Cedar Ridge Trail

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Where is the South Kaibab Trail?

The South Kaibab Trail is located by Yaki Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, about a 10 minute drive from the Grand Canyon Visitor's Center. But you can't park at the trailhead, which is closed to private vehicles.

Shuttle Bus to South Kaibab Trail

• Take the Orange Shuttle Bus from several parking lots around Grand Canyon Village like the Visitor's Center, which has a lot of parking. The bus runs frequently and isn't so bad, but it can get busy at times.
• Take the Hiker's Express Shuttle Bus which is geared toward hikers leaving early to do hikes like Rim to Rim, but can be used by anyone. Doing the hike early in the morning at sunrise will give you the most pleasant experience, namely sunrise colors, cooler temperatures, and fewer crowds.

You can also take a taxi to the trailhead. Call Xanterra Taxi Service (24 hours) 928-638-2631

Where Can I Park for the South Kaibab Trail?

If you don't want to take the shuttle bus, you can park a short walk away from the trailhead. Parking in these areas is legal, but you have to walk about 15-20 minutes on an easy path or roadside to get to the South Kaibab.

• Park on the (wide) roadside around the area where the Arizona Trail (AZT) intersects Rt 64/Desert View Drive. From there, you walk up the AZT to the Rim Trail and then a short distance to the trailhead. There are a lot of small use trails between the parking area and Rim Trail. Don't worry, they all head to the Rim Trail or road to the trailhead.
• There's a lot just east of Yaki Point Rd. You can park here and then walk on the side of the road to the trailhead. There's no private traffic on Yaki Point Rd, so it's not as crazy as walking along Rt 64.

Gear for the Hike

This is a hike appropriate for beginners, but you shouldn't take that as a sign to wear jeans and t-shirt on it. I'd recommend hiking or fitness clothing and footwear to do this hike. The most important thing is to bring water; there is no water on the trail. Bring between 1-2L of water and a handful of snacks in case you need energy on the way out.

The weather in the Grand Canyon can be extreme. In the winter, bitter cold, ice, and snow is not uncommon. So pay close attention to the weather for Grand Canyon Village. If there is snow, the South Kaibab Trail can be covered. In those conditions micro-spikes and trekking poles are a must. There can be ice on the upper parts of the trail.

And of course, in the summer, it gets hot. There's not much shade on the hike, so protect yourself from the sun. The temperature rises about 5.5F for every 1,000 feet that you descend. So you can expect Cedar Ridge to be about 6F warmer than the trailhead at the South Rim. In the hot months of summer, this hike is not a good idea during midday.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

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Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

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Check out the complete list here.

South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge Trail Maps

The South Kaibab Trail is what the Parks Service calls a corridor trail. The corridor trails are heavily used and actively maintained. The South Kaibab Trail is the second most popular trail after the Bright Angel. It's built with a standard gradient (overall) of 10% and has a standard width of 4 feet wide. What that means in practical terms is that, while it's a tough trail, it's never too steep and never so narrow that you're walking on a precipice.

Overview Map

Interactive Map

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How Will You Navigate?

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Elevation Profile

3D Map

Mules on the South Kaibab Trail

Okay, so there's good news and bad news about mules on the South Kaibab Trail. The bad news is that you might have to deal with them, the good news is that there are nowhere near as many mules here as there are on the Bright Angel Trail. The mules on the South Kaibab only supply (and haul out the trash) for Phantom Ranch; there are no tourist rides here. The mules leave at variable times, usually around mid-morning. A train leaves from Phantom Ranch around the same time. When I do the hike to Cedar Ridge at sunrise, I've never had to pass mules in either direction.

If you are passing mules head-on, stand to the side of the trail and follow the mule handler's instructions. It can be scary to pass mules on a narrow trail, but they do it all the time, so don't sweat it. If you need to overtake the mules, it's a bit tougher. You'll be stuck behind them dodging poop until the handler lets you pass.

Mules aren't aggressive, but they can bite. Keep your hands to yourself. Don't try to pet or feed the mules.

South Kaibab Trail FAQ

• Do I need a permit for the hike? You don't need any permit to hike the South Kaibab Trail as a day hike.
• Can I camp on the trail?  You can't camp along the South Kaibab Trail. The only camping option is at Bright Angel Campground at the very bottom of the trail, by the Colorado River.
• Is the South Kaibab Trail dangerous?  The trail isn't especially dangerous and is at least 4 feet wide for its entire length. If you are no prepared or don't plan your hike correctly it can be dangerous. Heat exhaustion is the most common danger on the trail, so make sure you prepare accordingly. There are no animals that will attack you, and mules won't kick you off the trail. People have fallen and died when they lost their footing allowing other hikers to pass. More people die on the rim taking selfies (really).
• Can I explore off of the trail? No, please stay on the trail and respect the fragile environment. Do not take any bones or organic material that you may find. Do not approach any wildlife you see.

A Quick South Kaibab Trail Brief

• The South Kaibab Trail is the first trail from the rim to the river that was built by the Parks Service. When the Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919, the popular trails like the Bright Angel were privately owned and charged a toll. The Parks Service tried to purchase the Bright Angel, but it was cheaper just to build another trail, so they built the South Kaibab.
• Since the South Kaibab Trail wasn't built by miners who depended on water sources, there is no water along the trail. It was built by engineers 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."
• The trail, originally known as the Yaki Trail, opened in 1925 at the cost of $73,000 (about $1 million in today's money).
• The trail was named after the nearby Kaibab National Forest. The trail also goes through Kaibab Limestone layer of rock found at the top of the trail.
• The South Kaibab Trail is part of the Arizona Trail (AZT), which stretches about 800 miles from Mexico to Utah. The AZT is considered one of the best thru-hikes in the USA, and this stretch is one of the highlights of the trail. The trail is also frequently used on Rim to Rim hikes.

How To Hike the South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge

When you're done exploring Cedar Ridge, turn around and go back up the way you came down.

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