Easiest Planning Guide for the R2R Hike Grand Canyon

The Rim to Rim Trail in the Grand Canyon is one of the best hikes to do. Also known as the R2R, this hike takes you from the North to South rim (or vice versa). It can take an extra bit of planning though, so check out my guide!

What is the R2R Hike?

The Rim to Rim hike goes from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, down to the South Rim or Grand Canyon Village

• The R2R is a classic Grand Canyon hike, taking you from the North side to the South side of the Grand Canyon
• The top of North Rim is 8,297 ft and you descend down to Phantom Ranch which is 5,850 ft!
• It is a ~25 mile one-way hike (12-15 hours depending on your level of fitness)
• Because it’s one way, hikers will need to either organize transportation back, or hike all the way back
• The starting point is the same: North Kaibib Trail, but there are two alternatives. You can either go North Kaibib to Bright Angel, or North Kaibib to South Kaibib (2 miles shorter but has less shade and is generally a little harder). The split is at Phantom Ranch which is about half way into your journey. For first-timers, I recommend going North Kaibib to Bright Angel.

• You can day hike or stay overnight at the bottom of the Grand Canyon through the Phantom Ranch or camping
• Day hiking does not require a permit but overnight does (see permit regulations here)
• There are several water access points along the trail EXCPET on South Kaibib. You can always get water at Phantom Ranch however, sometimes the water fill up stations may be closed. For example when we hiked in October, they were all closed. Call ahead of time to check on the water stations, and bring extra just in case.

When Should I Hike the Grand Canyon?

The recommended season is from May to October.

When we went in mid-October, it was around 30 degrees and windy at the top of North Rim (not ideal) and became a lot warmer as we descended down. You do start above 8,000 ft after all! In the summer, temps can get above 100 degrees especially at the bottom of the Grand Canyon – which means you will have to pack a lot more water.

I personally like hiking in colder weather so doing the R2R in the Grand Canyon in October was my ideal time.

First Timer’s Hiking Guide for the Grand Canyon R2R

If this is your first time, I highly recommend the following itinerary:

• Hang in Kanab, Utah the night before
  • If this is your first time, you could even spend 1-2 days here!
  • Check out my winter itinerary in Kanab or my guide to the Bunting Trail
• Drive to North Kaibib Trail in the morning and park your car there
• Hike 14 miles to Phantom Ranch (all descending so it’s a fairly easy day)
• Stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch
• Wake up early the next morning and head out via Bright Angel trail (11 miles)
• Get a ride back from South Rim to your car at North Kaibib

To do this itinerary, you will need to plan the following:

• Get your reservation at the Phantom Ranch (it’s very popular)
• Find a ride with the Trans Canyon Shuttle

Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Overnight (There and Back)

A lot of folks will want to avoid the hassle of getting a ride back, because the drive is long and will hike there and back. As a fair warning, our transportation said that they get a lot of last-minute calls because people say they will hike there-and-back, and then when they get to South Rim say “there’s no way I’m doing that again,” getting stuck in South Rim for a couple days until they can find a ride 🙂

However, if you do want to do a there and back trip for your R2R hike, follow the exact itinerary above but find lodging at the Grand Canyon South Rim. Here are a few options:

• Bright Angel Lodge Cabins
• El Tovar Hotel
• Thunderbird Lodge

Grand Canyon RIm-to-Rim Packing List

To know what you need to pack for the R2R, you should know about the trail conditions:

• The trail is well-marked and is mostly dirt/loose rocks. Since you are descending, it could get a little slippery so you may want something better than worn-out running shoes but you may not need stiff hiking boots either
• The early season (May, October) can be cold at the top of the rim and pretty warm at the bottom
• In the summer, it can get super hot
• I didn’t experience any bugs and barely remember seeing insects at all

Here is my recommended gear for a 2 day, 1 night overnight trip on the Rim to Rim:

• Osprey 70L Xena Overnight Pack or the Osprey 45L Women’s Overnight Pack: 45L is honestly enough but if you want to make it a more luxurious overnight trip and pack extra gear, Osprey’s 70L is a good one
• Leki Corklite Trekking Poles – your knees will thank you on the descent 🙂
• Hoka One One Shoes: I stopped hiking in boots a couple years ago and now prefer something lighter. This brand is excellent because of it’s stability and mid-sole, but I recommend buying a few different models and sizes to find the best fit. I personally have the Evo Mafate 2.
• GSI Pinnacle 2 person stove set: If you are camping or want to cook your own food, this is my favorite stove set!
• MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter: You don’t need a water filter IMO for this trip because there are filtered fill up stations like at Phantom Ranch but if you want to be extra cautious this is my favorite
• Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag: I’ve had this for over 5 yeras and it’s still working great
• Sea to Summit Sleeping Pad: If you are camping, this is my go to sleeping pad to optimize for space.. otherwise
• Therma Rest Sleeping Pad: I prefer the cell foam sleeping pads when I head to shorter backpacking trips. The inflatable ones are easier to carry but I don’t sleep as well on them
• Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 person tent with mtnGLO: And lastly my favorite tent! It will be a little heavier for 2 people since it’s a 3 person, but it is SO comfy and I love the light feature inside
• MSR Dromlite 2L: For North Rim to Phantom Ranch, i packed 3L of water in October. If it’s summer you may need more! I usually pack a Dromlite to make it easy to drink water and also a Nalgene in case I need to pour water on something

One last tip for the R2R…

When you are about to reach Phantom Ranch, take a left off Clear Creek Trail. Climb up the switchbacks until you see a bench and hop around the bench to a lookout (it only fits around 2 people so be safe). Enjoy the views and eat a snack 🙂

Have more questions on backpacking the R2R hike in the Grand Canyon? Comment below!

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