The Rim Trail: 13 Flat Miles Along the South Rim

No descent, no permit, no danger of running out of water. The Rim Trail is how everyone else sees the Grand Canyon, and the shuttle lets you walk exactly as much of it as you want.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Updated May 2026

Quick Facts

  • Distance~13 mi total, South Kaibab TH to Hermits Rest
  • Elevation changeMinimal, follows the rim
  • DifficultyEasy (paved sections fully accessible)
  • TrailheadAny South Rim viewpoint or village stop
  • WaterAt village, visitor center, and Hermits Rest
  • Best monthsYear-round, any season
The Lowdown Verdict: The Rim Trail is the most underrated hike in the park. It is mostly flat, much of it is paved and ADA-accessible, and the shuttle runs alongside the whole route so you can walk a mile and ride back, or walk six and ride home. You get the same canyon that draws people down Bright Angel, with none of the climb-out risk. It is the right choice for families, for anyone short on time, for hot afternoons when descending is unwise, and for visitors who want sunrise or sunset without a headlamp scramble. Treat it as a buffet: pick the segment that fits your day.

Guided Grand Canyon Rim Tours

A guided rim tour adds the geology, the human history, and the best photo spots to a Rim Trail walk, and handles the shuttle timing so you do not have to. Viator's Grand Canyon options include sunrise and sunset rim tours that pair perfectly with a self-paced segment of the trail.

Find Grand Canyon Tours on Viator →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Grand Canyon Rim Trail paved and wheelchair accessible? +
A large part of it is. The section from Pipe Creek Vista through the village to Monument Creek Vista is paved, and big stretches of that are ADA-accessible with frequent benches and railings. West of Monument Creek Vista the surface becomes packed dirt. The paved central section is one of the most accessible canyon-edge experiences in any national park.
How long is the Rim Trail and do I have to walk all of it? +
The Rim Trail runs roughly 13 miles along the South Rim from the South Kaibab Trailhead area to Hermits Rest. You do not have to walk all of it. The free park shuttle parallels nearly the entire route, so you can walk any segment you like and ride the shuttle back, or ride out and walk in.
Does the Rim Trail go down into the canyon? +
No. The Rim Trail follows the canyon edge with minimal elevation change and does not descend into the canyon. That is what makes it the safe choice for families, for hot summer afternoons, and for catching sunrise or sunset without committing to an inner-canyon hike and climb-out.
Which shuttle do I take for the Rim Trail? +
It depends on the segment. The Village (Blue) Route covers the central section, the Kaibab/Rim (Orange) Route covers the east end, and the Hermit Road (Red) Route covers the western stretch to Hermits Rest. The Red Route runs March 1 through November 30 only; in winter that western section is open to private vehicles instead.
Can I hike the Rim Trail in winter? +
Yes, the Rim Trail is a year-round trail and works in every season. Winter brings snow and ice to the paved sections, so traction devices underfoot help. The rim sits near 7,000 feet, so even a flat walk can feel harder than expected on your first day at altitude. Carry water from the village, visitor center, or Hermits Rest fill stations.

What the Rim Trail Actually Is

The Rim Trail runs roughly 13 miles along the South Rim from the South Kaibab Trailhead area in the east to Hermits Rest in the west. It follows the canyon edge with minimal elevation change, so there is no descent into the canyon. That is the whole point: you get rim views without the “okay, now how do we climb back out?” stress.

The section from Pipe Creek Vista through the village to Monument Creek Vista is paved, and large stretches are ADA-accessible. West of Monument Creek Vista the trail surface becomes packed dirt. The trail strings together the major South Rim viewpoints, so you are never far from a railing and a view—start planning your stop sequence at /grand-canyon/viewpoints/.

The Shuttle Makes It a Choose-Your-Distance Hike

The free park shuttle parallels nearly the entire Rim Trail, which is what makes it so flexible. Instead of committing to a point-to-point day, you can treat the trail like a menu—ride, walk a section, and jump back on when you hit your comfort limit.

The Village (Blue) Route covers the central section, the Kaibab/Rim (Orange) Route covers the east end, and the Hermit Road (Red) Route covers the western stretch to Hermits Rest. The Red Route to Hermits Rest runs March 1 through November 30 only. In winter, that western section is open to private vehicles instead, so your access plan changes seasonally.

Plan around the route that covers your chosen segment with the full shuttle overview at /grand-canyon/travel-planning/. Pro move: pick a direction first (east-to-west or west-to-east), then decide how many viewpoints you want to sample.

Accessibility and Who the Trail Is For

The paved central section is one of the most accessible canyon-edge experiences in any national park. Wheelchairs and strollers handle the village-area pavement well, and benches and railings are frequent. If you want to feel the canyon drama without the steep effort, the Rim Trail delivers.

It is also an excellent choice for the “timing” problems people don’t talk about: acclimatizing to the 7,000-foot rim elevation, recovering after a hard descent, or squeezing in an enjoyable hike during hot afternoons when descending feels like a bad trade. Dogs on leash are permitted on the Rim Trail, which is rare inside the park.

Pair it with other rim activities for a complete day—check out /grand-canyon/things-to-do/ for ideas that fit the same “walk a bit, rest a lot” rhythm.

Best Segments and the Views You Get

Mather Point to Yavapai Point is a classic short paved segment past the Yavapai Geology Museum. It is a great “first hour” option if you want an immediate taste of the canyon without committing to the full 13-mile loop-in-motion. You will also feel how often the trail gives you a formal stop: railing, viewpoint, photo, repeat.

The village section connects the historic lodges and studios, so it feels less like a corridor and more like an easy stroll through the rim’s most iconic neighborhood. West of the village, the Hermit Road segment from Powell Point through Hopi, Mohave, and Pima points to Hermits Rest delivers the most dramatic—and often least crowded—canyon views, especially at sunset.

Pick a segment by what you want to see and how far you want to walk, then let the shuttle handle the return. For named stops and context, use /grand-canyon/viewpoints/ and /grand-canyon/hiking/.

Timing, Weather, and Sunrise or Sunset Without the Risk

The Rim Trail is a year-round trail and works in every season. Because there is no descent, it is the safe way to be out at the hottest part of a summer day or to catch sunrise and sunset without committing to an inner-canyon hike and the climb-out that follows. That is what makes it a reliable “we came all this way” plan for families, first-timers, and anyone managing energy.

Winter brings snow and ice to the paved sections, so traction underfoot helps. And remember the rim elevation: even an easy flat walk can feel harder than expected on your first day at altitude. Treat the trail as moderate cardio with frequent sightseeing breaks.

Carry water from the village, visitor center, or Hermits Rest fill stations. If you decide you want to go below the rim after this, the next step is /grand-canyon/hiking/bright-angel-trail/.