The Grand Canyon is among the most-visited National Parks within the United States, however solely about 1% of holiday makers truly go beneath the rim. If you need to expertise the Grand Canyon from beneath, the Bright Angel Trail is among the finest – and hottest – day hikes and a superb entry level for first-time guests to this superb National Park.
In this publish, we share all the pieces it is advisable to learn about doing a day hike on the Bright Angel Trail so you understand how to arrange and what to anticipate.
Bright Angel Trail Basics
These stats are for the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden. The path does proceed on previous Indian Garden all the best way right down to the Colorado River, however it is advisable to be ready with plenty of water, solar safety, and meals. Do not hike previous Indian Garden in the summertime when temps are usually 100F+.
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trail Type: Out-and-back
- Length: 8.9 miles
- Starting Elevation: 6,860 toes.
- Minimum Elevation: 3,800 toes
- Total elevation achieve: 3,034 ft
- Dogs allowed: No
- Time: 5-6 hours, when taking ample breaks
- Permit required: No
Best Time of Year to Hike the Bright Angel Trail
Fall and spring are one of the best occasions of yr to go to the Grand Canyon and hike the Bright Angel Trail. Temperatures are cooler and crowds are typically smaller (though the Grand Canyon isn’t quiet).
I don’t advocate mountaineering the Bright Angel Trail in the summertime as temperatures can simply high 100 levels and mountaineering in these circumstances will be harmful. The path has little or no shade and mountaineering in the summertime can result in warmth exhaustion.
Winter can be a superb time to go to should you’re dressed for cold climate and test the forecast for snow and rain.
Getting to the Trailhead
The Bright Angel Trailhead is situated on the South Rim simply west of the Bright Angel Lodge within the Grand Canyon Village.
If you’re staying within the park, the free blue-line park shuttle stops immediately on the trailhead.
For these visiting for the day or preferring driving themselves, hikers can park on the Backcountry Information Center (parking zone D), a brief stroll from the Bright Angel Trailhead.
A Brief History
The Bright Angel Trail has been used for tons of of years as a technique to entry water at Indian Gardens. It’s named for the Bright Angel Fault, which gives a jagged break within the shear cliff partitions that in any other case stop entry right down to the canyon ground.
In the 1800s, gold prospectors arrived within the space and located the native Havasupai already utilizing the route from the rim to the canyon ground the place they planted crops close to Indian Creek.
In the Eighteen Nineties, miner and entrepreneur Ralph Cameron realized that with the arrival of the railroad to the Grand Canyon, tourism was going to be an even bigger enterprise than mining. He ‘registered’ the Bright Angel Trail and made enhancements to the route. He additionally arrange a campground at Indian Garden and charged guests $1 to make use of the path.
Cameron fought to maintain his declare on this space even after the Grand Canyon was designated a National Park in 1919. He misplaced the battle in 1928 and was compelled at hand over the path and campground to the Parks Service.
The native Havasupai had been those who misplaced probably the most, although. They had been ordered to go away by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901. Those who stayed had been ultimately pushed out in 1928 and compelled onto a reservation in Havasu Canyon.
In 1975, after many negotiations, the federal government created the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is taken into account probably the most distant group within the decrease 48 States. It’s additionally the place guests can expertise the unimaginable Havasu Falls.
Trail Milestones
The Bright Angel Trail can simply be damaged down into smaller chunks or milestones. If you propose on mountaineering all the best way to Indian Garden, these milestones will help you gauge distance in addition to show you how to maintain tabs on the way you’re doing with water.
1st Switchback – Mile 0.5
The first switchback is the beginning of a collection of switchbacks that descend down the canyon partitions of Grand Canyon National Park. From right here, the path loses fairly a little bit of elevation in a short time. There are additionally steep drop-offs on the aspect of the path, so individuals who don’t like publicity might need to cease right here.
