The Bright Angel Trail follows a route used by the Havasupai people long before the park existed, down a break in the cliffs created by the Bright Angel Fault. From the trailhead beside Kolb Studio it descends 4,380 feet in about 7.8 miles to the Colorado River, and continues to Phantom Ranch. It is the best-maintained trail in the park, with seasonal drinking water at several points and resthouses for shade.
For day hikers, the key is choosing a sensible turnaround point. Going down is easy; coming back up, in thin air and often in heat, takes about twice as long. The National Park Service strongly advises against hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day, and every year it carries out hundreds of rescues of hikers who underestimated the canyon.
What to see and do: Bright Angel Trail
To the first or second tunnel
A short walk of under a mile round trip gives you a real sense of being inside the canyon. Good for families and anyone short of time.
1.5 Mile Resthouse
About 3 miles round trip with roughly 1,100 feet of elevation change. Allow 2–4 hours. Water is usually available in the warmer months — check current status, as pipeline breaks can shut off supply.
3 Mile Resthouse
About 6 miles round trip and 2,100 feet of elevation change; allow 4–6 hours. This is the furthest the park recommends for most day hikers in summer.
Havasupai Gardens and Plateau Point
Havasupai Gardens (formerly Indian Garden) is a shady oasis 4.5 miles down; Plateau Point, 1.5 miles further, looks straight down to the river. At 9 and 12 miles round trip respectively, these are long, strenuous day hikes for fit, experienced hikers — not summer outings.
How to get to Bright Angel Trail
- The trailhead is just west of Bright Angel Lodge in Grand Canyon Village, reached on foot or by the blue and red shuttle routes (Hermits Rest Route Transfer stop).
Insider tips
- Start at dawn, especially from May to September, and avoid hiking below the rim between 10 am and 4 pm in summer, when inner-canyon temperatures can exceed 110°F (43°C).
- Eat salty snacks as well as drinking water: drinking large amounts of water without food can cause hyponatremia, which is as dangerous as dehydration.
- Give mules the right of way: step to the uphill side of the trail and follow the wrangler’s instructions.
- In winter the upper trail is often icy. Microspikes (traction devices) make a big difference.
- Overnight trips below the rim require a backcountry permit; rooms at Phantom Ranch are allocated by lottery.
Best tours & tickets for Bright Angel Trail
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Bright Angel Trail:
Guided hike from US$225 Grand Canyon: South Kaibab Sunset Hike with Guide
A guided late-afternoon hike down the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point and Cedar Ridge — the classic short day hike below the rim — timed so you watch the canyon walls change colour at sunset. Remember that the climb back up is the hard part; the guide sets the pace. A newer listing with few reviews so far.
- Hike below the rim on the South Kaibab Trail
- Views from Ooh Aah Point and Cedar Ridge
- Walls changing colour as the sun sets
Guided open-air vehicle tour from US$139 Grand Canyon National Park: 2-Hour Small-Group Hummer Tour
A two-hour guided drive to South Rim viewpoints in an open-air Hummer, with a guide who explains the rock layers, the wildlife and the people of the canyon. A good option if you have half a day, do not want to deal with parking, or are travelling with people who cannot walk far.
- Small group in an open Hummer
- Rim viewpoints with a guide explaining geology and history
- Easy way to see a lot in a short time
Heritage train ticket from US$117 From Williams: Grand Canyon Railway Round-Trip Train Ticket
The Grand Canyon Railway runs between Williams and the South Rim on a line that first opened in 1901. A round trip gives you a relaxed ride through pine forest and grassland, a few hours to explore Grand Canyon Village on foot, and no driving or parking at the busiest place in the park. Check what your ticket includes regarding the park entrance fee.
- Vintage train from Williams to Grand Canyon Village and back
- Free time at the South Rim before the return journey
- Wild West show before boarding and entertainers on board
Scenic helicopter flight from US$269 Grand Canyon 30-Min Helicopter Flight + Hummer Tour Option
The classic South Rim flight: a half-hour loop from the heliport in Tusayan out over the Kaibab Forest and across the canyon, with thousands of reviews behind it. Flights over the national park stay above the rim and follow set air corridors, so this is a sightseeing flight, not a landing tour. Add the Hummer option to see the rim viewpoints on the ground afterwards.
- Flight over the national park from Tusayan, just outside the South Rim
- Optional guided Hummer tour along the rim
- The most-reviewed Grand Canyon flight on GetYourGuide
