| North Kaibab Trail | |
| Location: | Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States |
| Length Mi: | 14 |
| Trailheads: | Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon (North Rim) |
| Use: | Hiking Stock (mule use) |
| Elev Change Ft: | 5660 |
| Highest Name: | North Rim |
| Highest Ft: | 8060 |
| Lowest Name: | Colorado River |
| Lowest Ft: | 2400 |
| 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 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.
| 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 | Septic | Treated | ||
| 13.8 | 2480 | Bright Angel Campground | Utah Flats Route | Septic | Treated |
| 14 | 2460 | Trail Junction | Septic | Treated | |
The trailhead is at a parking area on Arizona State Route 67, about 1miles 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 14miles long, with camping available by permit at Cottonwood Camp at 7miles and Bright Angel Camp at 14miles. 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.
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.
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]
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]
| Area | Name | Type | Group(s) | Parties | Max people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCG | Cottonwood | Campground (summer) Campground (winter) | 1 1 | and or | 6 1 | 40 8 |
| 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 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]