1.5 Mile Resthouse – Mile 1.5
The 1.5 Mile Resthouse is a primary stone construction with no facilities (seasonal water could also be out there). It affords nice views out over the Canyon and is a good turn-around spot if you’d like a shorter hike.
3 Mile Resthouse – Mile 3
A second resthouse is situated at mile three. Again, there are not any facilities apart from seasonal water on the three-mile resthouse. The path will get even steeper from right here, so this can be a good place to show round should you’re anxious concerning the hike again up.
Indian Garden
Indian Garden is somewhat oasis within the Grand Canyon desert panorama. A perennial creek runs by means of this space, which offered water for Native Americans who lived within the canyon for hundreds of years. Today, Indian Gardens is dwelling to a ranger station, a small guests heart, and the Indian Garden Campground (also referred to as the Havasupai Garden Campground).
If you need to spend the night time, you’ll must safe a hard-to-get in a single day tenting allow earlier than your hike.
Plateau Point
About a mile and a half previous Indian Gardens through Plateau Point path is Plateau Point, a formidable overlook down onto the Colorado River. If you do that as a day hike, Plateau Point is 12 miles spherical journey with 3,740 ft of elevation achieve. It’s really useful to solely do that hike through the cooler spring, fall, and winter months.
The Bright Angel Trail continues on previous Indian Gardens right down to the Colorado River the place hikers can cross the river over the Bright Angel Suspension Bridge. Across the river, the path turns into the North Kaibob Trail, which continues on to Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch (a country lodge), and ultimately the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Tips For Hiking the Bright Angel Trail
Be ready
For anybody contemplating mountaineering the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden, you need to, should, MUST convey water and sufficient meals to provide you for the 9-mile round-trip hike. The path is uncovered so even be ready with enough solar safety.
The hazard of this path lies in its easygoing begin. Unlike ascending a mountain the place the issue is straight away obvious, this hike descends down right into a canyon. That means the simple half comes first, fooling hikers into believing they will go farther and longer than they will truly handle in a day.
Arrive on the trailhead earlier than 8am with a hydration day pack stuffed with water and loads of salty snacks.
Know your water sources
There is at all times water out there on the Bright Angel trailhead. There might be alongside the path seasonally from May-September, however water isn’t at all times assured. It’s higher to come back absolutely ready with no less than 3 liters of water per individual. There is a river that runs by means of Indian Gardens so we additionally advocate packing a light-weight water filter simply in case.
The chart beneath reveals the place water could also be out there seasonally:
Practice good path etiquette
Please keep in mind that uphill hikers have the best of means.
You additionally might even see mule site visitors. If a gaggle of mules is closing in on you, the park service advises you to step off the path on the uphill aspect away from the sting, observe the route of the wrangler, stay quiet and nonetheless, and don’t return to the path till the final mule is 50 toes (15 meters) previous your place. Essentially, give the mules area, and everybody can be secure and glad.
>> Read subsequent: Trail Etiquette 101
Bright Angel Trail Packing List
For a full checklist of what to pack, take a look at our publish on Day Hiking Essentials.
The principal items of drugs you’ll need for mountaineering the Bright Angel Trail embrace:
- A daypack with a 3L hydration reservoir. If you come low season, you may think about bringing a water filter simply in case potable water isn’t out there.
- A solar hat – I at all times put on the Wallaroo Sedona Hat (BFT readers get 20% off with the code “BEARFOOT20”)
- Plenty of sunscreen
- A buff – soak it within the creek at Indian Garden earlier than mountaineering again up the path. It will maintain you cool and protect your neck from the solar.
- Lots of snacks – for concepts, take a look at our publish on one of the best mountaineering snacks.
- Collapsible trekking poles – these assist relieve pressure in your knees if you are descending and assist distribute the work and your weight on the uphill.
- Solid mountaineering footwear – I like to recommend mountaineering boots with ankle assist and a grippy sole to offer extra stability on the steep sections.
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Have you hiked the Bright Angel Trail within the Grand Canyon? What was your expertise like? What ideas would you add? Leave a remark beneath!
