitor Center. This is by far the easiest way to get back and forth to the trail. If you want to get an early start, take the Hiker's Express Shuttle, which is set up for long distance hikers but can be used by anyone. Getting an early start is a smart way to beat the crowds and see the sunrise in the canyon.
You can also walk from the Visitor Center along the wide and easy Rim Trail. It's about 2.2 miles and takes most folks around 40-60 minutes.
There's a very small parking lot along Desert View Drive, not intended for hikers but rather as a turn-off for drivers. From here you can walk about 0.5 miles to the Rim Trail and then to the South Kaibab trailhead.

Trailhead Address:

South Kaibab Trailhead, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023

Fees:

Park Entrance Fee

Get your America the Beautiful pass to enter.

Gear for the Hike

South Kaibab Trail Gear — You don't have to be a hardcore hiker to do South Kaibab, but you're best served by making some simple gear choices.

As I mentioned earlier, you need to bring your water with you. To Ooh Ahh Point, 1L is fine. To Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point, bring 2L or 3L when it's hot. Better to have more water than you need. Bring a backpack to carry it along with sun protection.
The hiking community has generally moved from hiking boots to trail runners. Overall you want your feet to be comfortable, especially if you're not used to hiking this far. If you don't have trail runners, wear sneakers.
Some hikers like trekking poles, and they can be helpful for stability, knee protection (on the downhill), and climbing on the way back out.
Don't count on cellular service. If you need to call for help, having a satellite-enabled phone or satellite communicator can help. The trail is busy, so even if you don't have satellite communications, you're likely to see someone who might.
It can help to have a snack and/or electrolyte drink for the way back up if you're doing one of the longer options.

Essentials I’m Using Now

Garmin inReach Mini 2: Reliable SOS Everywhere on Earth
Sawyer + CNOC Water Filter: Easy & Reliable Safe Water
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp: Running late? Get home safe
Altra Olympus 275: Favorite trail shoes right now, no blisters and very comfy.
AllTrails Plus: Offline maps on your phone with the Plus level
Full November 2025 Gear List →

South Kaibab Trail Maps

South Kaibab Trail Sign — The South Kaibab Trail is easy to follow and well marked. Between this guide and the signs on the trail, you should know where you're going.

Click to activate map

Print Map, Work With It Yourself

View Hike on CalTopo

Bring the Guide to Any GPS

Download the GPX File

And just remember, the easy part is first. If you're hiking all the way down to Skeleton Point, you have over 2000 feet of climbing to get back out. That's tough if you're not used to it.

South Kaibab Trail Directions

Trailhead to Ooh Ahh Point

South Kaibab Trail 1 — If you're walking in, the trailhead is by the shuttle bus stop.

South Kaibab Trail 2 — There are toilets by the shuttle bus stop. The nearby mule pens house the mules used to supply points inside the canyon.

South Kaibab Trail 3 — The trailhead is down the paved path from the shuttle stop. The only place to fill up with water is by the sign on the right.

South Kaibab Trail 4 — Head down the paved path and then bear left at the end.

South Kaibab Trail 5 — This is the official start of the trail.

South Kaibab Trail 6 — The beginning of the trail is well developed and easy to follow. You get a lot of tourists walking down onto this section to take pictures.

South Kaibab Trail 9 — The one thing about this trail is that the views are constantly breathtaking. Every twist and turn opens up a new view and vista that's incredible.

South Kaibab Trail 10 — After the beginning switchback or two you'll head down a series of steep switchbacks that unfold beneath you. You can also see the great condition of the trail. It's wide and easy to follow.

The South Kaibab Trail was built by engineers in 1924-25 to create a smooth and direct route down to the river. It has been described as "a trail in a hurry to get to the river."

South Kaibab Trail 11 — Continue down the switchbacks until the section ends and becomes more of a traditional trail.

South Kaibab Trail 13 — The trail levels out a bit and you get a break from the steep descent.

South Kaibab Trail 14 — There are some great views of the different rock layers that make up the Grand Canyon on this stretch, directly across Pipe Creek Canyon.

