Kaibab National Forest

First, you’ll need to decide which portion of Kaibab National Forest you want to explore—north or south. The Williams District in the far south is home to the park’s visitor center, where you’ll find maps and brochures of area activities, making it a good starting point. At the southern edge of Grand Canyon National Park, the Tusayan District has popular hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. The North Kaibab District, which the Kaibab Plateau-North Rim Scenic Byway bisects, is the largest area and stretches toward Utah.

Several Grand Canyon helicopter and airplane tours departing from the airport in Tusayan allow you to take in views of Kaibab en route to the canyon.

• There are cabins and campgrounds available within the forest for overnight stays.

• Camping for more than 14 days in a 30-day period is prohibited within the forest; overnight camping season typically ends in October.

• Sycamore Canyon offers trail options for all levels, including a challenging 11-mile (18-kilometer) trek.

Located in northern Arizona, Kaibab National Forest is about 3.5 hours by car from Phoenix via I-17 N and a roughly 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas. Rental cars are available from the Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas and the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. In Arizona, monsoon season typically arrives in the summer and can bring heavy rain, winds, and dust storms that can make driving difficult. During this time, be mindful of flash flood areas and heed any warnings.

Kaibab National Forest is open daily and closed on federal holidays. The primary camping season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Remember that certain portions of the forest may be closed due to a high risk of wildfire, so check local resources for the most up-to-date info before visiting.

Sycamore Falls is a must-see destination within Kaibab National Forest that travelers often stumble upon while hiking. During the spring snowmelt or monsoon season (June–September), water cascades down the rocks, making it worth the visit. Once you reach the area by car, it’s about a half-mile (0.8-kilometer) roundtrip hike along a well-worn path to the falls.