The South Kaibab trailhead is located at Yaki Point.  For the majority of the year (March 1 - November 30), private vehicles are not allowed to drive to Yaki Point.  During this period, you must take the free shuttle to the trailhead to begin your hike.  The trailhead has a porta-potty, small snack bar, and water from May 1 to September 1.  There is no water anywhere on the South Kaibab Trail. 

     The trail is well maintained, relatively smooth, fairly steep, and does have a few narrow places until reaching Cedar Ridge.  It is .75 miles to Ooh-Ahh Point and 1.5 miles to Cedar Ridge, where there is a pit toilet.  Cedar Ridge makes a nice place for a day hike, where there are fantastic views of the inner Canyon and O'Neill Butte.  The trail loops around O'Neill Butte before heading north along a relatively flat stretch to Skeleton Point.  After this a series of steep switchbacks take you down to the Tonto Platform and begins to loop around Natural Arch.  The Tipoff Point toilet is next to the Tonto Trail junction and an emergency telephone is located near the Tipoff Point.  After the Tipoff Point, the trail begins to descend rapidly eventually coming to a final series of steep, wide switchbacks that lose 1000' before entering a small tunnel.  The trail goes over the Colorado River on the Kaibab suspension bridge that was built in 1928.  For a brief history of the Kaibab suspension bridge, click here.  In another half-mile, you at the aluminum bridge that crosses Bright Angel Creek to reach Bright Angel Campground.

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