North Bass Trail

The North Bass Trail is a hiking route in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona that descends from the North Rim down to the Colorado River through dense forest and rocky canyon terrain. The route is marked by eight switchbacks and steep Redwall sections that present significant climbing challenges.

William Bass developed this route in the 1890s, improving upon an existing path created by a prospector named White. The trail built on even earlier passages that Native Americans had used to traverse the canyon.

The trail carries marks of early Grand Canyon exploration, with remnants of Bass's camp and an old cable car system still visible at the river crossing. Visitors can see how explorers once moved through this landscape and left their mark on the terrain.

Hikers need a permit and should bring plenty of water and navigation tools since this remote trail is challenging to traverse. The best seasons to visit are fall and spring when temperatures are more moderate.

White Creek and Shinumo Creek intersect the trail, providing water and shade among geological layers that reveal millions of years of canyon history. These streams are often the only green refuges in the otherwise dry landscape and significantly shape the hiking experience.