September 2023
Guide to Hiking the Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch – South Rim, Grand Canyon
Hiking the Bright Angel Trail is a bucket list activity for adventurous visitors to the Grand Canyon. For our white water rafting trip, it was a requirement to reach the meeting point of our journey and one we were excited to experience. This 10 mile trail offers incredible views of the Grand Canyon and has several different terrains that hikers explore. Bright Angel Trail ends at Phantom Ranch – a historic and only lodge south of the rim. There is a competitive lottery system to stay overnight here but hikers are able to enjoy the ranch for food and snacks, beverages, souvenirs, and postal service. Yes, you can mail postcards stamped “Mailed by Mule from the Bottom of the Grand Canyon”. While completing the trail from Bright Angel trailhead to Phantom Ranch is an incredible day at the Grand Canyon, it is extremely difficult to complete as a day hike for a round trip. This trail above others requires much planning and preparation. We were only hiking down as a one way journey in order to reach the boat launch for our white water rafting trip and I will say, this would have been very hard if we had to hike back to the rim.
Know Before You Go
The Bright Angel Trail takes hikers from the top of the rim on the south side of the Grand Canyon to the bottom of the Grand Canyon at the Colorado River. It is an intense hike with over 4,000 ft elevation change and no shade. The National Park Service does not recommend completing the hike as a round trip in one day. While going down is not as cardio taxing, going up is a different ball game and takes at least twice the time as it does to go down. The reason this is so challenging is that the temperature climbs as you descend down into the canyon, making this very difficult to complete as a day trip. While we were not completing the round trip, some brave souls do and there are many warnings along the way reminding people of the intensity – people have died on this trail. If you are not completing the white water rafting adventure or through hiking rim to rim, there are a few safe ways to experience the Bright Angel Trail.
- Only complete a portion of the Bright Angel Trail – there are segments of the trail that make it easy to determine a turn-around point. This is very popular among hikers as a way to experience the trail without going all the way to the bottom.
- Hike down with the plan of camping at the Grand CAnynon campground or Phantom Ranch (limited availability with competitive lottery system) and then hike back up the following day.
- Experience the trail by mule! We saw several groups riding up and down the trail and while it is certainly the most expensive option for the trail, it does allow you to comfortably get to the Phantom Ranch and back if that is your goal without the hike.
Planning and Logistics
It is very important to know yourself in order to plan for a successful day hiking the Bright Angel Trail. You have to be a strong hiker to complete most or all of this trail. Here are some things to note before making your plan:
- There are several water bottle filling stations along the trail. Packing water on this hike is essential and taking advantage of the water is necessary. Sometimes though the water may not be working so check ahead of your trip to know if you need to pack out enough water. You would be packing 3 liters a person at least.
- Rest stops also include bathrooms which are surprisingly decent so do not be afraid to take advantage.
- Views from even the start of the trail are fantastic so you will not miss out by not completing the entire trail. That is one of the advantages of starting at the top of the rim – the views are epic and even hiking to the first checkpoint and back makes for a wonderful hike.
- Remember, it can take over twice as long to get up back to the rim as it does to go down so that math is important to know when you are completing this trail.
- The trail itself is extremely well maintained with wide paths that are mostly flat or stairs with the occasional mule poo to watch out for.
- Time of year is very important for a successful day – if it is hot at the rim, it is at least 10 to 20 degrees warmer at the bottom of the canyon. I assumed it would get cooler as you climbed down due to the river but the rocks act as an insulator and it gets very hot. For the white water rafting trips, they only occur during the hottest months of the year so hiking down in the heat did not give us a choice – except that we were able to start very early before the heat heat of the day. For hiking trips only, early spring and late fall are your best bet – even winter time can be enjoyable.
- Regardless of your plan for the trail, you should start at or before sunrise
- There is parking right at the trailhead so you do not have to add more miles to your legs. If this is full, there are other parking lots in the Village and a shuttle that can take you to the start of the trailhead.
- If you are staying overnight, make sure to book accommodations at the Grand Canyon Village early – these hotels book up far in advance.
What to Pack
Packing is a key component to ensuring you are prepared for the Bright Angel Trail.
- Hiking backpack – For once in all of our hiking, I would strongly recommend a hiking backpack with a frame. The elevation change will put a ton of pressure on your shoulders and back, and you will need to bring quite a few items in order to supply yourself for the hike. Since we were hiking down with all of our things fora five day white water rafting adventure, we needed something that was going to take the weight off of our bodies at this backpack did a great job and we felt very good at the end of the hike with over 20 pounds on our back.
