Parking
Bill Hall Trailhead is at the gate at the end of Forest Road 292A. Reaching it means a long drive on unpaved Forest Service roads; winter and spring access can be unreliable. Parking capacity and facilities aren’t documented.
Overview
About Bill Hall Trail
Why go
- A direct, shorter access from Monument Point to the Esplanade.
Heads up
- Steep descent, a 15-foot scramble, and the climb back.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Grand Canyon map
Full mapElevation5,413–7,192 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Grand Canyon alerts
- ClosureInner Canyon and North Rim trail closuresMentions North Rim, referenced in this guideDo not enter the closed trails, bridges, campgrounds, and inner-canyon areas.Official details
- ClosureNorth Rim scenic roads closed for repairsMentions North Rim, referenced in this guideCape Royal Road and Point Imperial Road are closed from sunset October 15 through sunrise November 3, 2026. - The roads are closed to accommodate critical road repair and rehabilitation work.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
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Trail guide
Hiking Bill Hall Trail
The direct way downBill Hall Trail is a 5-mile out-and-back from Bill Hall Trailhead at Monument Point to the…
Bill Hall Trail is a 5-mile out-and-back from Bill Hall Trailhead at Monument Point to the Esplanade junction with Thunder River Trail. You take the same 2.5-mile trail back up. Set aside most of a day; about six hours is a reasonable planning estimate for the steep descent, scramble, and climb back.
From the rim into the canyonThe route follows the rim west for its first half mile and rises a little.
The route follows the rim west for its first half mile and rises a little. Cairns mark where it leaves the rim east of Monument Point. Then it drops through the Kaibab and Toroweap formations, contours northwest, and winds down many switchbacks through Coconino Sandstone to a small drainage. The junction sits roughly 1,800 feet below Monument Point, so the return is a real climb.
Monument Point gives you the canyon view before the descent. The rim rocks and pines make a useful foreground for a canyon photo.
The scrambleThe short route still has a 15-foot scramble.
The short route still has a 15-foot scramble. The Forest Service says a light rope may help lower packs there. That’s a good reason to think about what you carry before committing to the descent; you’ll bring it back up the same way.
Where Bill Hall endsThe trail ends at its junction with the Thunder River Trail on the Esplanade.
The trail ends at its junction with the Thunder River Trail on the Esplanade. It does not reach Thunder River, Tapeats Creek, or Deer Creek; those are much farther along the longer inner-canyon route. Choose Bill Hall for the direct descent to the Esplanade, and don’t mistake this five-mile return hike for the multi-day Thunder River–Deer Creek itinerary.
The name on the mapBill Hall was a seasonal North Rim ranger who died in a line-of-duty car accident in 1979.
Bill Hall was a seasonal North Rim ranger who died in a line-of-duty car accident in 1979. The trail carries his name.
Getting to the trailheadStart at the gate at the end of Forest Road 292A.
Start at the gate at the end of Forest Road 292A. Reaching it means a long drive on unpaved Forest Service roads. Winter and spring access can be unreliable, so check road conditions with the Forest Service before making the drive. Trailhead parking capacity and facilities aren’t documented; bring what you need for the hike.
Day hikers don’t need a backcountry permit. Overnight camping below the rim does require one. Pets aren’t allowed below the canyon rim; trained service animals assisting a person with a disability are permitted.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Grand Canyon
718 sightingsCalifornia CondorMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
533 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
169 sightingsAmerican BisonMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,891 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
59 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
27 sightingsGray FoxMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Canyon. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
