How much time it takes to hike the Grand Canyon depends largely on which of the 54 hard-packed trails you plan to hike and what type of hiking you plan on doing.
To illustrate this point there are many hiking trails at the Grand Canyon that are less than 3 miles long that can easily be hiked in under an hour.
While at the same time there are also trails that hike down into the canyon that are much longer and can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to complete.
And finally, if you want to join the “Rim to Rim club, meaning that you hike from the top of the South Rim to the top of the North Rim this is usually a multi-day hike and can take anywhere from 12 and 15 hours to complete.
So to help you get a better sense of how long it takes to hike the Grand Canyon based on the hike you choose, we have listed some of the most popular trails at the Grand Canyon, providing not only the length of the trail and how much time it takes to hike but also what the trail is like and it’s level of difficulty.
Popular Grand Canyon Trails (Lengths and Time to Complete)
| Trail | Trail Type | Time to Complete (One Way) | Length (One Way) | Elevation Change |
| 1 – Bright Angel Trail | Out and Back | 4 Hours 40 Minutes | 9.3 Miles | 4,380 Feet |
| 2 – South Rim Trail | Out and Back | 6 Hours 30 Minutes | 13 Miles | Minimal |
| 3 – South Kaibab Trail | Out and Back | 3 Hours 35 Minutes | 7.1 Miles | 4,860 Feet |
| 4 – North Kaibab Trail | Out and Back | 7 Hours | 14 Miles | 5,850 Feet |
| 5 – Grandview Trail | Out and Back | 3 Hours | 6 Miles | 2,500 Feet |
| 6 – Havasu Falls / Havasupai Trail | Out and Back | 5 Hours | 10 Miles | 2,800 Feet |
| 7 – Widforss Trail | Out and Back | 2 Hours 30 Minutes | 5 Miles | Minimal |
| 8 – Cape Final Trail | Out and Back | 1 Hour | 2 Miles | 210 Feet |
| 9 – Hermit Trail | Out and Back | 4 Hours 30 Minutes | 8.9 Miles | 4,240 Feet |
| 10 – North Kaibab Trail / Bright Angel Trail | Rim to Rim | 11 Hours 30 Minutes | 23.3 Miles | 10,230 Feet |
*Average time to complete based on a typically hiking pace of 2 miles per hour.
** Time and distance are based on one-way travel of the trail and not round trip.
1 – Bright Angel Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 4 Hours 40 Minutes
- Length (One Way): 9.3 Miles
- Elevation Change: 4,380 Feet
Bright Angel Trail located in Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most popular and iconic trails at the Grand Canyon. This well-maintained trail starts at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and travels all the way to the Colorado River ending Near Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch.
Throughout this challenging hike, you will find covered rest areas and drinking water not to mention epic views and vistas of the Canyon as you descend endless switchbacks and some 4,380 feet until you reach the end of the trail at the Colorado River.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Bright Angel Trail?
While the Bright Angel Trail is 9.3 miles in length from the South Rim to the Colorado River, this trial can actually be shorted by choosing one of the popular turn-around spots located along the trail including Mile-and-a-half Resthouse, Three-Mile Resthouse, and Indian Garden.
This hiking trail has tons of elevation change, so when trying to judge how long the trail will take keep in mind that it will take twice as much energy as well as more time to hike back out of the canyon as it did to hike down into it.
Below is the average amount of time it takes to hike Bright Angel Trail based on how far you hike along the trail.
- South Rim Trail Head to Mile-and-a-half Resthouse (Round Trip): 2 Hours
- Trail Head to Three-Mile Resthouse (Round Trip): 4 Hours
- South Rim Trail Head to Indian Garden (Round Trip): 6: Hours
- Trail Head to Colorado River (Entire Trail Round Trip): 12 Hours
It is strongly discouraged to try and hike the complete out and back Bright Angel Trail in one day as this 18.6-mile hike is well beyond the fitness level and skill level of most hikers.
Instead, if you want to hike the whole Bright Angel Trail it’s best to make it a multi-day hike by either camping at the Bright Angel Campground, staying in the Phantom Lodge, or backcountry camping, before hiking out the next day. However, keep in mind that reservations are required for the first two and a permit is required for the last, and competition can be fierce for these coveted spots.
2 – South Rim Trail
https://youtu.be/q5HV8OIJ9dc
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way): 6 Hours 30 Minutes
- Length (One Way): 13 Miles
- Elevation Change: Minimal
If you’re looking for an easy trail the whole family can enjoy with minimal elevation change and spectacular views the South Rim Trail has you covered.
This well-maintained and paved trail basically follows along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and can be hiked as well as biked in certain sections, for a total length of 13 miles. But don’t let the length of the trail worry you as there is a convenient free shuttle service that runs the length of the trail with shuttle stops about every mile and a half, letting you hike as much or as little of the trail as you want.
How Long Does it Take to Hike the South Rim Trail?
If you hike the entire 13-mile South Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon you can expect the hike to take around 6 and a half hours depending on your hiking pace and how often you stop for pictures and photo-ops.
