Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
History
Originally surveyed in 1902 by Francois Emile Matthes and completed in 1904 the old Bright Angel trail was the main access on the North Rim into the Grand Canyon.
The trail was abandoned in 1920 when the Roaring Springs Trail was built, which is now the official North Kaibab Trail. The National Park Service took over the trail in 1928.
When my good friend and fellow adventurer Matt asked me to join him on this journey the thought of hiking into the Grand Canyon on a trail that hasn’t been maintained for over 100 years was immediately appealing.
Starting at the North Kaibab (Roaring Springs) trailhead. We then took the Ken Patrick trail for just under 4 miles where it meets the Old Bright Angel trail.
That’s where the real “fun”starts. As you begin to descend into the Canyon the overgrown vegetation is the first real obstacle. It gives a whole new meaning to the term “bushwhacking”. As you make your way further down the canyon the vegetation subsides a bit but the “trail” is very hard to follow. I’ve hiked on game trails more defined than this. 100 years of erosion has taken its toll. We had gps navigation and a good ol’ paper map to keep us on course. Let me be very clear when I say THIS HIKE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. The footage I was able to capture doesn’t really show the more technical sections. I was focusing on safely moving through the terrain more than shooting video when things were getting “spicy”. If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon a few times and have experience with off trail navigation then this might be in your comfort zone. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon before this is definitely not the hike for you.
Be safe out there.
History
Originally surveyed in 1902 by Francois Emile Matthes and completed in 1904 the old Bright Angel trail was the main access on the North Rim into the Grand Canyon.
The trail was abandoned in 1920 when the Roaring Springs Trail was built, which is now the official North Kaibab Trail. The National Park Service took over the trail in 1928.
When my good friend and fellow adventurer Matt asked me to join him on this journey the thought of hiking into the Grand Canyon on a trail that hasn’t been maintained for over 100 years was immediately appealing.
Starting at the North Kaibab (Roaring Springs) trailhead. We then took the Ken Patrick trail for just under 4 miles where it meets the Old Bright Angel trail.
That’s where the real “fun”starts. As you begin to descend into the Canyon the overgrown vegetation is the first real obstacle. It gives a whole new meaning to the term “bushwhacking”. As you make your way further down the canyon the vegetation subsides a bit but the “trail” is very hard to follow. I’ve hiked on game trails more defined than this. 100 years of erosion has taken its toll. We had gps navigation and a good ol’ paper map to keep us on course. Let me be very clear when I say THIS HIKE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. The footage I was able to capture doesn’t really show the more technical sections. I was focusing on safely moving through the terrain more than shooting video when things were getting “spicy”. If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon a few times and have experience with off trail navigation then this might be in your comfort zone. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon before this is definitely not the hike for you.
Be safe out there.
