How to Handle the Heat In The Grand Canyon

The grandeur of the Grand Canyon is clearly on full display, but what might not always be as apparent are the other elements that are often also on full display – most notably the heat.  While those that mainly stick to the rims may not notice the heat, it is notorious for those that hike below the rims, on the inner corridor trails.  If you are planning a hike on any of the 3 inner corridor trails, or a combination of them such as a Rim to River hike or Rim to Rim hike, you need to be extremely familiar with what to expect in terms of heat in the inner canyon, and how to prepare for it.  Below you will find a guide outlining 8 strategies for how to handle the heat in the Grand Canyon!

 

Disclosure: Below are some affiliate links-these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t make any recommendations on this page that I haven’t tested or personally used! Enjoy this guide to 8 ways to handle the heat in the Grand Canyon!

 

 

How to Handle the Heat in the Grand Canyon

 

Most people safely assume that hiking in the Grand Canyon can be hot.  It is, after all, pretty obviously a desert environment, until you get up to the North Rim.  What most people may underestimate is JUST HOW HOT it can be inside the Grand Canyon, and this is vitally important for people planning long hikes or significant amounts of time below the rims, such as Rim to River hikes or Rim to Rim hikes.  

 

The inner corridor trails in particular can literally be lethal, especially in the warmer months.  Which for the Grand Canyon, can be May through October.  And what do I mean by lethal?  Midday temperatures reaching the 120’s degrees Fahrenheit at the bottom easily.  

 

What a lot of other people may also not realize is that if you are planning to spend a lot of time below the cooler upper rims, there are certain sections deep in the canyon where you may be exposed to heat longer than you might imagine.  For example, if you are hiking a Rim to Rim, you’ll be trekking across the bottom of the Grand Canyon for a full 8-ish miles.  That’s not a short amount of time, especially if you find yourself in the midday sun and heat.  3 hours in exposed, hot, 100 degree temperatures is what gets people into trouble.  So not only is it important to familiarize yourself with your intended trails, but also to learn how to mitigate the heat in the Grand Canyon, especially if you are undertaking inner corridor hiking below the rim in the warmer months.  

 

 

 

The Hottest and Most Exposed Parts of the Grand Canyon’s Inner Corridor Trails

 

Why the focus on the inner corridor trails specifically?  Because hiking on the rims is far less dangerous.  For starters, hiking along the top of the North Rim is pleasant even in summer, with the overall cooler temps thanks to the more northerly location and higher elevation.  Secondly, for those hiking along the South Rim, you’ll be much closer to self-rescue abilities at the top.  There is the free park shuttle, access to lodging and dining, and a plethora of shorter day hikes.  

 

Unlike the rims, inner canyon hiking is much more strenuous, and much harder to self-rescue yourself from.  Take, for example, a 21 – 24 mile Rim to Rim hike.  Once you commit, you’ve committed.  Going down is optional, hiking out is mandatory.  If you start to struggle with the heat on mile 11, you’re gonna be in trouble.  

 

Inner canyon hiking in the Grand Canyon involves immense distances, exposure, and the increased likelihood for intense heat.  Even in October!  This past year, the 1st week of October still saw temperatures at the bottom of the canyon hovering around 107 degrees Fahrenheit at midday!

 

 

The Best Time to Hike in the Grand Canyon’s Inner Corridor Trails

 

Summer is peak hiking time in the Grand Canyon, even with the heat and the warnings.  This includes inner corridor hikes like Rim to Rivers and Rim to Rims.  In fact, the iconic Rim to Rim is almost always completed between May 15th – October 15th, when the North Rim is open and a full Rim to Rim is doable.  Which is unfortunate, because these happen to be the hottest months inside the canyon.  

 

In an ideal world, the best time to hike the inner corridor trails would be late fall, such as November, or spring, such as April.  The South Rim is open daily year round, so it’s completely realistic to hike the top of the rims at any time.  But winter can bring ice and snow to the inner canyon trails, making them a little more treacherous.  So the true ideal window for inner canyon hiking is relatively small, in a perfect world.  

 

But what if summer’s your only time available?  As a former teacher, I can relate.  What can you do about the heat?  I’m going to present 8 strategies to handle the heat in the Grand Canyon!

