Kaibab National Forest Guide

Kaibab National Forest Hiking Trails

• Sycamore Rim Trail

  Stretching for more than 12 miles, the Sycamore Rim Trail offers stunning canyon views, water crossings, and more. There are five trailheads along the loop, so you can design a hike that works for your skill level and available time. Hike through stands of ponderosa pines, peer down steep rock cliffs, and pick your way across rocky riverbanks. One of the most popular sites along the trail is Sycamore Falls, a gorgeous waterfall that appears when the snow melts and after one of Arizona's monsoon rainstorms. Nearby, you'll often see rock climbers navigating the steep rock faces.

  Length: 12.1 miles round-trip

  Intensity: Moderate

• Arizona Trail

  The Arizona Trail is popular with long-haul backpackers, but it's also a great place for a day hike. The entire route is 800 miles long, and 50 miles pass through the Kaibab National Forest. The best place to start is the East Rim Trailhead, which gives you access to the oldest section of the trail. For a quick hike, walk out to the East Rim Viewpoint to enjoy the gorgeous views of House Rock Valley and the Saddle Mountain Wilderness across the canyon. No matter how far you go, you'll see fantastic scenery, juniper forests, and beautiful open areas with remarkable canyon vistas.

  Length: 50 miles

  Intensity: Moderate

• Red Butte Trail

  If you're up for a short but challenging climb, take the Red Butte Trail to the top of the namesake butte. While most of the trail is relatively moderate, the last 0.5 mile is steep but manageable. The trail climbs up to a fire lookout tower; from here, you can see for miles in every direction. 

  Length: 2.5 miles round-trip

  Intensity: Moderate to Difficult

• Rainbow Rim Trail

  Want to see the Grand Canyon without entering the national park? The Rainbow Rim Trail is the perfect spot. Hike through a ponderosa forest and out to five different viewpoints. From each one, you'll get a dramatically different view of the remarkable rock formations in the canyon. Don't be intimidated by the length of the trail — you can drive out to the trailhead at each of the viewpoints and do shorter day hikes. Keep in mind that this is a remote section of the forest, so there are no services; bring plenty of water. The trail itself is mostly singletrack, and you may see a local trail runner or two out for a workout.

  Length: 27.5 miles

  Intensity: Moderate

• Snake Gulch-Kanab Creek Trail

  Experience the remarkable, wild beauty of the Kaibab National Forest on the Snake Gulch-Kanab Creek Trail. This stunning route takes you through colorful canyons, under rock cliffs, and past a historic homestead in the wilderness. Keep an eye out for the ancient Native American pictographs that dot the cliffs. The end of Jensen Canyon is a great place to turn around; after this, the trail leaves the creek and travels through challenging terrain.

  Length: 21.5 miles

  Intensity: Moderate to Difficult

• Keyhole Sink Trail

  The Keyhole Sink Trail is one of the more popular hiking trails in the Kaibab National Forest. It's short and flat, with minimal elevation gain, so it's a great option for families, kids, and beginning hikers. The route travels through a lovely forest, offering plenty of shade. At the end, you can climb down into the Keyhole Sink, which is a lava flow that's shaped like a keyhole, and into a box canyon. About 1,000 years ago, ancient indigenous people carved drawings into the rock walls; keep an eye out for them as you reach the end of the trail. If you sit still for long enough, you may also see deer and other wildlife as they come down to drink from the creek. In the winter, rent cross-country skis from a shop in Flagstaff to explore the trail.

  Length: 3 miles round-trip

  Intensity: Easy