Grand Canyon Day Hikes
Our Grand Canyon day hikes take you deep into the Grand Canyon on dramatic, stunning trails
Taking a day to absorb the immensity of the Grand Canyon is an experience you won’t soon forget! Consider a day hiking journey below the rim with one of our expert Grand Canyon hiking guides. Our Grand Canyon day hike tours include a picnic lunch, trail snacks, use of a top-notch backpack, use of trekking poles, and a professional Grand Canyon guide.
We offer private hikes on any of 5 South Rim trails listed below. Join us for a day of hiking you’ll never forget!
Grand Canyon Day Hike Tours
Trip Types
Grand Canyon Backpacking Trips
Grand Canyon Basecamp Tours
Trip Types
Grand Canyon Inn-based Tours
MORE ABOUT Grand Canyon Day HIKE Tours
IS A GRAND CANYON DAY HIKE TOUR FOR ME?
The Grand Canyon is a world-class hiking destination, and hiking below the rim to get a fuller experience of what the Canyon is all about is the best way to make the most of your visit. So, should you hike on your own or go with a guide company like Wildland Trekking? Guides are not required, so it’s definitely a choice. Guides help you maximize your experience by providing a higher level of safety, knowing when to hike for optimal temperatures, gauging how far to go based on guests’ abilities, providing gear, providing lunch and snacks, and helping make the Canyon come to life through stories and intepretation.
THE WILDLAND DAY HIKE EXPERIENCE
Most of our Grand Canyon day hikes meet at the South Rim (the Grand Canyon Discovery Tour includes transportation from Sedona or Flagstaff). Once you meet your guide you will make your way to the trailhead and, after a short orientation, begin hiking. Your guide will provide you with backpacks, trekking poles, and – in the winter – crampons. Throughout your hike you will learn about the geology of the Canyon, the Native American and pioneer history, the natural forces of erosion that formed and shaped the Grand Canyon, and more! We provide snacks while you hike and a tasty picnic lunch at a beautiful viewpoint. Eventually we’ll make our way back to the South Rim and the end of an amazing day.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT HIKE
Each hiking trail in the Grand Canyon provides something unique. The South Kaibab Trail is our most popular hike, and for good reason. It is a stunning hike down an exposed ridge with phenomenal views in all directions. The Bright Angel Trail is the Park’s most popular trail, and a great choice for summer hikes when it’s going to be hot, and for ambitious guests who want to try to make it to Plateau Point for an amazing view of the Colorado River. Grandview and Tanner Trails offer more off-the-beaten-path hikes on more rugged trails; they’re great for guests looking for more of a challenge and solitude. Interested in spending 3 of your Grand Canyon days hiking but don’t want to sleep in a tent? Guests can experience 3 days of hiking the amazing Grand Canyon while ending the night in a comfortable lodge with our Best of Grand Canyon Tour.
SUMMARY OF EACH HIKE
- South Kaibab Trail: this trail is the #1 hike to do if you’re only going to do one hike at the Grand Canyon. It was blasted out of sheer cliffs and a razor-edged ridge by the National Park Service in the 1920’s. It offers absolutely stunning 360 degree views, sheer drop-offs (but a nice wide, well-maintainted trail), amazing geological interpretation by our guides, a bathroom at the half-way point, and an amazing lunch spot overlooking the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. Read more about the South Kaibab Trail!
- Grand Canyon Discovery Tour: On this tour we hike the South Kaibab Trail but provide pick up in Sedona or Flagstaff and provide a full day tour that features viewpoints, a 5-7 hour hike, and a loop tour that goes out the East Entrance with a stop at the amazing Watchtower. This is a fantastic choice for people who want to have a comprehensive, all-day tour of the Canyon with transportation provided! Read more about the Grand Canyon Discovery Tour!
- Bright Angel Trail: Bright Angel Trail is the friendliest trail in the Grand Canyon, but also offers one of the best day hikes in the Canyon for fit, ambitious visitors. For families or folks interested in having an experience of hiking below the rim but not an extreme experience, we can turn around at 1.5 mile rest house or 3 mile rest house, both of which have water, shade and bathrooms. For people who want to push it and enjoy arguably the best view in the Canyon, we can hike to Plateau Point, which is 12 miles round trip. Read more about the Bright Angel Trail!
- Grand Canyon & Sedona Combo: This tour is a 2-day package with a day hike on the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon and a day hike in Sedona. The day hike in Sedona can be our Cathedral Rock Loop (we are not permitted to climb the rock) or the amazing Mitten Ridge Trail. Cathedrail is a bit easier, Mitten Ridge a bit more difficult. Read more about the Grand Canyon and Sedona Combo!
- Grandview Trail: Grandview Trail offers the opportunity to challenge yourself on a more remote trail. It is not recommended for families with younger children (under 12) or during the winter, as one section is very narrow with an extreme drop-off. We can hike all the way to Horseshoe Mesa for mining history and relics, including a 19th century rock cabin. This hike is fantastic if you want to have the Canyon more to yourself and want a full-day, more remote adventure. Read more about the Grandivew Trail!
- Tanner Trail: Tanner Trail is the most rugged hike we offer in the Canyon. It is remote, quiet and stunningly beautiful. If you’d like to experience the wilder side of the Canyon for a day, this tour is for you. Read more about the Tanner Trail!
GRAND CANYON VISITOR INFORMATION
TIPS FOR VISITING GRAND CANYON
- VISITING GRAND CANYON: Get info on what to do, when to visit, how to get there, best hikes, best tours and more.
- BEST TIME TO VISIT GRAND CANYON: Find detailed information about when to visit the Canyon based on what you want to do and see.
- WHAT TO SEE IN GRAND CANYON IN ONE DAY: Only have one day at Grand Canyon? Make the most of it by following our expert tips!
- BEST GRAND CANYON TOURS: Learn about the top tours and recommended companies for helicopter, rafting, cycling and more!
- BEST GRAND CANYON HIKES: Find out what our top 5 recommended day hikes are with recommended pack lists and more.
- TOP 5 GUIDED GRAND CANYON BACKPACKING TOURS: Read our article about our five most popular guided backpacking trips!
- 5 BEST GRAND CANYON BACKPACKING TRIPS: Read our article about what we think the 5 best backpacking trips are!
- HOW TO HIKE RIM TO RIM IN THE GRAND CANYON: Learn what it takes to hike Rim to Rim – training, packing, route information and more!
- TRAINING FOR GRAND CANYON HIKE: Information about training for your Grand Canyo hike, whether it’s with Wildland Trekking or on your own!
- GRAND CANYON BACKPACKING PERMITS: Learn about the complicated Grand Canyon backcountry permit system and how to apply.