At the bottom of the canyon, the layers date back 1.84 BILLION years! To put that in perspective, the Earth is 4.543 billion years old.

South Kaibab Trail 15 — Soon you'll see Ooh Ahh Point in the distance. Ooh Ahh Point is the top of the Coconino Sandstone layer of rock.

South Kaibab Trail 17 — Welcome to Ooh Ahh Point where you start to get views to the more remote eastern section of the Grand Canyon.

South Kaibab Trail 16 — There are a few places to soak in the views around Ooh Ahh Point but take care, the fall from here is hundreds of feet.

If this is your final destination, turn around and hike back from here.

Ooh Ahh Point to Cedar Ridge

South Kaibab Trail 18 — Continue down the South Kaibab Trail. Here's a great example of a cobbled section which can be very slick in the rain but helps prevent trail erosion.

South Kaibab Trail 19 — The trail starts to wind around Yaki Point into the open. The big butte in the distance is O'Neill Butte.

South Kaibab Trail 20 — This next section is one of my favorites as the South Kaibab makes its way down the spine of the ridge.

South Kaibab Trail 21 — Soon you'll see Cedar Ridge below you.

South Kaibab Trail 40 — Keep your eyes open for slabs of rock with holes in them. These were the original holes drilled when they blasted the trail out of the cliff wall with dynamite.

South Kaibab Trail 22 — Welcome to Cedar Ridge! The trees offer shade but take care to respect the areas marked off as a fragile habitat. This flat area used to house an exhibit of Grand Canyon fossils.

While Cedar Ridge seems open and a great place to camp, no camping is allowed along the South Kaibab Trail.

South Kaibab Trail 23 — The toilets are off to the right as you enter the Cedar Ridge area.

If this is your final destination, turn around and hike back from here.

Cedar Ridge to Skeleton Point

South Kaibab Trail 25 — The trail continues on the far end of the flat area towards the right.

South Kaibab Trail 24 — The trail is easy to spot once you're on the edge. Avoid the smaller use trail on the left of the Cedar Ridge area. From here on out you'll be hiking through the Supai Formation.

South Kaibab Trail 26 — The rest of the hike to Skeleton Point is long and cruising-friendly.

South Kaibab Trail 27 — When you get to the saddle, make the hard right to continue down the South Kaibab.

South Kaibab Trail 28 — The trail makes its way around the east side of O'Neill Butte, named after early explorer Bucky O'Neill.

South Kaibab Trail 29 — After the butte you'll see the trail unfold ahead of you towards Skeleton Point in the distance.

The South Kaibab Trail is part of the Arizona Trail (AZT), which stretches about 800 miles from Mexico to Utah.

South Kaibab Trail 32 — And here you are, Skeleton Point!

South Kaibab Trail 31 — The South Kaibab Trail continues down to the river on the right, but the overlook area is along the cliff to the left, past the hitching rail.

South Kaibab Trail 34 — The South Kaibab Trail heads further downhill from Skeleton Point, but don't do that as a day hike, which is the recommendation of the Parks Service. Instead turn around to begin the climb out.

Skeleton Point Back to the Trailhead

South Kaibab Trail 35 — Luckily the beginning of the climb out is gradual. See the top of the canyon in the distance? Yea, that's where you're going.

South Kaibab Trail 36 — Make your way back up along O'Neill Butte.

South Kaibab Trail 37 — And from there back to Cedar Ridge.

South Kaibab Trail 38 — From Cedar Ridge the trail gets steep again.

South Kaibab Trail 39 — And then even steeper. Don't forget to take breaks and soak in the views.

South Kaibab Trail 41 — After Ooh Ahh Point you'll climb the ladder of switchbacks to the rim. They're tough, but it's mentally doable taking it one switchback at a time.

South Kaibab Trail 42 — BOOM! You did it! As you walk off the trail into the throngs of tourists you can feel especially proud for taking the time and energy to really see the Canyon up close.

Originally published August 11, 2025

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