Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa

The trail leaves Grandview Point, on Desert View Drive 12 miles east of the Village, from the east side of the stone wall. It drops at once down the cliffs on narrow switchbacks, some still paved with the miners' cobbles, to Coconino Saddle, about a mile down. It carries on down to Horseshoe Mesa, three miles from the rim, where a stone building and the remains of the mine stand. Return the same way.

It is 5.8 miles (9.4 km) round trip with 2,520 feet (769 m) of climbing; allow about 5½ hours. The grade is Hard: the trail is steep, rough and unmaintained, with exposure in places, and every foot must be climbed again. The park allows six to nine hours.

The trail was built in 1893 to bring copper ore up by mule from the Last Chance Mine of Pete Berry and his partners, which closed in 1907. The mine workings are closed: do not go in. There is no water anywhere on the route, and none at Grandview Point, which has parking and vault toilets. In winter hard ice often coats the upper trail and the park calls it dangerous, so take traction devices. In summer keep off the trail between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The South Rim is under water restrictions after the flood of August 2026: bring your water with you.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.