- Hiking shoes – My trusty Xero hiking shoes once again proved wonderful leaving my feet happy after 6 hours of hiking downhill. Do not show up to Bright Angel Trail with new shoes and if you can get a wider toe box the better – especially if you are hiking down the trail.
- Hiking outfit – Sun protection is essential so use clothing that helps in that I wore the REI sunshirt and water resistant quick dry pants. Remember, the hike will get hotter as you go down and then cooler as you go up. The cooler part going up though will probably not feel that way as you climb from all the exertion. Go with lightweight and sun protective items.
- Hiking poles – We have talked about hiking poles for various trips and this is another one that I strongly recommend grabbing a pair – even it is a cheap version to leave there once you are done with them. Going down for this amount of miles is taxing on your knees and going up is challenging to lift your body over than much time so the hiking poles are very helpful for this trail.
- Head lamp – Starting and possibly ending in the dark is going to require a head lamp to help navigate the trail.
- Solar powered bank or power bank charger – You are going to take a ton of photos as you go on this trail regardless of how far you go. Every turn of the switchback gives a different vantage point that calls for another picture. It is essential that you have power to cell phones in case of an emergency. I hiked with my phone on airplane mode to preserve the battery but those that kept cell service on seemed to have a good signal for most of the trail.
- Wide rim hat – I am not a hat wearer but I purchased a wide brim hat for this trip. Sun protection really is critical and will help keep you cool. The one I found had UV protection and it worked great at keeping my head safe.
- Sunglasses – If you have caught onto the trend, the name of the game here is sun protection!
- Sunscreen – And a lot of it. I was shocked how much we went through so definitely packed extra of sunscreen. Using solid sunscreen helps for carry on packing as it does not count towards your liquids.
Food and Water
- Water bladder and water bottle – Even though there are a few spots for refilling your water on this trail – a huge advantage – you should pack as much water as you can carry. Kevin and I packed two 40 oz Hydroflask bottles and a 3 L water bladder. When we got to Phantom Ranch, we were out of water and ready for a refill on everything. We did not use the water filling stations along the trail but we certainly could have to keep our water supply up if we were returning to the rim.
- Electrolyte mix – While water is essential, you need a way to replenish electrolytes as well. These LMNT packets are amazing because they are well flavored and have no sugar which is key for rehydration. They also won’t add any weight so throw a few packets into your bag. This is also why having both a water bladder and water bottle is important – the water bottle will be used for the electrolyte packets as well.
- Food – The night before our hike, we went to our hotel cafeteria and loaded up on food for our hike. I purchased a bagel with cream cheese, a granola bar, a pre-packed turkey sandwich, chips, and a chocolate bar. We consumed everything we packed in our 10 miles and 6 hours of hiking one way. You are going to need far more if you are going back up the trail as well. If you are picking a stopping point to turn around, this amount of food will probably be enough to get you back to back to the rim. Food in general will be personalized to what you like and what you need when exerting this much energy. Remember to focus on carbs, salty snacks, and easy to pack food.
Snap Shot of the Trail
| Stop | Mile Marker | Elevations | Water / Bathroom | Notes |
| Trailhead | 0 | 6,850 ft | X | Even the view from here is amazing! |
| 1.5 Mile Resthouse | 1.5 | 1,120 ft elevation change | X | Good turn around spot if you are first time hiker or too hot |
| 3 Mile Resthouse | 3 | 2,120 ft elevation change | X | Popular turn around spot for hikers to complete a 6 mile trail with 2,000 ft elevation. This rest stop is a bit of a detour and extra elevation. |
| Havasupai Gardens / Campground | 4.5 | 3,040 ft elevation change | X | Beautiful part of the trail that becomes lush and flat – easiest part of the trail. |
| Plateau Point | 6 | 3,080 ft elevation change | X | Known as Devil’s corkscrew, this jaw-dropping view has 10 switchbacks to get to the bottom of the trail as it carves into the rock. This would probably be the point at which I would have turned around if we were doing the hike in a day. |
| Pipe Creek Beach | 8 | 4,314 ft elevation change | X Bathroom only | The point where you reach the Colorado River! There is a nice beach here where you can take a dip. |
| Phantom Ranch | 10 | 4,314 elevation change | X | After crossing the Silver Bridge, Phantom Ranch is on the other side – the final destination! |
Our Hike Down the Bright Angel Trail
In order to get to our rafting launch point, we had to hike down into the canyon via the Bright Angel Trail. Our meeting spot was 6AM at the Bright Angel Lodge where we met the group and our guide who essentially served as a pacer to make sure we did not miss the raft. The time at the lodge was brief and we set out on the trail at 615AM. Luckily, the sun was already starting to come up and it was a beautifully cool morning. Even at the start of the trail, we were amazed by the views – you really do not need to go far on the trail to enjoy and appreciate the stunning landscape. The start of the trail was gradual switchbacks that go along the rock on a nice wide manicured path. I feel like with every switchback, we had to stop and tak more photos- the views were so incredible.