 

 

The Hottest and Most Exposed Parts of the Inner Corridor Trails

 

Again, if you are hiking only along the tops of either rim, this information will be far less important for you to soak up.  Only if you are planning to immerse yourself below the rims, especially during the warmer months, does this information become critical to your planning and prepping!

 

Between May – October, any part of the inner corridor trails can be hot, relatively speaking.  But there are a certain few areas that are downright lethal, that you need to tailor your hiking plans around and know how to handle!

 

You need to know what the 3 inner corridor trails are:

• The North Kaibab Trail (North Rim)
• The South Kaibab Trail (South Rim)
• The Bright Angel Trail (South Rim)

 

All 3 of these inner corridor trails connect at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, at the Colorado River / Bright Angel Campground / Phantom Ranch.  The images below, courtesy of the NPS, provide a good visual of what this intersection looks like.  These 3 inner corridor trails also contain some of the hottest and most exposed – therefore the most dangerous – portions of inner canyon hiking.  

 

 

 

 

#1: The BOX and the Frying Pan (on the North Kaibab Trail)

 

The BOX and the Frying Pan are not “official” landmarks, but you need to know about them.  They’re actually next door neighbors to each other, both found along the North Kaibab Trail.  They occur along the 8-ish mile long stretch of the canyon bottom, basically between Manzanita Rest Area and Phantom Ranch.  And together, they are often considered the hottest and most dangerous portion of inner canyon hiking, especially for Rim to Rim hikers.  

 

If you are hiking from the South Rim to the North Rim, you’ll encounter the BOX right after leaving Phantom Ranch on the North Kaibab Trail.  This portion of the trail becomes rapidly enclosed in tall, converging canyon walls, which as the day progress and the temperatures warm, literally acts as an oven.  

 

The Frying Pan occurs right after the BOX.  Again, there’s no official landmark or official “start” of the Frying Pan, but you’ll notice it when the walls of the BOX begin to open up to a wide expanse of open canyon floor.  If you’re caught here in full sun and hot temps, it can be unrelenting exposure.  

 

To be safe, it’s best to be aware, have a plan, and be extra vigilant between Manzanita Rest Area and Phantom Ranch (or vice versa), which basically encompasses all of the BOX and Frying Pan portions of the canyon floor.  

 

 

 

#2: The South Kaibab Trail

 

The South Kaibab Trail has a few unique qualities that can make its entire 7 miles one way tough in terms of heat and exposure, depending on how you approach it.  

 

• There is NO WATER on the South Kaibab Trail (between the trailhead and the bottom)
• It is FULLY EXPOSED with no shade

 

Bottom line – hiking any part of the South Kaibab Trail can be tough if you are doing it in the summer months and at a time of day where there is full exposure.  It is NEVER recommended to finish an inner canyon hike by ascending the South Kaibab Trail for this very reason.  Descending the South Kaibab Trail is much safer, particularly in the early morning.  If you are planning an ascent, it’s best to do so at night, or not during the summer months.  

 

 

 

#3: The Devils Corkscrew (on the Bright Angel Trail)

 

This ominously named portion of the Rim to Rim hike shows up on the Bright Angel Trail, between River Resthouse and Havasupai Garden Campground, specifically about 2 miles after crossing the silver suspension bridge over the Colorado River onto the South Rim side. 

 

Why is this section a concern with the heat?  This series of switchbacks is almost entirely exposed.  And for hikers that might be ending their day hiking up the South Rim, such as on a North to South Rim to Rim (the route I personally recommend for 1st time Rim to Rim hikers), you’ll possibly hit these switchbacks during the second half of the day, as the temperatures are warming. Heat + exposure + steep climbing.  Of all the tough, hot, and exposed parts of inner canyon hiking, this one actually tends to get to me the most.  I’ve struggled here on Rim to Rims and Rim to Rivers, even more so than in other sections of the inner canyon.  It doesn’t help that if you are hiking a North to South route on a Rim to Rim, for example, you’ll hit this section later in the day when you’re also potentially more tired.  

