Widforss Point

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Widforss is one of the best trails on the Grand Canyon's North Rim, and you don't even have to hike the full distance to get a great experience. The first mile packs in a lot of scenery from the edge of a side canyon, making an exciting short hike for the whole family. Determined hikers can go farther, exploring quiet old-growth forest with some truly large trees, then ending at a breezy view over a huge swath of canyon. The North Rim Visitor Center has interpretive brochures that you can take to learn about geology and ecology along the trail.

A short dirt road drive is required to reach this trail. The trailhead has a vault toilet, but no drinking water is available.

Widforss makes an excellent and beautiful trail run, but by going fast you might miss out on some wildlife!

For the first 3 miles, Widforss Point Trail follows the airy rim of The Transept, a dramatic tributary canyon that feeds into Bright Angel Creek. You could go any distance out and back along this scenic, mostly flat section for a satisfying short hike.

Eventually the trail turns away from the rim and heads into the forest. Enjoy the verdant scenery of old-growth conifers and aspens as the trail dips up and down through small drainages for another 2 miles. The environment transitions to more open ponderosa pine forest as the trail nears Widforss Point.

At the point, the trail empties into a broad clearing where one unassuming picnic table marks the end of the run. There's no clifftop precipice, just a hillside that slopes gradually toward the expanse. It's a very peaceful place to sit back and enjoy the canyon breeze. You'll have a superb view across the canyon to the South Rim, with the San Francisco Peaks on the horizon.

You may see wildlife at any time of day or year including deer, elk, wild turkey, coyote, porcupine, snakes (harmless gopher and kingsnakes), and lizards. If you see a large, dark squirrel with tufted ears and a bushy white tail, it is the Kaibab squirrel, native only to the Kaibab Plateau on the north side of the Colorado River.