10 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the Northwest Rim Trail: 18.6 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 2,100 ft of climbing · 8,346 ft–10,190 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse · seasonal: Winter seasonal closure dependent on current conditions
Hike the Northwest Rim Trail 18.6 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up
9-10 Hours · no dogs · entrance fee applies · reservation required · Spring, Summer, Fall · season The backcountry is closed to vehicular access from November 15 - May 14.
Start Northwest Rim Trail
Spectacular views along the Northwest Rim Trail. Photo: NPS/C. Rae
While this 18.6-mile (29.9 km) out-and-back trail is the longest in the park, it is not steep, and it has much to offer: pretty, extensive aspen groves, hidden high meadows, excellent opportunities for elk sightings, and rarely seen views of Redondo Peak. This is a great trail for trail runners and mountain bikers.
Elevation: 8,343-10,189 feet
Accessibility This unpaved, natural surface trail has steep grades and possible down trees. Service animals permitted.
The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.
