The North Kaibab Trail is a hiking trail in the North Rim side of the Grand Canyon, in Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona.
Access Access to this part of the park by car is seasonal, open from mid-May to mid-October or depending on snow cover from the previous winter.
It is possible to reach the North Kaibab Trailhead by crossing the canyon on foot from the South Rim or by snowshoe or cross-country ski beginning at Jacob Lake, Arizona.
Description
+Mileages and features along North Kaibab TrailGrand Canyon National Park, Overnight Use of Trans-canyon Corridor Trails, Winter edition Distance (mi) Elv (ft) Location Trail Junction Toilet Water0 8241 Trailhead, North Rim Uncle Jim TrailKen Patrick Trail Portable Seasonal, Treated1.7 6800 Supai Tunnel Composting Seasonal, Treated5 5220 Roaring Springs Composting Seasonal, Treated6.9 4080 Cottonwood Campground Composting Seasonal, Treated8.5 3720 Ribbon Falls 13.1 Trail Junction Clear Creek Trail 13.6 2545 Phantom Ranch Septic Treated13.8 2480 Bright Angel Campground Utah Flats Route Septic Treated14 2460 Trail Junction River TrailSouth Kaibab Trail Septic Treated The North Kaibab Trail begins at the head of Roaring Springs canyon and ends at the Colorado River.
The trailhead is at a parking area on Arizona State Route 67, about north of the North Rim's Grand Canyon Lodge. The Ken Patrick Trail and Uncle Jim Trail are also accessible from this parking area.
The trail is long, with camping available by permit at Cottonwood Camp at and Bright Angel Camp at . Treated water is available seasonally at the Supai Tunnel, Roaring Springs, the Caretaker's Dwelling, and Cottonwood Campground; and year-round at Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. Features along the trail include Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls (140 ft), The Box (a slot canyon), and Phantom Ranch.
Part of Arizona Trail The North Kaibab Trail is also part of the Arizona Trail system, crossing the state of Arizona from Mexico to Utah. The trail is joined by South Kaibab Trail which is located to the south of the trail.
Condition Grand Canyon National Park categorizes the North Kaibab Trail as a corridor trail. With this designation it receives regular maintenance and patrols by park rangers.Backcountry Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Appendix G, Section C, p.39
Camping Hikers may only camp at the Bright Angel or Cottonwood Campgrounds, where they can stay overnight with a permit issued by the Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Information Center. Use of the campground overnight is regulated by the National Park Service, and they call for a maximum number of groups (7 to 11 people) and parties (1 to 6 people), as well as a maximum total number of persons.Grand Canyon National Park Use Areas
+Overnight camping areas near River Trail Area Name Type Group(s) Parties Max peopleCCG Cottonwood Campground (summer)Campground (winter) 11 andor 61 408CBG Bright Angel Campground 2 and 31 90
Use permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the park's Backcountry Information Center. Requests are taken beginning on the first day of the month, up to four months before the requested first night of camping.Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Use Permit Procedure
Hazards Hazards hikers can encounter along the North Kaibab Trail include dehydration, sudden rainstorms, flash flooding, loose footing, rockfall, encounters with wildlife, and extreme heat. At the Colorado River, additional hazards include hypothermia (due to the river's consistently cold temperatures), trauma (due to collisions with boulders in rapids), and drowning.Grand Canyon National Park Summer Hiking
See also List of trails in Grand Canyon National Park
References
External links Official Grand Canyon National Park website Grand Canyon Explorer