The South Rim is the most rewarding long day hike (or 1 night backpack) in the park. There is not a South Rim trail as such - instead it is the combination of the Pinnacles Trail and the Laguna Meadows Trail. You can take one up, then the other back down, and most people hike this as a loop, so it is combined here. You can add on extra mileage by either hiking up to Emory Peak on the Summit trail off the Pinnacles Trail, or by hiking the Southeast Rim trail at the South Rim. The Southeast Rim trail is closed at times for peregrine falcon habitat. Check with the ranger to see if there will be water at Boot Spring (a small creek and spring on the hike up), but it is probably easier to just bring your own on a day hike.
