Colorado River via South Canyon Trail

To get from rim to river and back in a day, the hike to the Colorado River on South Canyon Trail is an adventurous option that will challenge your endurance and scrambling skills. This remote North Rim route sees very little traffic, so come prepared with lots of water, good boots, poles, and a GPS track. This route can be dangerous if you get off track, so good routefinding skills are essential!

We recommend this route for strong hikers who are comfortable with a bit of hands-on climbing. Consider bringing gloves and long pants to protect yourself from the sharp rocks. If you’re solo, you may wish to have a rope to lower your backpack with. Since there’s no water on the way down, bring lots with you.

From the trailhead, the route dips down over the rim to complete a steep descent to a gully. Watch for stacked rocks marking the way. It then follows a sandy dry creekbed east through a canyon to the Colorado River. On the banks of the river, you can either turn around here to or hike a few steps south to find Vaseys Paradise. Rest up in front of this amazing vista before retracing your steps to the trailhead.