Trail status: Bright Angel & South Kaibab

Question

Hello,

We will be in Grand Canyon South Rim this Saturday & Sunday. I have seen some reports in AllTrails about the icy snow conditions for the first mile or so of both trails. We have never hiked with Crampon. We plan to travel light with carryons only on this trip. I am debating if I should buy them before leaving. We only plan to go to the first tunnel of Bright Angel. We plan to hike down to either Skeleton Point or Cedar Ridge for the South Kaibab. Have you hiked both trails this week? Do you think that we would be ok without crampon? TIA

Answer

Thanks for your question about trail conditions on the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon National Park for this coming weekend. Since you’re planning to hike only part-way (first tunnel on Bright Angel; Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point on South Kaibab) and you’re concerned about icy conditions and gear, here’s as much detail as available plus guidance to help you decide whether crampons or traction devices are advisable.

What we know about current conditions & typical March conditions:

The National Park Service notes that Bright Angel Trail, which is primarily north-facing, “packed snow and ice tends to be consistently encountered for the initial three miles.”

For South Kaibab Trail, the NPS says that “during winter months … the constant sun exposure is likely to keep most of the trail relatively free of ice and snow.” But they also mention that the very first portion (the “Chimney” section, about ¼ mile) is north-facing and “holds ice all winter long.”

Some recent hiker reports mention that there is often a snow-pack at the rim or upper portions (~0.5 mile down) on either trail in late winter/early spring. For example, one thread noted “you’ll find snow pack at the South Rim ~.5 miles down every trail. After that it’s glorious.”

The official trail-status page currently lists both trails (Bright Angel and South Kaibab) as open from the trailhead.

Given your plan and gear constraints (carryons only, no heavy winter gear, no crampons experience):

For Bright Angel: Since you plan to go only to the first tunnel, which is likely within the first ~1–2 miles down, you are within the zone where ice and packed snow are still reasonably likely, especially early in the morning, in shady sections, or in the north-facing portions. The NPS explicitly says the first three miles are “consistently encountering” ice/snow. So yes: traction devices (microspikes, crampons, or even Yak-trax) are strongly recommended if you go early or if you encounter shady/icy patches.
For South Kaibab: Since your target is Cedar Ridge (~3 miles round trip) or Skeleton Point (~6 miles round trip) but note the elevation change and difficulty, the first section is the most likely area of ice risk. After that, because the trail is ridgeline and more exposed (and sun hits more), conditions tend to improve. The NPS says the ridgeline keeps the trail “relatively free of ice and snow” below the first quarter-mile. So if you start later in the day (allowing sun to soften any early ice) you might be okay without rigid crampons—but you should still have some form of traction device or hiking poles to maintain confidence on any slick surface.

My recommendation for you:

Check the latest conditions the morning of your hike by visiting the Backcountry Information Center at the South Rim or calling the park – get a current “trail conditions” update for those specific trails. (NPS strongly suggests this in winter/early spring.)
If you can depart after mid-morning when the sun has had a chance to warm the trail, you may reduce the ice risk significantly (especially on South Kaibab).

In short: Yes, you could likely hike the portions you plan without full crampons (if conditions are favourable, you go later in the morning, and the sun has melted any ice). But because there is a non-trivial chance of encountering ice/snow in the first mile (especially on Bright Angel) you should either bring lightweight traction or rent/buy them before you go. If you’re not comfortable with crampons, it’s safer to bring spikes that are easier to use and lower risk.

Enjoy your hike — the views are fantastic and even a partial descent into the canyon is memorable. Happy and safe hiking!