As mentioned above the beauty of this unique hiking trail is that it runs along the South Rim instead of hiking down into the canyon with a convenient free shuttle surface along the entire length of the trail. Allowing you to hike as little as 1.5 miles of the trail which most hikers should be able to accomplish in about an hour if you’re looking for a shorter hike.
3 – South Kaibab Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 3 Hours 35 Minutes
- Length (One Way): 7.1 Miles
- Elevation Change: 4860 Feet
Another very popular trail that hikes down into the canyon from the South Rim is the South Kaibab Trail. As with the Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab Trail travels all the way to the Colorado River offering amazing views of the Grand Canyon and spans a length of 7.1 miles to the river.
Also, as a side note, the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail actually come together near the Colorado River at the Kaibab Suspension Bridge, leading many hikers to combine the two trails into one large trail to create a kind of half loop that hikes down into the canyon and back out from the South Rim. However, keep in mind that due to the difficulty and amount of time this type of hike will take this is not recommended as a day hike.
The below trail map shows how the Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail come together to form a half loop.
How Long Does it Take to Hike the South Kaibab Trail?
At 7.1 miles in length, the South Kaibab Trail takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes to hike to the end of the trail at the Colorado River. Remember though that this is an out and back trail so if you want to hike the trail in its entirety and back out again the round trip distance is actually 14.2 miles and will take 7 to 8 hours depending on your pace.
The National Park Service does not recommend hiking the entire trail and back out again in one day though due to the level of difficulty and the time it takes to hike the trail.
Luckily though as with the Bright Angel Trail, there are several great turn-around spots that allow you to experience the South Kaibab Trail without having to hike the entire trail such as Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point.
4 – North Kaibab Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 7 Hours
- Length (One Way): 14 Miles
- Elevation Change: 5850 Feet
While the South Rim has many trail options for hiking down into the canyon, at the North Rim the only maintained trail that hikes down into the canyon is the North Kaibab Trail.
The North Kaibab Trail with a total length of 14 miles and an elevation change of almost 6,000 feet is one of the longest and most difficult trails at the Grand Canyon. Descending steeply from the North Rim through constant switchbacks and traveling many miles through the canyon before reaching Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, and the Colorado River.
Also because this is the only maintained hiking trail that hikes down into the canyon from the North Rim this trail is always used on the northside of the canyon either as an entry point or exit point by hikers that are hiking from rim to rim at the Grand Canyon.
To get a better idea of what the North Kaibab Trail is like take a look at the below trail map.
How Long Does it Take to Hike the North Kaibab Trail?
As one of the longest and most strenuous hikes at the Grand Canyon, the North Kaibab Trail takes a considerable amount of time to hike usually taking anywhere from 7 to 8 hours to hike the entire 14 miles from the North Rim to the Colorado River.
If you plan to hike the entire North Kaibab Trail it is highly recommended that you break the hike into at least 2 days of hiking, by making reservations to spend the night at either Phantom Ranch or Bright Angel Campground or by obtaining a permit to disperse camp in the backcountry. As it usually takes 14 to 16 hours of hiking to hike the entire North Kaibab Trail in its entirety.
Remember though as with other trails at the Grand Canyon you can hike a small section of the trail by using a turnaround point along the trail. For example, by using the Roaring Springs as a turnaround point along the North Kaibab Trail, the total round trip miles is a much more manageable 9.4 miles, allowing most hikers to complete the hike in 5 to 6 hours.
5 – Grandview Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 3 Hours
- Length (One Way): 6 Miles
- Elevation Change: 2500 Feet
The Grandview Trail located on the South Rim is a great trail for experienced hikers that are looking to get away from the crowds at Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail. Be forewarned though that this trail is actually an old mining trail that is not actively maintained by the National Park Service, making this a very rough and difficult trail to hike.
So if you plan to hike this trail be prepared for a very rugged and steep trail that at times can be somewhat narrow with an occasional trail width of only about 18 inches.
How Long Does it take to Hike Grandview Trail?
The Grandview Trail while best left to more experienced hikers due to its level of difficulty is a trail that can be hiked in its entirety as a day hike. To hike out and back along this trail encompasses a total of 12 miles and takes most hikers around 6 to 7 hours to complete depending on their pace.
6 – Havasu Falls / Havasupai Trail
https://youtu.be/Ct9wQQZgbww
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way): 5 Hours
- Length (One Way): 10 Miles
- Elevation Change: 2800 Feet
A must-hike trail for those who love waterfalls is the Havasupai Trail, as this trail will lead you to the amazingly blue waters of Havasu Falls.
Unlike other hiking trails on this list though the Havasupai Trail is actually not in the Grand Canyon National Park and instead is located in the Havasupai Indian Reservation.
It’s also important to note that you can’t just show up and hike this trail to the waterfall as you need a permit to hike to the Havasu Falls, which can be difficult to obtain due to the level of competition for them.
Also, day hikes to the Havasu Falls are not permitted and overnight backpacking or mule riding is required to see the Havasu Falls.
How Long Does it take to Hike Havasupai Trail?
