A gorgeous hike that provides sweeping views along a dramatic ridgeline is exactly what you will find along the South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge. Prepare to be blown away by the spectacular beauty of the area and to get a glimpse of what the Grand Canyon looks like from below the rim.
If I could choose just one trail to day hike on the South Rim, this one would be it. Hiking the legendary South Kaibab Trail is a breathtaking experience! This trail boasts the fastest access to the river of any of the Grand Canyon corridor trails and dramatically travels through some of the best scenery in the country. The viewpoint at Cedar Ridge offers incredible 360-degree views from a more central location between the rims, providing an amazing panoramic experience of the gorgeous Grand Canyon.
What You Need to Know About Hiking South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge
- Hiking the Grand Canyon can be a challenge, so be sure to come prepared.
- Make sure that each member of your party is carrying plenty of water. Water is available at the trailhead but is nowhere to be found along the trail.
- Refuel your body consistently with high-protein snacks as well to keep your energy levels up!
- The heat at the Grand Canyon can be absolutely brutal, especially during the summer. For your safety, you’ll want to start your hike to Cedar Ridge early — it can easily be 90+ degrees by mid-morning from May – September.
South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge
The trail to Cedar Ridge begins at the canyon’s rim at the South Kaibab Trailhead and works itself out to a ridgeline with spectacular views of the painted cliffs. Narrowly winding down the cliff, the South Kaibab Trail is immediately hypnotizing and provides magical views of the Grand Canyon while descending below the rim.
The safest way to lose hundreds of feet of elevation is by way of switchbacks, and this hike has some of the most exhilarating switchbacks in the country. They are steep in some places and I recommend bringing trekking poles along to take some of the impact off of your knees.
After the switchbacks, the trail levels out and descends gradually while hugging the cliffs on one side. This section of the hike is mild and enjoyable. It offers a small amount of shade (a real luxury in the Grand Canyon!) and the pinyon trees beautifully frame the view.
After 0.9 miles, get ready to say your oohs and aahs at Ooh-Aah Point. This rock outcropping offers a thrilling panorama of the Grand Canyon as you’ve never seen it before. The hike back up to the top is significantly harder from Cedar Ridge than it is from Ooh-Ahh Point, so this is a popular place to soak in the views and then turn around if you do not want to continue hiking to the ridge.
Beyond Ooh-Ahh, the trail intensifies. Stairs made of logs, dirt, and stone emerge as you drop lower into the canyon. The route begins to trek along the ridgeline, exposing the astounding canyon views that you’ve been waiting for!
As the route opens up to your destination, so do the phenomenal views! This is likely the nearest that you have been to the center of the Grand Canyon and the immensity of this incredible place begins to set in. Take some time to admire the seemingly infinite crags, cliffs, and crevasses that adorn the landscape.
Cedar Ridge has a small, primitive bathroom with no running water or garbage cans (pack it out!). It also has a hitching post for the mules that carry people and supplies in and out of the canyon. It is common to find mules along the Grand Canyon trails, so be sure to quietly stand to the side and let them pass if you encounter any during your hike.
While at Cedar Ridge, you can eat lunch in the shade of a small tree, watch the mules make their way up the trail, and explore the edge of the ridge.
The South Kaibab Trail is incredibly humbling. After spending a few hours hiking deeper into the canyon, you will begin to realize that the surface has barely even been scratched. Not only does the trail keep going, but there are still numerous layers of rock between you and the canyon floor. The river that sculpted the canyon isn’t even visible yet! Reflecting on the enormity of the landscape and your place within it is what makes hiking into the Grand Canyon such a rewarding experience.
You may be tempted to hike farther down the trail. While Cedar Ridge is recommended as the stopping point for most people (and always during the summer months), it is possible to day hike another 1.5 miles to Skeleton Point if you are adequately prepared. Do not attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day.
Hiking out of the canyon is hard….significantly harder than hiking in. Plan on taking twice as long to cover the same ground on your way out. The trails in the Grand Canyon consistently rank as some of the most dangerous on the planet! This is because people often underestimate the actual difficulty of the trail and overestimate their preparedness and ability to conquer it.
Just because the trail is difficult doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy it. Rest as needed and immerse yourself in the fabulous scenery — you just conquered a section of the Grand Canyon’s legendary South Kaibab Trail!
The trail to Cedar Ridge is 3 miles roundtrip with an elevation change of 1,120 feet, making this hike strenuous for the average hiker. For a slightly less challenging hike, consider turning around at Ooh Aah Point, which is 1.8 miles roundtrip with a 760-foot elevation change.
