Arizona · Hiking

Cape Royal Trail

Cape Royal TrailPhoto: mtnscll, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.8 mi
round trip
4 ft
climb
7,909 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Cape Royal Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Canyon National Park. It doesn't name Cape Royal Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: NPS · Grand Canyon National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cape Royal Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about 0.8 miles long, climbing from 7,859 feet to 7,909 feet, so the one-way gain is about 50 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Bright Angel run to highs around 77°F in July and 73°F in June, with lows near 49°F. Winter there is cold, with highs in the mid-30s and lows in the teens. The trail sits within the park's larger network of routes. Cliff Spring Trail lies about 0.2 miles away, and Walhalla Glades Pueblo is about 0.9 miles off. Cape Final Trail is about 1.8 miles away, and the Temples climbing area is about 4.3 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Cape Royal Trail

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      36° / 18°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 19°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 23°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 28°

      4 wet

    5. May

      62° / 36°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 43°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 49°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 48°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 42°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 33°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 24°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 17°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bright Angel Rs, AZ, 9 mi away at 8,000 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • North Rim Scenic Road Closure: Cape Royal and Point Imperial

      Grand Canyon National Park · seen Oct 15, 2026 → lifted Nov 3, 2026 · National Park Service

    • North Rim Cape Royal Road Closure - September 8

      Grand Canyon National Park · seen Sep 8, 2026 → lifted Sep 8, 2026 · National Park Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Cliff Spring TrailPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cliff Spring Trail

Next door

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Walhalla Glades PuebloPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~2 min drive

On May 15, the North Rim reopened for the season. Visitors should plan ahead and be prepared for a more remote experience this year, with limited services available as the park continues recovery and restoration work. The 2026 season will focus mainly on day use and limited b…

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~9 min drive

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Escalante RoutePhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Old Bright Angel TrailPhoto: Robert Anders, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~11 min drive

10.08-mile out-and-back hike on the historic Bright Angel Trail in Arizona's Grand Canyon, gaining 3,970 feet.

Komo Point TrailPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Komo Point Trail

~13 min drive

9.95-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 193 ft gain and 657 ft loss.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors