The Bright Angel Trails - Backpack, Camp, Hike, and Horseback near Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
~223-225 Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA,Grand Canyon Village,Arizona
36.057620007787776, -112.1435687861316
0.3 miles NW of Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Address: ~223-225 Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA
GPS: 36°3'27.4"N 112°8'36.8"W
Maps | Directions
State: Arizona
Trail Length: 12.30 miles
Trail Type: Out & Back
Hike Difficulty: Advanced
Elevation Gain: 3188 feet
Trails/Routes: 1.4-9.8 mi

Restrooms Rivers Rocks Wildflowers Pet Friendly National Park

Backpack, Camp, Hike, and Horseback

  • Prepare yourself for switchbacks as part of a tough elevation gain on the Bright Angel trail to Plateau Point trail. This trail features spectacular views as you hike along the edge of Arizona’s Grand Canyon and brings you to incredible views of the Colorado River. Ranger station access is available at the Indian Garden campground as it is quite difficult.
  • Bright Angel Trail to Bright Angel Campground and River dirt trail is one of the most famous trails near Grand Canyon, Arizona. The well-maintained trail encompasses incredible views and has an elevation gain of 5029 feet. The campground features picnic tables. The route is 19 miles one way and is an out and back.
  • The South Kaibab Trail Tonto Trail to Bright Angel point-to-point Trail is 12.4 miles in distance with over 3,000 feet in elevation gain offering fantastic views of the Grand Canyon. The Tonto Trail is over 70 miles of rough terrain only suggested for advanced hikers.
  • The popular out-and-back Bright Angel Trail to Three-Mile Resthouse is 5.4 miles out in distance. The trail includes many steep switchbacks and 360 degrees of absolutely stunning views of the inside of the canyon. The Bright Angel trail will take you from Grand Canyon village down to the Three-Mile Resthouse. The challenging up-hill return will likely take you twice as long as the steep descent. The narrow trail takes you right down the canyon with sheer cliffs up above you. Be sure to pace yourself as the elevation changes are abrupt in this Grand Canyon terrain. The trail condition varies depending on the time of year, therefore, it is important to prepare for shadeless extreme heat in the summer and icy patches in winter months. There is water available on the trail so be sure to bring bottles to fill up. Pit toilets, covered shelter, and drinking water are all available at the Resthouse.

The Bright Angel Trail connects to:

  • Plateau point
  • Mile-and-a-half resthouse
  • Indian garden
  • River resthouse
  • Bright Angel campground (via the river trail)
  • Phantom Ranch

Mapped Route/Trail Distances

Bright Angel to Plateau Point 6.1 miles
Indian Garden from Bright Angel Trail 4.6 miles
Bright Angel to One-and-a-Half Mile Resthouse 1.4 miles
Bright Angel to Tonto Trail 5.1 miles
Bright Angel to Bright Angel Campground 9.5 miles
Bright Angel to Phantom Ranch 9.8 miles
View on Map
1.1K Edited by nicole97

More Information

Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary

https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/grand-canyon-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diin

America’s Best Desert Dayhikes: Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point - Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op P

https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/americas-best-desert-dayhikes-bright-angel-trail-plateau-point

Grand Canyon National Park: Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point

https://www.backpacker.com/trips/grand-canyon-national-park-bright-angel-trail-to-plateau-point/

Grand Canyon, 3-Mile Resthouse (Bright Angel Trail)

https://mapio.net/pic/p-58666614/

Three Mile Resthouse on Bright Angel Trail : Photos, Diagrams & Topos : SummitPost

https://www.summitpost.org/three-mile-resthouse-on-bright-angel-trail/853801
Add Resource

Link to another great resource

Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

 Read More
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

  1. Head west (344 ft)
  2. Turn right toward Village Loop Drive (141 ft)
  3. Turn right onto Village Loop Drive (0.4 mi)
  4. Turn left to stay on Village Loop Drive (0.4 mi)
  5. Turn right (105 ft)
  6. Turn left
    Destination will be on the left
    (348 ft)
or

  • The hike to Plateau Point commences with the Bright Angel Trailhead. To reach the Bright Angel trailhead, located west of the Bright Angel Lodge you have two options, either park at Lot D at the Backcountry Information Center and walk 5 minutes to the trailhead, or park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and catch the free shuttle bus (:20 minutes one way). Courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • To reach the Bright Angel trailhead, located west of the Bright Angel Lodge you have two options, either park at Lot D at the Backcountry Information Center and walk 5 minutes to the trailhead, or park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and catch the free shuttle bus (:20 minutes one way). Courtesy of the National Park Service.
  • An Express shuttle will deliver you to the South Kaibab trailhead from the Bright Angel Lodge bus stop.

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Plateau Point View courtesy of Michael Quinn - National Park Service↗ Plateau Point View courtesy of Michael Quinn - National Park Service↗
Plateau Point Grand Canyon courtesy of brewbrooks↗ Plateau Point Grand Canyon courtesy of brewbrooks↗ Bright Angel Trail - Plateau Point courtesy of Mrmcdonnell↗ Bright Angel Trail - Plateau Point courtesy of Mrmcdonnell↗ Tents at Bright Angel campground courtesy of Grand Canyon Association↗ Tents at Bright Angel campground courtesy of Grand Canyon Association↗ Bright Angel campground courtesy of Bob Ribokas↗ Bright Angel campground courtesy of Bob Ribokas↗ Grand Canyon National Park: The Tonto Trail courtesy of Michael Quinn - National Park Service↗ Grand Canyon National Park: The Tonto Trail courtesy of Michael Quinn - National Park Service↗ The Tonto Trail courtesy of Michael Quinn - National Park Service↗ The Tonto Trail courtesy of Michael Quinn - National Park Service↗ Tonto Platform courtesy of brewbooks↗ Tonto Platform courtesy of brewbooks↗

Trails

Distance ?

6.1 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-3,312 feet

Real Ascent ?

848 feet

Real Descent ?

4,160 feet

Avg Grade (-6°)

-11%

Grade (-59° to 41°)

-164% to 88%

Distance ?

4.6 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-2,999 feet

Real Ascent ?

636 feet

Real Descent ?

3,635 feet

Avg Grade (-7°)

-13%

Grade (-53° to 41°)

-132% to 86%

Distance ?

1.4 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-1,091 feet

Real Ascent ?

331 feet

Real Descent ?

1,422 feet

Avg Grade (-8°)

-15%

Grade (-55° to 35°)

-143% to 70%

Distance ?

5.1 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-3,130 feet

Real Ascent ?

682 feet

Real Descent ?

3,812 feet

Avg Grade (-7°)

-12%

Grade (-59° to 41°)

-164% to 88%

Distance ?

9.5 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-4,319 feet

Real Ascent ?

1,728 feet

Real Descent ?

6,047 feet

Avg Grade (-5°)

-9%

Grade (-59° to 41°)

-164% to 88%

Distance ?

9.8 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-4,272 feet

Real Ascent ?

1,778 feet

Real Descent ?

6,050 feet

Avg Grade (-5°)

-8%

Grade (-59° to 41°)

-164% to 88%

Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.