Parking
Start at the Point Imperial parking area off the North Rim scenic road; the west end is the North Kaibab Trail parking area. Arrange a second car or pickup before starting. North Rim access is seasonal.
Overview
About Ken Patrick Trail
Why go
- A long forest-and-rim crossing with wide canyon views
- The 3-mile eastern section works as a 6-mile out-and-back
Heads up
- Narrow, uneven, sometimes unstable footing
- Point-to-point logistics require a pickup or a very long return walk
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Grand Canyon map
Full mapElevation8,163–8,855 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Grand Canyon alerts
- ClosureInner Canyon and North Rim trail closuresMentions this trailDo not enter the closed trails, bridges, campgrounds, and inner-canyon areas.Official details
- ClosureNorth Rim scenic roads closed for repairsMentions this trailCape 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.
Grand Canyon Tour Guide
Your drive to Ken Patrick Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grand Canyon National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Grand Canyon audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Point Imperial’s Eastern Panorama0:00 / 0:28
“Point Imperial is ahead, with a short walk from parking to the highest overlook on the canyon rim. At about eight thousand eight hundred feet, it opens across the Painted Desert and the eastern canyon.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Grand Canyon Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Sea Lily's Stone Rings
- Why the River Changes Color
- The Redwall's Borrowed Color
- The Trail with a Toll Booth
- 79 audio storiesacross Grand Canyon’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor California Condor, Bighorn Sheep, American Bison, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 73 trails, 96 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Ken Patrick Trail
A long traverse, not a loopKen Patrick Trail is a 9.
Ken Patrick Trail is a 9.8-mile point-to-point walk across the North Rim between Point Imperial and the North Kaibab Trail parking area. It moves between high-elevation forest and open rim stretches with broad canyon views. Allow about six hours for the crossing, and arrange a pickup or a second car at the far end; walking back the same way makes a 19.6-mile day.
From Point Imperial to Cape Royal RoadThe first 3 miles head south along the canyon rim, dip into forest, then return to the edge.
The first 3 miles head south along the canyon rim, dip into forest, then return to the edge. The ground rises and falls. Some parts are narrow, uneven, and loose enough to make foot placement matter, and the rim setting leaves you exposed to sun, wind, and cold. Be comfortable near heights and wear sturdy footwear. The section ends at steps up to Cape Royal Road. Turn around there for a 6-mile out-and-back, or arrange a ride if you want to walk only the eastern stretch.
The rest of the routeFrom Cape Royal Road, the trail continues west for another 6.
From Cape Royal Road, the trail continues west for another 6.8 miles to the North Kaibab Trail parking area. The full route is an unmaintained trail through forest and along the rim; canyon openings break up the wooded miles. It is a full-day crossing at around 8,000 feet, where the altitude can add to the effort. It is a long walk between two trailheads, not a quick viewpoint stroll.
Ken Patrick's trailThe trail honors Ken Patrick, a Grand Canyon-area-raised hiker and park ranger.
The trail honors Ken Patrick, a Grand Canyon-area-raised hiker and park ranger. He worked at Grand Canyon and other national parks, and was killed on duty at Point Reyes in 1973. He was buried in Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery. The trail carries the name of a ranger whose life and work were closely tied to the parks.
Make the logistics workStart at the Point Imperial parking area and finish at North Kaibab Trail parking.
Start at the Point Imperial parking area and finish at North Kaibab Trail parking. There is no loop back to the first lot, so settle the ride before setting out. Carry food and water for the crossing; no reliable resupply along the route is confirmed. Pets are not allowed.
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.
