Bright Angel Trail - Grand Canyon, AZ

eatstayplay.com - Arizona - Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail

GPS Coordinates: N 36° 03.404 W 112° 08.497

Find geocaches near Bright Angel Trail

What is a geocache? Click here to find about geocaching


	Courtesy of EatStayPlay.com

The Bright Angel Trail was originally an indian trail used by the Havasupai indians to commute between the rim and Indian Garden. The trail was improved by prospectors in the late 1800's. One of the miners, Ralph Cameron, realizing that the tourist trade was more profitable than the mining trade, bought out his partners and took control of the trail.

Cameron extended the trail from Indian Garden to the river and began to charge a toll of $1 for its use. The park service constructed the South Kaibab Trail shortly thereafter to provide tourist with a free access path to the river. In 1928, after a long ownership battle with the Mr. Cameron, ownership of the Bright Angel Trail was finally transferred to the National Park Service.

The Bright Angel Trail offers wonderful views all along the trail making it very easy to lose track of how far down you have hiked. Additionally, the steepness of the trail is very misleading on the way down. Plan on taking twice as long to hike up as it took to hike down.

Bright Angel Trail is the "world's most famous footpath". It is a wide pathway lined with rocks along much of its distance. This well-maintained trail is a well defined hiking trail. The usual dangers of a backcountry Grand Canyon trail - poor footing, obstacles along the trail like landslides, nearby precipitous drop-offs, and/or losing the trail - are almost entirely absent.

Some shade on trail, mostly from canyon walls and dependent on time of day. Give uphill hikers the right of way. Upper portion of trail may be extremely icy in winter or early spring.

Trailhead elevation is 6,785 feet. Elevation change is 4,420 feet along this 9.5-mile trail.

The trail is randomly patrolled by park rangers.

Facilities: Seasonal trail water (May - September) subjec tto pipeline breaks. Check at visitor center or backcountry information center for water status. Water is available year-round at the trailhead and at Indian Garden. However, it is highly recommended that visitors bring their own water.

Best Time To Visit: The Bright Angel Trail is open year-round, but snowfall may make the hike more difficult.

Fees: An entrance fee will be collected to enter the Grand Canyon National Park. There are no additional fees to use the trail.

Accessibility: The Bright Angel Trail is not handicap accessible.

Rules: Over 250 people each year are rescued from hiking the Grand Canyon. A majority of these people tried to hike to the Colorado River and back in the same day. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS STUNT! Several recent encounters between hikers and mules resulted in injuries to packers and the death of some mules. To ensure safety for yourself, other trail users, and mule riders, when encountering mules on the trails step off the trail on the uphill side away from the edge. Follow the directton of the wwangler. Remain completely quiet and stand perfectly still. Do not return to the trail until the last mule is 50 feet past your position.

Directions: Bright Angel Trail begins on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just west Bright Angel Lodge. Follow path along the canyon rim; trail begins my the mule coral.

Map: Click here for a map to Bright Angel Trail

Reservations: Reservations are not needed or accepted for Bright Angel Trail.

Attractions Near
Bright Angel Trail

Desert View Campground
Grand Canyon National Park
Mather Campground

Address

Grand Canyon National Park

P.O. Box 129

Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023

Phone
General: (928) 638-7888
Fax: (928) 638-7797

Website