All Hikers - Bright Angel Trail

ALL HIKERS

BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL

(6860')
Trailhead to: Distance
from Rim
in miles Elevation
in feet Water Toilet Emergency
Phone Ranger
Station Designated
Campsite

1.5 mile
Rest House 1.5 5720 Yes
May-Sep Yes Yes No No

3.0 mile
Rest House 3.0 4760 Yes
May-Sep No Yes No No

Indian Garden 4.6 3800 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Plateau
Point 6.1 3770 Yes No No No No

River Trail Junction 7.7 2440 No No Yes No No

Bright Angel Campground 9.3 2546 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Phantom Ranch 9.8 2560 Yes Yes Yes No No

The Bright Angle trailhead begins next to the Kolb Studio and the Bright Angel Lodge. The trail is wide, smooth, well maintained, and moderately steep. It is the primary trail from the South Rim into the Canyon and tends to be crowded. The 1.5 mile rest house has both water (May to Sep) and a toilet and is a reasonable distance for a day hike. If you are only interested in doing a short day hike, the views are much better on the South Kaibab Trail, but it does not have any water. The 3 mile rest house has water (May to Sep) only, sits out on a point, and offers nice views of Indian Garden. There are both water and a toilet at Indian Garden.

A nice side hike from Indian Garden is the trail to Plateau Point. It is basically level and 1.5 miles each way from Indian Garden to the point, but seems farther due to the sandy walking conditions. Plateau Point sits about 1300 feet directly above the Colorado River and offers astounding views in every direction.

The Bright Angel Trail follows Garden Creek all the way from Indian Garden to the Colorado River. About a mile below Indian Garden, it descends the Devil's Corkscrew, a section of steep switchbacks that loses about 500 feet, but always seems like it is more than that. There is another rest house at the River Trail junction by the Colorado River that does not have water, but does have an emergency telephone.

MAIN INDEX | HIKING INDEX | BACK TO TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS