This Northern Arizona Hike Is the Perfect Alternative to Grand Canyon’s Popular South Kaibab Trail

Northern Arizona is mind-blowingly beautiful. The Grand Canyon is the crown jewel, of course, but the region's many other state, federal, and tribal lands offer just as much history and stunning topography, best seen with boots on the ground. Two trails that I think showcase this part of the world particularly well are the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park and Sun Valley Mine Trail in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Both are beautiful in their own right and offer their own distinct advantages. You could certainly add one or the other to your bucket list, but I think you'd miss out if you didn't ultimately hike them both.

South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge, Grand Canyon National Park

• Distance: 3 miles, out and back
• AllTrails Rating: Moderately challenging
• Suitable For: In-shape visitors who want a taste of Grand Canyon's backcountry
• Best Time of Year to Hike: March through November

When folks think of our amazing national parks, Grand Canyon has to be one of the first that comes to mind. The Grand Canyon is a destination that people from around the world add to their bucket lists—and for good reason: It's a truly astounding place.

One of the best ways to get a little more from the experience is to leave the rim and venture into the canyon. If you're like me, though, and not quite ready for a rim-to-rim hike, you can get a taste of the inner canyon by heading down the South Kaibab Trail as far Cedar Ridge, taking in the views, then heading back up to the front country.

Bring plenty of water and sun protection on this exposed hike, but leave your pets at home: Unfortunately, they're not allowed on this trail. I recommend downloading the map on AllTrails+ before going, as well, so you can track your progress (in fact, the app allows you to download a map for the entire park at once, thanks to its Offline Parks feature).

AllTrails gives this section of Kaibab Trail a "moderate" rating, but you'll definitely need strong lungs and knees with the almost 1,200 feet of elevation gain over the 3-mile, out-and-back course. You'll descend a well-marked trail along a massive redrock fin from a large, designated parking area just east of the South Rim's main visitor center. Switchbacking along the trail, you'll be treated to sweeping views of the canyon on the way down to the Cedar Ridge viewpoint.

The trail, of course, continues down to the floor of the canyon and Phantom Ranch, where it crosses the Colorado River and ascends to the North Rim. You, on the other hand, will enjoy the views, drink some water, and hike back up to the parking lot. Expect to see plenty of other hikers on this section of the trail. No permit is needed for day hikes into the canyon, but a fee—or an America the Beautiful pass—is required to enter Grand Canyon National Park.

Sun Valley Mine Trail, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

• Distance: 2.3 miles, out and back
• AllTrails Rating: Moderately challenging
• Suitable For: Dog owners, history buffs, winter hikers
• Best Time of Year to Hike: October through April

The Sun Valley Mine Trailhead in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is about 50 miles, as the condor flies, from the South Kaibab Trailhead and likewise sits on the edge of a canyon carved by the Colorado River. Due to regional topography, however, the driving distance between the two points is just shy of 140 miles and takes about 2.5 hours. But that's okay—I wouldn't expect you to hike both trails on the same day, anyway. In fact, Sun Valley Mine is a perfect alternative trail to South Kaibab for those who visit northern Arizona in the winter months or who prefer to hike with their furry friends—or simply want to avoid the crowds.

The trail leaves from the Sun Valley Mine Trailhead and parking area off U.S. Route 89A, about 5 miles southwest of the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. The trail cuts straight from the parking area to the base of the cliffs, rising gradually as it goes. You'll gain about 500 feet of elevation over the 2.3-mile course, and the path can be rocky in places, which accounts for its "moderate" rating on AllTrails.

The reward is stunning views out over the Colorado Plateau and the Colorado River gorge. You'll also find some rusty, abandoned equipment at the old mine for which the trail is named, lending historic interest to the hike. Along those lines, pay attention to signs and watch out for unstable and open mine shafts.

The Vermilion Cliffs are formed by the southern edge of the Paria Plateau, rising 4,000 feet in places above the larger Colorado Plateau on which it sits. This means the Sun Valley Mine Trailhead, which lies at the base of the cliffs, is much lower in elevation than the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Believe me: This makes a huge difference. I've visited the South Rim in January, and it was cold, snowy, and the trails were icy. On the other hand, in winter, Vermilion Cliffs' low temperatures tend to be warmer than those of the Grand Canyon, and the monument sees only about half the annual snowfall (around 30 inches at higher elevations) that the national park to its south receives.

Sun Valley Mine Trail is also a great alternative if you love hiking with your best friend(s). Dogs are welcome on the trail and even allowed off-leash along some sections. The hike is exposed with little to no shade, so bring plenty of water for you and your dog, no matter what time of year you hike it. You'll also want to bring along sun protection, such as a hat and sunscreen when you hit the trail.

In my opinion, the shoulder seasons are really the sweet spot for this trail. I most recently visited in October, and the temperatures were pleasant, mid-60s, and perfect for hiking. Also, unlike Grand Canyon National Park, no fee is required to access Sun Valley Mine Trail and enjoy the spectacular sights and geography of the Colorado Plateau.

I think both trails belong on your bucket list. In fact, on the same October trip that I visited Vermilion Cliffs, I also stayed two nights at Grand Canyon National Park, and the hiking conditions were great on the South Kaibab Trail, as well.

Another thing both spots had in common was really bad cell service, so I was glad—as always—to have AllTrails+ downloaded on my phone. I've had my subscription for a few years now, and I lean on it pretty heavily—not only when I'm planning a hike but also when I'm out on the trail. On the South Kaibab and Sun Valley Mine hikes, I particularly appreciated the downloadable maps that I was able to drop into the app at my hotel and then pull up on the trail, even when I didn't have service. It's also super helpful to have access to trail reviews from AllTrails' 75 million-strong user base.

These are the features that keep me loyal to AllTrails+ (along with the super cool trail previews that fly you along the trail in 3D so you'll know what to expect). If you plan to hike either of the trails I've talked about here—or any trail, for that matter—you should have AllTrails+ on your smartphone, too.