North Kaibab Trail

Grand Canyon hiking trail

This article is about the hiking trail at the north rim of Grand Canyon. For the trail from the south rim, see South Kaibab Trail.

North Kaibab Trail

Looking down on the trail after descending a short distance from the North Rim

Length| 14 mi (23 km)
Location| Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Trailheads| Phantom Ranch
Grand Canyon (North Rim)
Use| Hiking
Stock (mule use)
Elevation change| 5,660 ft (1,730 m)
Highest point| North Rim, 8,060 ft (2,460 m)
Lowest point| Colorado River, 2,400 ft (730 m)
Difficulty| Strenuous
Season| Spring through Fall
Sights| Grand Canyon
Colorado River
Hazards| Severe weather
overexertion
dehydration
flash floods

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

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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

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Ribbon Falls on the North Kaibab Trail Mileages and features along North Kaibab Trail[1] Distance (mi)  | Elv (ft)  | Location  | Trail Junction  | Toilet  | Water

|
|
|
|
|

0  | 8241 | Trailhead, North Rim | Uncle Jim Trail
Ken Patrick Trail | Portable | Seasonal, Treated
1.7  | 6800 | Supai Tunnel |  | Composting | Seasonal, Treated
5  | 5220 | Roaring Springs |  | Composting | Seasonal, Treated
6.9  | 4080 | Cottonwood Campground |  | Composting | Seasonal, Treated
8.5  | 3720 | Ribbon Falls |  |  |
13.1  |  | Trail Junction | Clear Creek Trail |  |
13.6  | 2545 | Phantom Ranch |  | Septic | Treated
13.8  | 2480 | Bright Angel Campground | Utah Flats Route | Septic | Treated
14  | 2460 | Trail Junction | River Trail
South 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 1-mile (1.6 km) 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 14 miles (23 km) long, with camping available by permit at Cottonwood Camp at 7 miles (11 km) and Bright Angel Camp at 14 miles (23 km). 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

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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

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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.[2]

### Camping

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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.[3]

Overnight camping areas near River Trail  Area  | Name  | Type  | Group(s)  |  | Parties  | Max people

|
|
|
|
|
|

CCG  | Cottonwood | Campground (summer)
Campground (winter) | 1
1 | and
or | 6
1 | 40

CBG  | 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.[4]

### Hazards

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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.[5]

## See also

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* List of trails in Grand Canyon National Park

## References

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1. ^ Grand Canyon National Park, Overnight Use of Trans-canyon Corridor Trails, Winter edition
2. ^ Backcountry Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park, Appendix G, Section C, p.39
3. ^ Grand Canyon National Park Use Areas
4. ^ Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Use Permit Procedure
5. ^ Grand Canyon National Park Summer Hiking

## External links

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* Official Grand Canyon National Park website
* Grand Canyon Explorer

Wikimedia Commons has media related to
North Kaibab Trail.

36°13′01″N 112°03′21″W﻿ / ﻿36.21706°N 112.05591°W﻿ / 36.21706; -112.05591

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Grand Canyon trails

Above-rim Trails|

* Bright Angel Point Trail
* Cape Final Trail
* Cape Royal Trail
* Cliff Spring Trail
* Fire Point Trail
* Francois Matthes Trail
* Ken Patrick Trail
* Komo Point Trail
* Rim Trail
* Tiyo Point Trail
* Transept Trail
* Uncle Jim Trail
* Walhalla Glades Trail
* Walhalla Spur Trail
* Widforss Trail

Below-rim Trails|

* Beamer Trail
* Bill Hall Trail
* Boucher Trail
* Bright Angel Trail
* Clear Creek Trail
* Deer Creek Trail
* Dripping Springs Trail
* Escalante Route
* Esplanade Route
* Grandview Trail
* Havasupai Trail
* Hermit Trail
* Kanab Creek Trail
* Lava Falls Trail
* Nankoweap Trail
* New Hance Trail
* North Bass Trail
* North Kaibab Trail
* Plateau Point Trail
* River Trail
* Royal Arch Route
* South Bass Trail
* South Canyon Trail
* South Kaibab Trail
* Tanner Trail
* Thunder River Trail
* Tonto Trail
* Tuckup Trail
* Waldron Trail

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