By the early 1920s, the only maintained trail from the South Rim to the Colorado River was the Bright Angel Trail, controlled by Ralph H. Cameron, who charged a dollar per hiker plus fees for water and outhouses. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway had already built the Hermit Trail in 1911 as an alternative, but the Park Service wanted its own corridor. In 1924, construction began on the South Kaibab Trail near Yaki Point. Unlike the Bright Angel, which follows side canyons and creek drainages, the South Kaibab was deliberately routed along a ridge, giving hikers open views in every direction. When Cameron's trail was finally turned over to the government in 1928, the South Kaibab had already established itself as the canyon's most scenic descent.

From the trailhead, the route drops steeply through the Grand Canyon's uppermost rock layers: Kaibab Limestone and Toroweap Formation. At about half a mile, hikers pass an excellent example of a pustule dome, where a buoyant deposit of evaporite punched up through harder limestone above. The trail cuts through Coconino Sandstone to Cedar Ridge, then descends gradually past O'Neill Butte through Hermit Shale and the Supai Group to Skeleton Point. Below Skeleton Point, the descent sharpens through the Redwall Limestone, which despite its name is naturally light beige or gray, stained red by iron oxides washing down from above. Switchbacks carry hikers through the Muav Limestone and Bright Angel Shale to the Tonto Trail junction, then through Tapeats Sandstone and the ancient Vishnu Schist to the river. That final section averages a 22 percent grade.

The South Kaibab Trail covers roughly six miles from rim to river. At Cedar Ridge, toilet facilities and a level resting area offer hikers and mule trains a chance to regroup. Skeleton Point provides the last panoramic viewpoint before the trail plunges into the inner gorge. Past the Tonto Trail junction, a point called the Tipoff marks the location of an emergency phone. From there, the trail makes its steepest descent to a junction with the River Trail, which leads to the Black Suspension Bridge crossing the Colorado River. Mule trips from the South Rim cross this bridge. A second crossing, the Silver Suspension Bridge, lies about three-quarters of a mile downstream. On the north side, the trail turns westward to meet the North Kaibab Trail, marking the official terminus. Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Campground lie just beyond.

The South Kaibab Trail is part of the Arizona Trail, an 800-mile route that crosses the entire state from Mexico to Utah. Through-hikers on the Arizona Trail descend the South Kaibab, cross the Colorado River on the Black Bridge, and continue north on the North Kaibab Trail up to the North Rim. This makes the South Kaibab one of the most dramatic segments of any long-distance trail in North America, a passage through the deepest and most ancient gorge on the continent. The park classifies it as a corridor trail, ensuring regular maintenance and ranger patrols, though the designation does not diminish the seriousness of the route.

Unlike the Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab has no water sources along its entire length until the north side of the Colorado River. Treated water is available only at the trailhead, Bright Angel Campground, and Phantom Ranch. This single fact shapes every decision on the trail. Dehydration, extreme heat, flash flooding, lightning, bootpacked ice, and loose footing are all documented hazards. At the river, hypothermia from the Colorado's persistently cold water and drowning in rapids add to the risks. Overnight camping is permitted only at Bright Angel Campground with a backcountry permit, and wood fires are prohibited. The trailhead at Yaki Point Road is closed to private vehicles; hikers must arrive by shuttle bus or walk the Rim Trail. The canyon gives its best views freely, but demands preparation in return.