 

 

So how do you handle these 4 portions of the inner canyon trails?  Here’s 8 ways!

 

 

8 Heat Strategies for the Grand Canyon

 

 #1: Timing – this includes what time of year you plan to hike, what time of day you plan to hike, and building a timeframe and itinerary around your own pace.  Then keeping that pace to ensure getting through the hottest parts of your inner canyon hike.  I generally recommend against inner canyon hiking, including Rim to Rims and Rim to Rivers, in June, July, or August.  Late May and September are still iffy.  Though it can be done.  In 2024, the 1st week of October was still seeing 100+ temps at Phantom Ranch.  If you want to hike in the inner canyon, the second part of October through mid November is generally your best bet.  If you’re hiking from rim to rim, you’ll need to know that arranging logistics on the North Rim becomes more complicated when the North Rim borders of the park become day use only on October 15th.  But you can still do inner canyon hiking past that date, it just takes a little more logistical legwork.  The South Rim is open daily year round, but keep in mind that heading into the canyon in the heart of winter may encounter ice and snow, which can make the inner canyon trails more treacherous.  

  

As far as timing the day of, that also depends on which trails you’re hiking, and how long you intend to be hiking in the inner canyon.  Generally speaking, if you are planning to hike into the canyon during the warmer months (May-October), the earlier the better.  Especially if you are attempting the 21 – 24 mile long Rim to Rim hike. In that case, you’ll want to leave early enough to get through the Frying Pan and the Box by 10 am, when you begin to lose the shade and the temperatures increase dramatically.  Knowing when to leave involves knowing your average pace, based off of your training hikes, in order to know how long it will take you on average to reach Phantom Ranch.  For example, if you hike 3mph on average on downhills and flats, then you would be safe leaving around 5 am and giving yourself 5 hours to get through the Frying Pan and the Box to reach Phantom Ranch. Earlier doesn’t hurt though.  3 and 4 am starts are very common for longer inner canyon hikes. Timing can also involve “waiting out” the heat.  For example, if you are planning to hike up the Bright Angel Trail, you’re going to encounter those exposed Devils Corkscrew switchbacks.  If you find yourself in a situation where you’re going to approach them at midday, you can choose to wait at Phantom Ranch until later in the afternoon, and tackle the Devils Corkscrews once the switchbacks start to receive welcome shade.  In that case, just make sure you have a headlamp ready for a night finish at the top!  

 

Other timing considerations you could make to avoid the heat are hiking at night!

 

#2: Pacing – this just means that you should maintain an appropriate pace that matches what your planned timing is.  If you are planning a Rim to Rim from the North Rim to the South, and are planning to leave the North Rim at 5 AM, and you want to be through the BOX by 10 AM, your pace needs to match those intentions.  So make sure that your pace supports what your intended timeframe is.  There is an argument to be made for maintaining a healthy pace during inner canyon hiking, when the goal is to avoid the hottest and most exposed portions and parts of the day..  

 

#3: Heat Acclimation – for lengthy inner canyon hikes, heat acclimation can help greatly, when done safely.  Start slow and build gradually.  Do an easy walk in hot temperatures for 15 minutes.  Then 20 minutes.  Then 30 minutes.  Then progress to harder hikes, continuing to work up in gradual increments, and always listening to your body and prioritizing safety.  

You can also utilize a sauna in the same way, in slow and gradual increments, to help build heat acclimation.  

 

And as always, don’t undertake heat acclimation, or inner canyon hiking in general, without a solid hydration and fueling plan, which includes electrolyte and sodium replacement, as well as the right layers, gear, and sun protection.  I’ll get into these more individually next.  

 

#4: Environmental Protection – the basics like light colored clothing, breathable clothing, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, sunshirts, and especially cooling towels like this popular one that you can use to soak and cool off with.  Or just do what I do and hike in a cotton shirt that you can take off, soak in water, and then put back on – without wringing it out!  This will keep your core temperature cooler for longer.  Some hikers have even started using umbrellas to hike with.  While I haven’t used one personally, I won’t knock it, as I believe it makes total sense for this type of hike.  

