Arizona · 2 days · 22 miles
South Kaibab to North Kaibab in 2 days.
Watch the film · 517K viewsReal pages from the guide. Tap one to see it big.
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Get Day 1 freeMy GPS recording of 2 days on a relief map. The numbers are where each day starts; the red dot is the finish. The full GPX files and the day maps come with the guide.
Elevation, start to finish: highest 8,340 ft (2,542 m), lowest 2,420 ft (738 m).
At the end of October 2019 I hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim: down the South Kaibab Trail to the Colorado River and a night at Bright Angel Campground, then up the North Kaibab Trail to the North Rim on Halloween. It's the trip from my film Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. This guide has my GPS files, maps and notes for both days, the permit lottery and the park rules, the Hikers' Express and the shuttle between the rims, water, heat and when to go, and what I paid. Read this first: since an August 2026 flash flood the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch are closed, with no reopening date, and the guide starts with where things stand.
Watch the film on YouTube (517K views).
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Here's what I carried in October 2019, what I'd take now, and what I filmed with.
From my film's original gear list. I found a scale right before I started: my pack was about 26 or 27 pounds with water and food and everything. At the end I weighed it again, and it was around 20 or 21.
My current kit for what this route needs: a big descent and climb, little shade, and cold rims.
What I filmed this trip with in 2019. My setup is smaller now (below). Check the drone rules in Permits and rules before you fly.
Since September 2026 I film with a smaller setup: the Pocket 4 and the Mic 3 on the trail, and the Mini 5 Pro in the air.
Everything I carry now: my gear page.
Free sample + packing list
South Kaibab Trailhead to Bright Angel Campground
The whole day page from the guide as a PDF, plus my camping packing list: the 42 things I carry, with a note on each. The PDF opens right away and both come by email. You'll also get my emails about new guides and trips, a few a year.
High Peaks Wilderness, New York
2 days · 18 miles · lean-to
A 2-day loop over Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak from the Adirondak Loj in New York's High Peaks, with a night at Lake Colden, plus a 3-day traverse from Keene Valley.
Southern California
2 days · 42 miles · Catalina Island
A 2-day hike across Santa Catalina Island, California, on the Trans-Catalina Trail: from Avalon to Little Harbor, then to Two Harbors by way of the Silver Peak Trail and Parsons Landing.
Arizona
2 days · 26 miles · Grand Canyon
A 2-day hike in the Grand Canyon on the Tonto Trail: down the Hermit Trail from Hermits Rest, east on the Tonto Trail to Havasupai Gardens, and out the Bright Angel Trail.
I'm making guides for more of my hikes, and I host a group trip about once a year. Get an email when a new guide or trip is out. A few emails a year.