Getting Here
The South Kaibab Trailhead is only accessible via the Park Shuttle System. Catch the ORANGE Kaibab/Rim Route Shuttle Line from the Visitor Center.
Have you hiked the South Kaibab Trail? Do you have any questions about this route? Let me know in the comments below!
More Grand Canyon Trip Planning Information
Grand Canyon Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to the Grand Canyon — the best airports and roads in the area.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to the Grand Canyon — the top 12 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
Best Things to Do — activities for every type of adventurer.
The Ultimate Grand Canyon Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
This post may contain affiliate links. Dirt In My Shoes gets paid a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you purchase from these links. Thanks for your support!
Ash, we are going to the Grand Canyon and will be there on Jan. 2, 2023. Will we be able to get to the South Kaibab Trail and if so where along the route or which stop is it close to?
Yes, you’ll need to take the Orange shuttle out to the trailhead (it drops off right there). You may need traction devices for your shoes to safely get down the upper portion of that trail during the winter. Have fun!
Hello! I will be hiking this trail next week, just wondering what time you started the hike and was the trail very busy? Looking to avoid the crowds!
You’ll want to check the shuttle schedule to see when you can get out to the trailhead. The Hikers Express shuttle will get you there early in the morning if you’re hoping to get started before most people. If it’s going to be hot, you’ll want to start as early as you can to try to avoid the heat of the day. Enjoy!
Thank you for all of the amazing info – it’s very much appreciated!! My family and I (husband and 2 daughters ages 9 and 11) are planning to do the South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge in mid-March (our first time at the Grand Canyon!). I imagine temps will vary, but any advice/tips for hiking/traveling to GC that time of year?
The weather is a little unpredictable at that time of year, so I suggest bringing layered clothing so that you can add and subtract as needed. It will get warmer the further you hike into the canyon. Have an amazing time!
Thank you for this! I’ve been trying to decide which one to do, Bright Angel would be easiest to get to, but I wanted my family to get a full canyon experience (without hiking to the bottom and back). Now I’m convinced South Kaibab is the way to go!
I agree!
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and the in-depth information you offer. Sounds like it was quite the adventure! Say you just wanted to hike down, then up one side in a day or over a couple of days – with kids. Which side would you recommend as being more ‘kid-friendly’? Thanks!
For 95% of people, I would not recommend hiking from the rim down to the river and back up in a day…it’s extremely difficult and dangerous to do it that way. If you are doing it with kids and planning on backpacking, I’d go down South Kaibab and up Bright Angel. South Kaibab is steeper and doesn’t offer the rest stations like Bright Angel does. Have fun!
Q: Planning to go 2021 first week of April. Daughters will be 5 1/2 and 6 1/2. We hike, though we are from the East and do not see drop-offs. How wide is the path? I know there are drop-offs from some of the pics but can’t tell if they are 20 feet or 1500 feet. What do you think for kids that young?
The path is quite wide…I’d say 6-8 feet probably. Definitely enough space to keep away from the edge. As long as your kids can follow instructions and are mature enough to understand that they need to stay away from the edge, you should be just fine!
First of all, I would like to thank you for this wonderful website! My family and I are planning a trip to the great Western US parks this upcoming May, and I am finding so many useful tips and suggestions!
Could you please tell us how long would it approximately take to hike to Cedar Ridge & back? We will have an (almost) full day in Grand Canyon, and we are trying to plan everything in order to make the best out of what we have :)
Thank you in advance for your help!
Hiking out of the canyon usually takes people twice at least twice as long as hiking in, but on average I would plan about 3 hours to do this section of the trail. Have a great time!
I will be at GC end of this week. Forecast is 50s and sunny. I’m 54, in moderate shape with bad knees but have pushed through for a good hike :). Do you think I’ll be ok to hike to Cedar Crest using poles or would you recommend I stop at Ooh Aah? TIA :)
That trail can be a little rough on the knees…it’s the quickest way down to the bottom of the canyon, so the steepness isn’t very forgiving. When you get to Ooh Ahh you can see how you feel!
Hi, Ash!
We are planning a trip to Grand canyon late April of this year.
Our group will have a 5 year old and a 59 year old.
We would like to hike the South Kaibab trail to Cedar ridge.
What time should we start?7am?
Is 2L of water per person enough?
How long is it on average round trip to Cedar Ridge?
