Free Download | Self-Guided Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon

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My favorite time in my life was when I worked a few seasons at the Activities/Transportation Desk at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Living onsite in employee housing meant waking up to the canyon every single day. I explained tours, activities, hiking trails, and transportation options to the visitors who poured into the park from all over the world. On my off days (and sometimes in the mornings before work) I descended into the canyon to explore below rim. I hiked Rim to Rim one-way multiple times and I’ve also hiked Rim to Rim to Rim out-and-back. I now work for a trekking company where I continue to talk to people every day about hiking in the Grand Canyon and other national parks.

I’ve hiked in the North Cascades, Yellowstone, the Smoky Mountains, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, etc, and backpacked internationally on long trails including the West Highland Way, The Kerry Way, Hadrian’s Wall, Tour du Mont Blanc, and the Slovenian section of the Alpe-Adria Trail. So far the Grand Canyon is still my favorite place on the planet.

If you have the opportunity to steal away and hike Rim to Rim, you must take it. I believe this so much so, that I am offering the following downloadable guide on how to plan your self-guided Rim to Rim hike for free.

This guide includes:

Understanding the Route
Trails
Campsites
Route Variations (+ Pros and Cons)

Securing a Permit or Phantom Ranch Reservations
Camping Permit Application Methods
Phantom Ranch Application Methods
Waitlists
Phantom Ranch Amenities
Duffel Service

When Should You Hike the Rim to Rim?
Weather
Temperatures
Seasonality

Pre- and Post-Trip: Getting There and Getting to the Trailhead
Airports and Transportation to the Rims
Parking
Free Park Shuttles (including Hiker’s Express)
Trans-Canyon Shuttle
Accommodations

Trail Report
A play-by-play of landmarks and what to expect along the route

How to Prepare:
Self-Evaluation
Exposure, Narrowness, Heights, Elevation
Training
Gear
Wildlife
Emergencies

Trip Planning: Other Things to Do at the Grand Canyon or in Northern Arizona

*This PDF was most recently updated October 1, 2023, to include information on how the new permit system works. Remember to always check the Alerts and Conditions page on the Grand Canyon website in case of temporary trail closures.

If you enjoy my content and would like to support my ability to continue dedicating time to traveling and creating guides like this, you can donate any amount to my Ko-fi page at the button below. Thank you!!

If you are planning an active adventure holiday, please research travel insurance options. I usually buy the World Nomads Explorer Plan for my hiking trips since they’re geared towards outdoor excursions, though recently I used Travel Insurance Master to find the APRIL Pandemic Plus Plan since I was concerned about COVID interrupting my travel plans. If you like to research multiple different companies before choosing a provider, check out Travel Insurance Master. Input your own criteria (Road trip? Adventure travel? Budget?) and they’ll show a side-by-side comparison to help you choose a plan.

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