To hike the 10 miles to the Havasu Falls along the Havasupai Trail it should take approximately 5 hours depending on your pace. Remember though that this is an out and back trail so in order to hike the entirety of the trail and return back to the trailhead, you will actually have to hike 20 miles which should take approximately 10 to 12 hours of hiking to complete.
Remember though that you cannot day hike this trail and you must camp overnight near the Havasu Falls before hiking back out.
7 – Widforss Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Length (One Way): 5 Miles
- Elevation Change: Minimal
Another popular trail located on the North Rim is the Widforss Trail named after Gunnar Widforss who was renowned for his watercolor paintings of the Grand Canyon.
This trail does not hike down into the canyon and instead hikes along the North Rim itself with very little elevation change making it a great hike for beginners.
The Widforss Trail offers amazing views of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim, before heading into a shaded forest area of ponderosas along the trail until finally popping out again at the canyon at Widforss Point.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Widforss Trail?
The out and back Widforss Trail has a length of 5 miles making the round trip 10 miles, allowing most hikers to complete the hike in about 5 hours depending on their pace and how often they stop for pictures.
8 – Cape Final Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 1 Hour
- Length (One Way): 2 Miles
- Elevation Change: 210 Feet
Cape Final Trail is a great beginner trail to get your hiking legs under you before you move on to more challenging hikes at the Grand Canyon.
The Cape Final Trail is located along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and follows along an old abandoned service road making the trail very easy to follow with very little elevation change.
The trail starts out by hiking through a wooded area before opening up and reaching Cape Final which offers amazing and breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Cape Final Trail?
With a total round trip distance of about 4 miles, the Cape Final Trail is one of the shorter and easier trails at the Grand Canyon, allowing most hikers to complete the trail in about 2 hours.
9 – Hermit Trail
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Time to Complete (One Way Descent): 4 Hours 30 Minutes
- Length (One Way): 8.9 Miles
- Elevation Change: 4,240 Feet
If your looking for a less traveled trail that also hikes to the Colorado River from the South Rim the Hermit Trail is a great trail to consider. However, this trail is very rugged and steep and should only be hiked by seasoned hikers that are familiar with difficult trails and substantial elevation changes.
From the South Rim trailhead to the Colorado River terminus, the Hermit Trail travels 8.9 miles and encompasses over 4,000 feet of elevation change.
As with other hiking trails at the Grand Canyon that hike to the Colorado River from the rim it is not recommended that you try and day hike the entire Hermit Trail and instead use one of the popular turn-around points located along the trail such as Santa Maria Spring.
In addition, if you’re looking for a trail that you can hike all the way to the Colorado River, it’s best to choose one of the other South Rim trails such as Bright Angel Trail or South Kaibab Trail, as there are only a few permitted overnight camping spots located along Hermit Trail making it difficult to camp along the trail.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Hermit Trail?
Hermit Trail is an out and back trail that hikes from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon all the way to the Colorado River that usually takes around 4 to 5 hours to hike one way.
It’s important to remember though that this is an out and back trail, meaning that if you try and hike the entire Hermit Trail the round trip trail length is actually 17.8 miles and would take about 9 to 11 hours of hiking to complete.
This is why day hikers will usually only hike a portion of the Hermit Trail and use a turn-around point such as Santa Maria Spring, which is approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
By using Sana Maria Spring as a turnaround point, the total out and back distance is a much more manageable 5 miles which most hikers should be able to accomplish in 2 and a half to 3 and a half hours.
10 – North Kaibab Trail / Bright Angel Trail (Rim to Rim Route)
- Trail Type: Rim to Rim
- Time to Complete (One Way): 12+ Hours
- Length (One Way): 23.3 Miles
- Elevation Change: 10,230 Feet
Many avid and seasoned hikers often have hiking rim to rim at the Grand Canyon on their hiking buck list as it’s one of the most amazing and challenging hikes that you can complete.
Remember though that this is not an easy route and should only be attempted by the most seasoned of hikers familiar with thru-hiking and long-distance hikes, as this hike encompasses more than 10,000 feet of elevation change and spans 23.3 miles.
While there are several routes you can choose in order to hike from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon or vice versa, one of the more popular paths is to start on the North Rim and use the North Kaibab trail to hike to the Colorado River and then take the Bright Angel Trail to hike back out onto the South Rim.
As you would expect for a hike of this size and scope there are several logistical concerns that you need to take care of to be able to hike from rim to rim, such as how to get back to the other side of the canyon where your car is parked, and where to spend the night in the canyon, as the National Park Service recommends that you take 3 days to hike this route covering about 8 miles a day.
How Long Does it take to Hike Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon?
While the mileage and time can vary slightly as there are several routes and trails you can choose to hike from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, in general, it usually takes hikers anywhere from 12 to 15 hours of hiking to complete this extremely difficult hike.
Remember though that the National Park Service actually recommends that you take 3 days to complete this hike, so make sure you allow for multiple days of hiking and camping if you plan to hike from “rim to rim” at the Grand Canyon.