1.5 Mile Resthouse
Our first rest stop where you can use the bathroom and refill water. It is early in the hike but on the way back, I am sure this water stop is essential. We were really impressed by the facilities on the trail – the bathrooms were actually way more pleasant than we expected them to be so do not be afraid of using them. From here, the way continues with switch backs up starts to extend out into the canyon.
3 Mile Resthouse
This rest stop came pretty quickly which meant we were just about a quarter of the way down the trail. This resthouse is a bit off the trail and requires you to hike up a few feet. We all took a potty break here and a snack before continuing on. The views from here until the next detestation were very cool as we descended from the rim pretty quickly. It was easy to feel so small next to the giant towering rocks. The area became must more green and lush which we did not expect on this hike. We were still in the shade and were grateful as we could see the sunlight touching the miles ahead.
Havasupai Gardens / Campground
The section of the trail was the most surprising of the trail – we never expected to be transported to an oasis while hiking down into the Grand Canyon. Green and lush were not words I thought I would be using to describe the Bright Angel Trail but the Havasupai Gardens are exactly that. We also had our first encounter with the iconic mules as they transported guests up the trail. The part of the trail is the most relaxing as you venture out into the canyon with no elevation change so it is a flat, shaded portion that is very relaxing.
Before leaving Havasupai Gardens, we found an area off the trail for a food break. We busted out our sandwiches, snacks, chips, and for some of the group – beers – to refuel before tackling the next section of the trail. The views here were simply stunning and I highly recommend it as a stop to enjoy a break. The scale is so massive and the vista looked like a postcard.
The final area of Havasupai Gardens included a few stream crossings before opening up with a beautiful view in the distance. Havasupai Gardens is such a special part of the Bright Angel Trail!
Plateau Point
Once we made a turn, it was very clear we had left the Havasupai Gardens. We all stood there utterly stunned at the massive view that was before us. Known as Devil’s corkscrew, this jaw-dropping view has 10 switchbacks to get to the bottom of the trail as it carves into the rock. The pictures do not do this view justice. Going down in the beating sun was tough – I can’t imagine what it is like going up this section of the trail.
Pipe Creek Beach
We finally reached the Colorado River! We were so excited to have made it this far. We were told that our raft pick up point would either be at Pipe Creek or at Phantom Ranch so we were keeping our fingers crossed that the rafts would be here so our hiking would come to an end. But after walking to the river, there were no blue rafts to be seen. That meant we had to continue on to Phantom Ranch and unfortunately meant we had to add another 1.5 miles and also go uphill.
We knew we were getting close to Phantom ranch once we saw the bridge that allowed us to cross over the river was in view. As we got close, our hearts sunk as we saw two blue rafts floating down the river. While the rafts would not leave without us, we were worried the pick up location was now at Pine Creek… we were so close to the bridge! It was impossible for us to read the boats from our location so my cousin reminded me of the zoom features on camera to act as binoculars. I snapped a photo and zoomed in – it was a different company – phew!
The Silver Bridge
We could not wait to get to the Silver Bridge- the extra miles between Pine Creek and Phantom Ranch were really adding up. The Silver Bridge was actually not built until the late 1960s and is essential for connecting the North and South Rims. Crossing the suspension bridge meant we were almost done our hike and that there was no turning back from this rafting adventure.
Phantom Ranch
After 6 hours of hiking from the top of the South Rim, we finally made it to Phantom Ranch via the Bright Angel Trail. We unfortunately did not get time to explore and enjoy Phantom Ranch itself as we had to get onto our rafts but from speaking with others, it is a treat to visit Phantom Ranch. Instead, we turned right to the boat launch where we saw our two blue rafts waiting for our group. We were in for quite an adventure over the next five days!
