Skeleton Point via South Kaibab Trail

Route Description for Skeleton Point via South Kaibab Trail

The South Kaibab Trail is the second-most visited trail in the entire Grand Canyon. With several viewpoints accessible without any extreme hiking, it’s a great trail to wander down to take in the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

Skeleton Point is the furthest you can go on the South Kaibab Trail without navigating extreme terrain, so it’s really the best view the average hiker can enjoy before things start to get steep. It’s still rated as hard, but when you peer over the edge at the switchbacks below, you’ll see what “steep” really looks like in the Grand Canyon! That being said, this route is 1 m wide and the gradient averages at 10%, so it’s not exposed or technical.

Skeleton Point shows off the Grand Canyon from the South Rim, which is where most visitors to the canyon go. There may be mules on this trail packing out trash from Phantom Ranch. Should you come up to mules, listen to the handler’s directions on how to pass them. If you come up from behind, just announce yourself and listen for instructions on how to pass once it’s safe to do so.
The trailhead isn’t accessible by private vehicle, so you’ll need to take the orange shuttle or the hiker’s express shuttle. There’s a lot just east of Yaki Point Road that you can use to access the trailhead as well.

From the trailhead, you’ll hike out along the ridge. About a half-mile into the outbound trip, you’ll pass Yaki Point on your right, a popular viewpoint. At the point, look out over the amazing view to the east. Ahead of you is Cedar Ridge, a popular turnaround point for casual hikers.

Ahead of Cedar Ridge is O’Neill Butte, from which there’s plenty of canyon to appreciate in almost all directions. Hiking around the east side of the butte, you’ll continue the last few steps to Skeleton Point. Look out at Buddha Temple, Isis Temple, The Colonnade, and Brahma Temple across the Colorado River.

Once you’re ready to head back, you’ll simply retrace your steps back to the trailhead and either walk back to where you parked or take the shuttle back.

Once you’re done, consider a stop into the Yavapai Museum of Geology on the South Rim to learn more about the fascinating geological history of the canyon.

Hiking Route Highlights

Grand Canyon

Revealing millions of years of geological history, the layered and massive Grand Canyon is a 3060 square mile canyon in Arizona. The canyon is 445.8 km long, up to 29.0 km wide and is over 1,829 m at its deepest point. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the canyon is now one of the world’s top natural attractions, bringing about 5 million visitors to its rim every year. Indigenous people have inhabited the canyon for many years, some considering it to be a holy site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you park for the South Kaibab Trail?

The best way to access the trailhead is to park in the visitor parking at the South Rim and take the orange shuttle to the trailhead, which is not accessible by private vehicle.

How scary is the South Kaibab Trail?

While further sections of the trail might be intimidating to hikers who have a fear of heights, the hike to Skeleton Point is manageable for most.

How far is Skeleton Point?

It’s just under 4.8 km to Skeleton Point.

Insider Hints for Skeleton Point via South Kaibab Trail

• You’ll need a pass to visit the Grand Canyon. Passes can be purchased ahead of time online or at the park gates.
• It can take a long time to get through the park gates during normal visiting hours, so we recommend planning to arrive a bit early.
• The shuttles are free to use and run on a frequent, consistent schedule.