 

#5: Cooling Methods – the big one here is to have a way to utilize the natural cooling methods you will frequently encounter – the streams.  The inner canyon and the bottom of the canyon have a surprising amount of natural water sources in the form of creeks and streams, and even a couple small waterfalls.  A cotton shirt or cooling towel is the best way to take advantage of cooling this way.  Don’t be afraid to really soak yourself.  Don’t wring the water out, just throw it on and go. These natural streams and creeks also provide a valuable backup hydration source, which is a must since the pipeline that supports the inner canyon is often unexpectedly shut off for repairs.  Always have a backup filter to take advantage of natural drinking sources.

 

#6: Water Sources – this is basically another reference to #5.  Know that there are plenty of natural water sources you can utilize for both filtering water and dousing yourself with water to cool off on the inner corridor trails, with the exception of South Kaibab.  The South Kaibab Trail has water at the trailhead, and then not again until you reach the bottom.  Natural water sources, as well as manmade spigots, are available along the North Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail in surprising amounts. Take proactive advantage of them to combat the heat!  Hydrate and cool yourself by dousing your clothes or that cooling towel. 

 

#7: Fabrics – most of the time cotton is to be avoided at all costs while hiking.  But cotton in the dry, arid environment of the canyon actually helps with evaporative cooling because it holds in the cold for so long.  Other fabric tips include not wearing anything too bulky or heavy, and please don’t wear all black!

 

#8: Hydration and fueling, including electrolyte and sodium replacement – this is a biggie, perhaps the most important.  If you are hiking in the inner canyon when it’s warmer, you NEED to have a solid hydration and fueling plan!  This is something you need to implement and train with beforehand so you know what works for you. 

 

You need hiking snacks to fuel you, but you also need some kind of electrolyte and sodium replacement plan!  This can include salty snacks, electrolyte drink mixes, electrolyte chews or tablets, salt tablets, pickle juice, and natural electrolytes like coconut water.  Use something! Most likely, a balance of something.  You don’t necessarily need to use all the things I just mentioned, but figure out a plan that uses at least a couple.  For example, electrolyte drink mixes don’t work for me.  What works for me are the right salty snacks, the occasional salt tablet, pickle juice, and coconut water. 

 

So what kind of fueling and hydration plan do I use on training hikes, as well as on inner canyon hikes?  I prefer snacks that:

• -provide energy
• -nutrient dense
• -carb dense
• -help maintain sodium and electrolyte balances
• -lightweight
• -easy to pack
• -minimal trash
• -sound good
• -morale boosting

 

As far as hiking snacks go, there’s a lot of options, but the bottom line is to know what works ahead of time! Never try anything new the morning of a big hike. Here’s a couple snacks I regularly on big hikes below the rims:

• Squeezable peanut butter pouches
• Squeezable applesauce pouches
• Nuts / Granola / Trail mix (careful of how much chocolate because it might melt!)
• Beef Jerky / Beef Sticks
• Tuna packets with or w/out crackers
• RX bars
• Honey Stinger Stroopwaffels
• Olives
• Gu Energy Gels or energy chews
• Fruit (apples, oranges, grapes, bananas)
• Dried fruit (dates (my favorite), cranberry, pineapple, apricot)
• Peanut Butter Pretzels
• Boiled and salted baby potatoes
• Chips
• Candy or candy bars (Paydays don’t melt and have protein from peanuts)
• Sandwiches – pb&j / meat and cheese  / tuna and mayonnaise 
• Pickle Juice Shots
• Coconut Water
• Electrolyte Chews / Electrolyte Tabs
• Electrolyte Mixes (LMNT, Liquid IV, Tailwind, Nuun tablets, etc)
• Gatorade / Gatorade packets
• Salt Sticks
• Glucose Tablets

 

Figuring out your fueling plan is a bit like putting together a puzzle, and you have to be willing to do the work ahead of time.  Different snacks and fuels work for different people.  But here’s the bottom line.

 

Not only do you need to be mindful of fueling your body, but you also need to be mindful of balancing your electrolytes and sodium levels and replenishing them (along with hydration).  That’s why my snacks / fuels tend to be a balance of salty snacks, snacks that sound good, snacks that are a morale boost, and snacks that are energy boosts.  On average, I can generally go about 2 hours before my 1st snack, and then I’ll snack probably once an hour, but it’s not a sit down meal.  It’s a handful or two of on the go snacking.  

