The Bright Angel Trail’s starting point is conveniently located at the Grand Canyon Village on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and leads right into the River Trail which continues to the Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. Taking the Bright Angel Trail and continuing through the River Trail is actually the most popular method of accessing the Phantom Ranch for hikers or visitors riding mules, so if you were planning on stopping by the Phantom Ranch, this trail is a great way to get there. The Bright Angel Trail itself is 8 miles in length, but if you plan on continuing to the Phantom Ranch, the total distance traveled will be 9.9 miles, so come prepared to walk a couple of extra miles. This trail is well-maintained by park staff and patrolled by park rangers, and despite being a very popular trail, it still has its hazards. Possible hazards include things like dehydration, unpredictable weather, icy trails, rockfall, and extreme temperatures, but most reported injuries are squirrel bites, so do remember that feeding the squirrels is prohibited and strongly discouraged.
PLEASE NOTE: Access to Bright Angel Trail on the North Rim is closed in 2024. See blog post for details.
Photo © Courtesy of Grand Canyon National Park and used under the Creative Commons.
| Locations/Elevations | Mileages |
|---|---|
| Rim (6860 ft / 2093 m) to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse (5729 ft / 1748 m): | 1.6 mi (2.6 km) |
| Mile-and-a-Half (5729 ft / 1748 m) to Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft / 144 9m): | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft / 1449 m) to Havasupai Gardens (Formerly Indian Garden) (3800 ft / 1160 m): | 1.7 mi (2.7 km) |
| Indian Garden (3800 ft / 1160 m) to River Resthouse (2480 ft / 756 m): | 3.2 mi (5.2 km) |
| River Resthouse (2480 ft / 756 m) to Bright Angel Campground (2480 ft / 756 m): | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Rim (6860 ft / 2093 m) to Bright Angel Campground (2480 ft / 756 m): | 9.5 mi (15.3 km) |
