How To Hike Bright Angel Trail At Grand Canyon South Rim

Bright Angel Trail is the most popular hiking route leading down below Grand Canyon South Rim. It’s easy to access, the trail is gradual and it has several turnaround points to suit hikers of all levels. We day hiked the incredible Rim to River Trail to Phantom Ranch in December 2021, going down on South Kaibab and up on Bright Angel. They’re the two famous routes, but they’re surprisingly different.

In this guide we show you how to day hike Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon South Rim, based on our experiences.

Important: Bright Angel Trail is closed from Havasupai Gardens to Silver Bridge until May 2025. But the trail remains open from South Rim to Havasupai Gardens.

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Our Experience

We first visited South Rim back in November 2019, but we didn’t hike down into the canyon. Instead, we prioritized sunrises and sunsets, viewpoints and photography. So when we returned for a second visit in December 2021, our only priority was to day hike from the rim to the Colorado River and back. The morning started out cold but it was clear and sunny, and it soon warmed to perfect hiking conditions.

Descending on South Kaibab was steep and direct, whereas coming back up on Bright Angel was more gradual and longer in distance. In truth, we think South Kaibab Trail is more scenic and diverse but it’s also harder. We like Bright Angel because it’s better suited to the average visitor, and beginners can go down to 1.5-mile or 3-mile resthouse easily enough. Read more about us.

What You Need To Know

Okay, let’s dive right in. Here are the key things you should know about hiking Bright Angel Trail:

• You do not need a permit for the hike
• The path is very clear and obvious throughout
• The temperature increases rapidly as you descend
• Storms are common July-September
• Check live trail conditions for updates
• You must carry plenty of water
• The full trail is a long and hard day hike
• Phantom Ranch is the full hike turnaround point
• Dogs are not allowed on the trail
• Among the most popular Grand Canyon trails

Important: It is not safe to hike down into the Grand Canyon on hot days with high temperatures. The NPS advises against hiking Bright Angel Trail from 10:00am-4:00pm in summer because it’s too dangerous. Multiple fatalities and rescues happen every year due to heat issues, so don’t take any unnecessary risks.

Trail Statistics

You should descend Bright Angel Trail as far as you feel comfortable before turning around. There are five major landmarks you can use to plan your hike:

• 1.5 Mile Resthouse – 3 miles roundtrip (1,120 ft elevation change)
• 3 Mile Resthouse – 6 miles roundtrip (2,120 ft elevation change)
• Havasupai Gardens – 9 miles roundtrip (3,040 ft elevation change)
• Plateau Point – 12 miles roundtrip (3,080 ft elevation change)
• Phantom Ranch – 19.8 miles roundtrip (4,314 ft elevation change)

Phantom Ranch is located on the canyon floor next to the Colorado River. If you decide to go all the way down and back up Bright Angel Trail, it’s a 19.8-mile hike with over 4,000 ft elevation change. You must be a strong and experienced hiker to take it on. Also, if you’re planning to day hike to Phantom Ranch and back, we strongly recommend going down South Kaibab and back up Bright Angel instead.

If you’re not a strong hiker or it’s your first visit to the Grand Canyon and you just don’t want to spend an entire day hiking, only go down as far as 1.5-mile or 3-mile resthouse. Even going down to Havasupai Gardens and back is a very hard day hike that should only be attempted by strong hikers in cooler temperatures.

Tip: Remember, every step you take down is a step you have to take back up. Carefully consider how much climbing you’re happy with, because trust us, that elevation is a killer!

Trail Map

As you can see in the trail map we created above, there are lots of landmarks you can use to plan how far you go before turning around.

It’s a straightforward enough route beginning with lots of small switchbacks before flattening out through gardens and then dropping down more switchbacks to the Colorado River. Note the blue trail above leads away from the main trail to Plateau Point.

Getting To Bright Angel Trailhead

Bright Angel Trailhead is located in Grand Canyon Village near the park’s lodges, train station and Hermit Road shuttle bus terminal (here’s the maps location). There are three ways you can reach the trailhead:

• Park in lot D (very few spaces available)
• Park in the main lot near the visitor center and walk South Rim Trail
• Take the village shuttle bus from the visitor center to Bright Angel Lodge

You can easily walk to the trailhead if you’re staying at one of the park’s lodges, with the exception of Yavapai Lodge which is a 1.7-mile hike away. After arriving back at the rim, we took the village shuttle from Bright Angel Trailhead back to the main lot near the visitor center where we’d parked for the day.

Trail Walkthrough

Next, let’s walk through the hike so you know what to expect.

1.5 Mile Resthouse

The first part of the hike has the most dramatic views because it’s higher up. You’ll be able to see the trail snaking through the canyon below. After heading west, you’ll pass underneath a tunnel and see a long straight path leading out to Plateau Point in the distance. Next, you’ll pass through a second tunnel and then a series of switchbacks leads down to 1.5-mile resthouse.

