AZT - Passage 38 - Grand Canyon Inner Gorge

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Passage 38 of the Arizona Trail is a full crossing of the Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab and North Kaibab trails---or what's otherwise known as Rim-to-Rim (R2R). This physically strenuous and awe-inspiring section follows a well-maintained trail that descends sharply from the South Rim to the Colorado River, and ascends steeply to the North Rim. Your hard work will be rewarded by the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon and what is possibly the most scenic section of the AZT!

• Arizona Trail (AZT)

No permits or reservations are required for day hiking in the national park, but permits are required for camping. Though walk-up permits are sometimes available from the park's Backcountry Office, it's recommended to obtain in advance through the online reservation system if you can.

A rim-to-rim run of the Grand Canyon (and rim-to-rim-to-rim) is becoming a common bucket-list feat, but its popularity need not undermine the intensity of this challenge. Train and prepare more than you think you need to before attempting a crossing or double crossing.

The journey begins on the South Kaibab Trail, a high-quality trail with scenic vistas, little shade, and no water. The trail makes a stunning descent of over 4,000 feet within the first six miles, following a series of switchbacks down the canyon wall to meet the mighty Colorado River.

After passing through Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon, the trail becomes the North Kaibab Trail, where it continues gently toward Cottonwood Campground. After this landmark, North Kaibab truly begins its arduous climb out of one of the world's deepest canyons. It ends at the North Kaibab Trail at an elevation of 8,000 feet, where temperatures remain cold and snow may persist into late spring.

There are no words or photographs that can convey the magnitude of the Grand Canyon's unique landscape. The only way to appreciate the canyon's grandeur is to hike into its depths, a place that gets fewer than one percent of the park's total annual visitors.