Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
South Kaibab to Ooh Aah Point
A short descent on the South Kaibab to the Grand Canyon's best sunrise viewpoint.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Length
- 1.8 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 600 ft
- Duration
- 1–2
- Best Season
- Year-round
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Features
- Sunrise viewpoint, Inner canyon preview
About the trail
Ooh Aah Point lives up to its name. After a quick 0.9 mile descent on the broad South Kaibab Trail, the trail rounds a corner and the entire inner Grand Canyon spreads out in front of you. It's the perfect taste of below-the-rim hiking without the commitment of Bright Angel. Catch sunrise here.
Trailhead map & directions
Trailhead: 36.0532, -112.0830Get directions →
Turn-by-turn route
- Take the Kaibab Rim shuttle (Orange Route) to the South Kaibab Trailhead — there is no private parking.
- Descend the trail's distinctive log steps.
- Reach Ooh Aah Point at 0.9 miles.
- Climb back to the rim — remember, going down is optional, coming up is mandatory.
Parking
No trailhead parking. Use the Orange Route shuttle from Grand Canyon Village.
Tips from the trail
- There is no water on this trail; carry at least 1 liter.
- Continue another mile to Cedar Ridge for a more substantial turnaround.
- Sunrise here is more dramatic than from any rim viewpoint.
More in Arizona
Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
AZGrand Canyon Village, Arizona
Descend into the Grand Canyon on its most maintained corridor trail.
Strenuous12.2 mi3,080 ft gain
Havasu Falls Trail
AZSupai, Arizona
Otherworldly turquoise waterfalls on the Havasupai Reservation.
Hard20 mi2,400 ft gainPermit
Havasu Falls
AZSupai, Arizona
Backpack to a turquoise oasis on the Havasupai reservation deep in the Grand Canyon.
Hard20 mi2,400 ft gainPermit