River Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Summer temperatures at river level regularly exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit — the dark schist walls radiate heat like an oven. Carry more water than you think you need and watch for signs of heat exhaustion even on this short, flat stretch.
The trail is narrow with steep drop-offs to the river in several sections and has no guardrails. Mule trains have right of way — when you hear them coming, step to the uphill side of the trail and stand still until they pass.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Use this trail strategically: descend the steep South Kaibab (no water, no shade) and connect via the River Trail to ascend the longer but better-serviced Bright Angel Trail — it's the classic rim-to-rim-in-reverse loop and the most popular backpacking circuit in the canyon.
Hit the River Trail in early morning or late afternoon when the Inner Gorge walls create shade and the light on the Colorado turns from muddy brown to jade green — the color shift is dramatic and worth timing for.
Pause on the Kaibab Suspension Bridge and look upstream — the view of the Colorado cutting through the 1.7-billion-year-old Vishnu Basement Rocks is one of the most geologically significant sightlines on Earth, and most hikers rush right past it.