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Outdoors South Rim, Grand Canyon

Rim Trail

An outdoor spot in South Rim, Grand Canyon, free to visit and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

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Rim Trail in South Rim, Grand Canyon
Photo: Vicky Kapadia · Google

Why go

Mostly paved path linking overlooks from Yavapai Point toward Hermits Rest.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Grand Canyon, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 outdoor spots and 2 sights. 2 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with El Tovar Lounge and El Tovar Dining Room.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
South Rim
Price
Free
Time needed
2 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Grand Canyon, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    El Tovar Lounge

    Small lodge bar with a porch overlooking the rim.

    Drinks · 0.5 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    El Tovar Dining Room

    Historic 1905 lodge dining room steps from the rim.

    Food · 0.5 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Arizona Steakhouse

    Southwestern steakhouse at Bright Angel Lodge with big canyon windows.

    Food · 0.7 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Yavapai Geology Museum

    Glass-walled museum on the rim that explains the canyon's rock layers.

    Sight · 0.8 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Bright Angel Trail

    Classic switchback trail below the rim; turn around at the 1.5- or 3-mile resthouse.

    Activity · 0.9 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Mather Point

    First big overlook, a short walk from the main visitor center.

    Outdoors · 1.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Rim Trail is a stop on our Grand Canyon & Arizona route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More outdoor spots in Grand Canyon

Another curated outdoor spot in Grand Canyon. See the full Grand Canyon guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Grand Canyon run from 52°F in December to 99°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Rim Trail itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Grand Canyon from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Grand Canyon weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Rim Trail, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA
Coordinates
36.05886, -112.12824
Destination
Grand Canyon, Arizona

Rim Trail: quick answers

How much time do you need at Rim Trail?

Plan on about 2 hours at Rim Trail. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Rim Trail?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Ride the shuttle out and walk back to the village.

Is Rim Trail free?

Yes, we list Rim Trail as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Rim Trail?

Rim Trail is at Rim Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA, in South Rim. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Rim Trail?

Rim Trail appears on Grand Canyon & Arizona, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Rim Trail to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Grand Canyon.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.