 

In addition, if it’s an all day hike like a Rim to Rim, I always stop somewhere midway and have an actually “meal” break. This doesn’t have to be elaborate, but just something more substantial. LIke a couple pb and j sandwiches, or meat and cheese sandwiches, or tuna and mayonnaise on a bagel.  

 

In the summer especially, it is critical that you always address sodium and electrolyte replacement in some form. While my stash of snacks may look different from hike to hike, I always have a couple of snacks that specifically are there to help replenish sodium and electrolytes, in addition to other roles they might play.  

 

A few of my most regular players for this role include:

• Chips
• Olives
• Beef Sticks
• Peanut Butter Pretzels
• Boiled and salted baby potatoes

 

Some of these snacks, for example, are doing the double job of carbs and sodium replacement, like boiled and salted potatoes.  Others are there for morale boosts and sodium replacement, like chips.

 

Morale boosters and foods that sound good are important, but if you can get away with them also being beneficial in some form, even better.  Not that I don’t occasionally enjoy a candy bar in the Grand Canyon (Paydays are great because they don’t melt).  Dried fruit is one of my favorite morale boosters, but dried fruits like dates also happen to be big carb boosts.  Sometimes I also need something fresh to “break things up”, and I’ll bring some good portable fruits like apple slices, grapes, or oranges.  

 

I’ll also carry those energy boosts like energy gels and energy chews, glucose tablets, or Honey Stinger Stroopwafels.  These are typically secondary players as I prefer more “real” food fuels, but they are good to have and work great for lots of people.  

 

Also, consider any electrolyte and sodium replacement supplements you might want to use.  I do NOT recommend attempting a long inner canyon hike, especially in the warmer months, with just plain water.  It is completely possible, but at least carry an electrolyte supplement system that has worked well for you in training.  And always test them out before.  Some electrolytes do not always agree with everyone (in fact some of the popular mixes make me sick to my stomach), but they work for a lot of people. 

 

You can do powder mixes that you can add to your water, like LMNT, Liquid IV, Tailwind, or NUUN tablets, or try chewable electrolyte tablets, and salt caps.  Replenishing your electrolytes is important in some form.  A simple Gatorade works great for me a lot of times as well.  I enjoy bringing a coconut water for any longer break I might take, which is a great source of natural electrolytes.  And I’m obsessed with pickle juice shots – I blame trail racing aid stations for that!

 

You’ll notice pretty much all of these recommendations are shelf-stable, lightweight, compact, and easy to pack.  Keep in mind that you also have to carry out all your trash from the inner corridor trails.

 

Whatever you do, do NOT try something new for the first time the morning of your hike!  I learned that the hard way on one of my Rim to Rim hikes years ago when I broke my cardinal rule and used an electrolyte mix that I’d never used before – and had an absolutely miserable hike until I realized that was the problem and switched to plain water.  Practice your fueling, hydration, and supplement plan before heading down into the canyon, especially if you are taking on a longer hike in warmer months.  Check out this article on the best ways to fuel and hydrate for canyon hiking for more inspiration.  Figure out what works for you in terms of fueling and hydration, and, just as importantly, what might NOT work for you!

 

 

 

And there you have it, 8 strategies for helping you handle the heat inside the Grand Canyon!  Here’s to a safe hike the next time you find yourself there!

 

RELATED RESOURCES:

• 1st Timers Guide to Hiking Rim to Rim in One Day
• How to Hike Rim to River in the Grand Canyon
• Best Ways to Fuel and Hydrate for a Rim to Rim Hike
• Toughest Parts of a Rim to Rim Hike
• 1st Timers VISUAL Guidebook to the Rim to Rim Hike
• Coming Soon – Rim to Rim VIDEO COURSE for 1st Timers
• How Long Do I Need to Train for a Rim to Rim Hike?
• 1:1 Coaching Plans for the Rim to Rim Hike
• The 3 Inner Corridor Trails in Grand Canyon National Park
• Complete Rim to Rim Packing List

 

 

 

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