Tip: Turn around at 1.5 mile resthouse if you are a first time canyon hiker, if it is too hot or if you’re not feeling confident to continue.

3 Mile Resthouse

Immediately after 1.5 mile resthouse, you’ll reach a vault restroom. Then it’s basically switchbacks and zig-zagging further down into the canyon pretty much the whole way to 3-mile resthouse. Don’t get us wrong, the view is amazing but it’s exactly the same throughout this part of the descent. It doesn’t really change much at all, which is another reason we prefer South Kaibab Trail.

Tip: This is a great turnaround point if you’re not the strongest hiker or you don’t want to lose too much time from your Grand Canyon itinerary.

Havasupai Gardens

After 3-mile resthouse, the going gets much easier on a flatter part of the plateau with small trees, cacti and other desert vegetation until reaching Havasuapi Gardens. Those far reaching views are gone, but you’ll be surprised at how green and attractive the gardens are considering all you can see from the rim is arid red rock formations.

Tip: This is the natural turnaround point for a half day hike, and we don’t recommend going any further unless you’re a very strong hiker.

4. Plateau Point

For the first time on the hike, you have a decision to make. You can continue on Bright Angel Trail down to the Colorado River or you can take a 3-mile roundtrip spur from Havusapai Gardens to Plateau Point instead. They’re separate trails, so if you go to Plateau Point you probably won’t be able to go down to Phantom Ranch. It would be too much.

Tip: We only recommend going to Plateau Point if you’ve already hiked down to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch, or if you’re staying at Havasupai Gardens Campground and have the spare time.

5. Phantom Ranch

After leaving Havasupai Gardens on Bright Angel Trail (not Plateau Point), you’ll pass by Tonto Trail and continue into Garden Creek. The hike suddenly springs into life with colorful leaves, bushes and running water. This was our favorite part of the hike. Next, you’ll turn a corner and see the trail curving around a huge canyon with 10 switchbacks leading down. It’s the biggest wow-moment on the trail.

Once you’re down, it’s a 1-mile straight shot to Pipe Creek Resthouse and the Colorado River. Follow the riverside path and cross Silver Bridge to access Phantom Ranch. We got a hot chocolate at the cafe and sat on a bench to take it all in. Look back up at the rim, yes, you have to get back up there! Decide whether to go back up Bright Angel Trail or take the steeper South Kaibab Trail instead.

Hiking Tips

• Set off early if you plan to hike the whole thing.
• Track your progress with a hiking app.
• Carry plenty of water, food and snacks.
• Wear comfortable but durable footwear.
• Always carry a means of treating water.
• Give yourself a cut off time for turning around.
• Keep on top of weather reports.
• Look for trail updates and warnings.
• See live conditions on the trail webcam.

Best Time To Hike Bright Angel Trail

We’ve already mentioned this but it’s important so we’ll say it again: do not attempt hiking Bright Angel Trail during the day in summer. You’d be putting yourself at serious risk of heat related issues. If you must hike in the summer, set off at first light and make sure you’re back at the rim by 9:00am-10:00am latest.

Hiking between late fall and early spring is much safer. We day hiked Rim to River in early December when we visited Grand Canyon in winter and conditions were perfect.

Even during our visit in November 2019, we remember the weather being hot and feeling glad we weren’t hiking inside the canyon. You have to remember the temperature on South Rim is much lower than inside the canyon, which traps heat like an oven.

If you only plan to hike down to 1.5-mile or 3-mile resthouse, you can hike any time of day (late fall-early spring). But if you want to go further, we strongly recommend setting off early so you have plenty of daylight hours. Remember, the days are shorter when the temperatures are cooler. We set off on our Rim to River day hike as daylight broke and it took us 9 hours.

The Morgan Conclusion

What we like: It’s easy to access from the main touristy area in Grand Canyon Village. The trail is more gradual which will suit certain visitors, and the top part of the hike is easy enough for most visitors to try. We really liked Garden Creek and the bottom portion of the trail.

What we don’t like: Although the view is superb from the rim, it doesn’t really change until getting beyond the gardens. It’s also a longer route to the Colorado River.

Is Bright Angel Trail worth it? Yes, beginners and intermediate hikers can easily hike a small portion of Bright Angel Trail before turning around at 1.5-mile or 3-mile resthouse to get a taste of hiking into the canyon. Plus, stronger hikers can continue down to the Colorado River gradually, rather than going down the steeper South Kaibab Trail. Overall, we prefer South Kaibab Trail because it’s more varied and picturesque, but Bright Angel Trail is easier to access and less difficult.

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We hope our guide to hiking Bright Angel Trail helps with planning your visit to the Grand Canyon!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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