![]() Turn east and contour above the river, traveling across sand dunes for the next 1.5 miles. A side trail leads to the shore of the Colorado River and Pipe Creek Beach, while the Bright Angel trail continues to the right of the pit toilets. ![]() Prickly pear, willows, and brittlebush line the banks as the trail descends gently to the River House rest area. Beyond the corkscrew, the trail levels out as you begin following Pipe Creek.Īround 7 miles, you arrive at another set of plunge pools and waterfalls where Garden Creek flows into the Pipe Creek drainage. A few long meanders lead into tight, sharp switchbacks that descend about 500 feet in a half mile. Avoid hiking this section during the hottest part of the day-the almost-black walls absorb heat and can cook you in the afternoon sun. This lightning bolt-like trail gashes its way through the dark cliffs of 2-billion-year-old Vishnu Schist, the oldest rock in the Grand Canyon. The trail branches away from Garden Creek in a series of switchbacks known as the Devil’s Corkscrew. A chockstone around 5.25 miles marks the beginning of the Tapeats Narrows, where the creek has sculpted channels and plunge pools into the bedrock. Continue south along Garden Creek as it cuts a ravine into the terraced ledges of Tapeats Sandstone. Soon after leaving Havasupai Gardens, you reach trail junctions with Tonto West and Tonto East. Pit toilets, water (year-round), and shaded benches are farther down the trail. Around 4.5 miles, you pass a ranger station on your left, followed by the campground ( permit required). As you approach Havasupai Gardens, the grade flattens out and makes for easy walking across the slopes of Bright Angel Shale.Ĭottonwood trees, flowing watter, and lush grasses mark your arrival at Havasupai Gardens, a shady respite on this hike. Zigzag your way down through the iron-rich Supai Formation to the top of the Redwall Limestone, where Three-Mile rest house waits with shade, water (May-October), and pit toilets.įrom Three-Mile rest house, a series of switchbacks known as Jacob’s Ladder takes you down the Redwall Limestone. Every turn brings an impossibly more beautiful view as you drop deeper into the canyon. Pit toilets are located just down the trail to your right.Īny rim-to-river hike in the canyon involves seemingly endless switchbacks, and the Bright Angel Trail is no exception. Take a moment to enjoy the shade, refill your water bottle (May-October), and rest your feet. Long, sweeping switchbacks take you to Mile-and-a-Half rest house at, you guessed it, 1.5 miles. But this trail follows the Bright Angel Fault, a naturally occurring break that allows access to the inner canyon. The canyon’s steep, vertical walls limit rim-to-river routes. Starting with the youngest, the Kaibab Limestone at the trailhead, you progress down gentle switchbacks through progressively older rock. Note: If you are planning to camp anywhere below the rim you must get a backcountry camping permit through the backcountry office.Įndless switchbacks: to Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile rest housesĪs you journey down the Bright Angel Trail, you descend into rock that is almost 2 billion years old. Backpackers can camp at the Havasupai Gardens or Bright Angel campgrounds. Day hikers have several options: turn around at the Mile-and-a-Half or Three-Mile rest houses, Havasupai Gardens ( formerly called Indian Garden), or Plateau Point (described below as an optional side trip). This is the park’s most popular rim-to-river route, offering spectacular views, rest houses, water (seasonal), and shade at Havasupai Gardens. White Mesa Cultural and Conservation AreaĬross “hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon” off your bucket list by traveling down the Bright Angel Trail to the Colorado River!.Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon.
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