Thank you,
Ana
I would watch the weather, as it can be quite hot in April at the Grand Canyon. Especially as you drop below the rim. But 7 a.m. would probably be just fine as long as the temperatures aren’t too high. 2L of water is good…the more the better. I would plan about 3 hours for the average hiker to complete this hike and spend some time at Cedar Ridge.
I’m looking at doing a solo hike to Cedar Ridge in late Aug/early Sept. Plan to head out early (7.30am) and be back mid morning. I only have runners to wear, is this suitable footwear or would I need to buy more hiking boots (left them at home – overseas – as didn’t think I’d get the chance to do any hiking)?
Also I am being warned by well meaning relatives about bears, rattlesnakes, cold winds, etc, and suggesting that I should not do this. Is any of this something to be concerned about?
No, this trail is popular and I wouldn’t worry too much about your family’s concerns. You’ll probably be just fine in your runners. I would just suggest getting an earlier start if you can…it will still be quite hot on the trail at that time of year. Have fun!
Thank you very much. I can pass on your response to family and friends and just enjoy my time there.
I am planning a “Generations Birthday Trip” for my mom (turning 75), myself (turning 50), and my daughter (turning 25) in November. I looked at your 1 day itinerary and noticed you put Bright Angel as a day hike versus South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge. Which is more difficult? Which is easier to maneuver to the next point of interest (say, Museum at Yavapai point)? My original itinerary (with NO knowledge of the GC) had us hiking South Kaibab, maybe lunch at Shoshone point, and then ending with Museum at Yavapai. Thanks for your input
Very cool! South Kaibab is harder to get to and takes more time because you aren’t able to drive your vehicle there…taking a free shuttle is required. It’s just not as central of a location. If you only have one day and are just looking to get a taste of hiking in the Grand Canyon, the Bright Angel is a better option because it’s close to a lot of other points of interest. You’ll be perfectly situated to explore other parts of the South Rim like Hermits Rest and anything along the Rim Trail.
But if you love hiking and are most excited about hiking in the Grand Canyon, I’d do the South Kaibab Trail over Bright Angel :)
Hello Ash.
My wife & I will be visiting in mid June, from Ohio. We hope/wish to hike to Skeleton Point, We first gotta drive from Sedona, though. We are in pretty good shape for our ages. We recently hiked about half of the Harding Icefield Trail, in Kenai Fjords N.P. and the Sandia Mountains, in Albuquerque. We have also hiked first 2 miles on the Kalalau Trail, in Kauai. Do you think this hike would be any more challenging ? I anticipate a 7-7:30am start, because of the drive. Whattya think ?
I have hiked the whole South Kaibab Trail and it’s phenomenal. It’s doable to go down to Skeleton Point and back up, but I wouldn’t start any later than 7 a.m. That’s even pushing it, considering how hot it can get in the canyon during the summer. We were there in early May last year and was already approaching 90 degrees deeper in the canyon by about 11 a.m. The heat is what makes the trail so dangerous, so even if you hike a lot, don’t underestimate how much harder the trails in the Grand Canyon are because of the heat. And South Kaibab is a very challenging climb back out. If you train and are ultra-prepared, you’ll probably be ok. Just don’t expect it to be easy :)
Start much earlier or don’t go. I’ve hiked rim to rim to rim in the summer, but our hike start times were between 4:00-5:00AM. Sunrise is the best time to be at Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point, whichever you choose as your objective. But on a summer day-hike you should be hiking out of the canyon long before noon. You really can’t imagine how hot the inner canyon gets during the summer daylight hours.
Yes, I agree with all of that! The summer months are unbearable in the canyon during the day. Last time I hiked into the canyon, it was 95 degrees at the bottom at 10 a.m…and that was in May. It’s much worse during the summer. Get started early and hike in the dark if needed during the summer. Have fun!
My husband and I are planning to hike down some place between cedar ridge and skeleton point in the spring. How much water do you suggest? We each have 3L water bladders for our backpacks. Is that enough?
That’s probably enough, but you can never have too much water! If you have the space, throw in an extra bottle or two. And I’d start as early in the morning as you can to avoid the midday heat as you hike back out of the canyon. Have a great time!
HI, my husband and I will be going to the Grand Canyon at the end of the month. This sounds like a perfect hike for us. We will be driving from Las Vegas, so probably won’t start the hike until 2:00 or so, is this to late to go to Cedar Ridge and back? Where do we go to catch the shuttle and how often does the shuttle run? This is our first trip to the Grand Canyon.
Thanks!
I think you should be okay…you’ll just want to note down the time of the sunset so that you can make it back in time for the last shuttle. You can park at the Visitor Center and catch the shuttle from there. You want the Orange Line that takes you to the South Kaibab Trailhead. Have fun!!
Hi there! My husband and I will be staying at Mather Campground for a night during the first week of October. We hike regularly with out pup and would love to take him on the trails. Is this trail dog friendly?
Hi there Melissa,
It’s difficult to find pet-friendly trails in most national parks. The South Kaibab Trail is not dog-friendly….you’ll want to review this webpage before you go if you do bring your dog: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/pets.htm. Have a fun trip!
So, my husband and I hiked to Cedar Ridge. It was the most spectacular view. It did not take us long to descend, about 40 minutes.
We made a huge and silly mistake though. We did not eat beforehand. EAT before you go. While we had snacks and water, we did not use it well because we didn’t “feel” hungry. MISTAKE! Climbing up was TOUGH but would have not been as tough with food. I became weak and nauseous. I couldn’t eat at a certain point. My hubby ate an energy bar but I was too nauseous to even smell it. My climb was then miserable because I felt sick. I took frequent breaks and drank water but will NEVER go without eating again. Hard lesson learned.
So glad I made it back out !
At first I became sickened at the thought of doing it again but I will.
Glad you made it back out okay! Hiking in the canyon can be quite scary — but your experience should be much better next time!
We’ve hiked this trail to Cedar ridge and it was phenomenal!! The hike out was strenuous but we took out time and had plenty of water and salty snacks and trekking poles definitely helped. We’ve also hiked the Bright Angel trail to the 1.5 mile resthouse. Another awesome hike!! Can’t wait to go back!
So glad you got to hike it!!
Hi Ash,
We are planning our first trip to Arizona from Canada this August! Of course, we have to see the Grand Canyon, and this trail seems like a good adventure for our family. We have 3 active/fit kids 12/15/17yrs old (Our 15yr old son is a competitive rock climber!) We aren’t afraid of a little sweat and strain, but I don’t want to completely over-exert ourselves. Taking into consideration August temps (27 celcius?), and our average physical endurance – do you think we could realistically plan to hike all the way to Cedar Ridge with the kids, or is it more likely that we would need to turn around at Ooh-Aah Point?
Thanks so much for your perspective,
April
I definitely think you could go all the way to Cedar Ridge! If you hit the trail nice and early, you’ll avoid some of the heat and have a much more pleasant experience!
Would a hike to Ooh Aah be to hard for a 9 yr old?
Most kids would be just fine to Ooh-Aah, but of course it depends on how much they like to hike :)
Thanks for the wonderful descritpion of this fabulous trail. I went as far as Ohh-Ahh Point and back in three hours on 4/7/2017. But that included a lot of time eating lunch and just enjoying the incredible beauty. Also, I enjoy taking pictures about every 10 feet. Since I’m 78 years old my thought was to not overexert myself. But after reading your post, I wish I had gone another 1/2 mile to Cedar Ridge. Maybe next year. I didn’t see any other people my age that day….where are they, home watching the Golf Channel ? Shame on them !!
Haha good for you!! The hike to Ooh-Aah is phenomenal….so glad you didn’t stay home to watch golf :)
Good for you!! My husband and I are planning a trip this month and trying to decide what we can attempt. I’m 59 and he’s 69. If you can do it so can we!
This is one of the best hikes ever. Strangely, climbing down was harder and more strenuous than climbing up. We went until the Cedar Ridge and returned. We took 1 hour to reach there and 1.5 hours to return + 20 minutes for photo/snack breaks.
I can’t wait to go back for a rim to rim hike. Take the South Kaibab Trail down to the Phantom Ranch, Stay overnight and then hike back up on Bright Angel Trail.
A must-do for any hiker!! Can’t wait for you to make it happen!
Any idea of how long it takes to ooh aah point and back? We only have 3 hrs total at the canyon :( but really want a taste of below the rim.
For most people it will take about 1.5 – 2 hours to hike to Ooh Aah and back!
Thank you!!
My husband and I did this exact hike on our first trip to the Grand Canyon and now we are absolutely obsessed with hiking rim to rim. What a magical place. I love, love, love your blog. Please keep it coming! We used all of your Teton and Yellowstone ideas last summer as well!
It sure is hard to stop at Cedar Ridge isn’t it?!?!?! I felt the same way…..it just makes you want to hike all over the Grand Canyon :) Glad you are finding the information useful!