South Kaibab Trail

The steep way into the Grand Canyon. Unlike the older trails that follow side canyons, the South Kaibab was cut along a ridge line, so it stays on the open crest from Yaki Point all the way down and the canyon is in view the whole descent — through the Kaibab limestone, the Redwall, and finally the Vishnu schist at the river, rock two billion years apart in 10 km. [Route details] Start: South Kaibab trailhead, Yaki Point (2,183 m) End: Colorado River, Black Bridge (762 m) 10.5 km · descending 1,420 m [Good to know] - There is no water and almost no shade on this trail. The Park Service asks people not to go down and back up in one day, and most who walk it descend here and return by Bright Angel. - The climb back is the hard direction: 1,420 m, in canyon heat. - Elevation is sampled from a terrain model, not recorded on the ground.