Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
Descend into the Grand Canyon on its most maintained corridor trail.
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Length
- 12.2 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 3,080 ft
- Duration
- 8–10
- Best Season
- Oct–Apr
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Features
- Inner canyon, Colorado River views
About the trail
Bright Angel is the Grand Canyon's premier rim-to-river corridor. From the South Rim Trailhead, the trail switches steeply down through Kaibab limestone and Coconino sandstone, passing rest houses at 1.5 and 3 miles. Indian Garden, 4.5 miles down, is a shaded cottonwood oasis with water year-round. From there a flat 1.5-mile spur leads to Plateau Point, a dramatic perch 1,300 feet above the Colorado River.
Trailhead map & directions
Turn-by-turn route
- From Grand Canyon Village, park at the Backcountry Information Center lot.
- Walk west on the Rim Trail to the Bright Angel Trailhead near Bright Angel Lodge.
- Descend the switchbacks past the 1.5 and 3 mile rest houses.
- Reach Indian Garden at 4.5 miles; refill water.
- Continue 1.5 miles on the flat spur to Plateau Point.
- Reverse the route. The climb out takes twice as long as the descent.
Parking
Backcountry Information Center or Village Route shuttle (Blue Line).
Tips from the trail
- NEVER attempt rim to river to rim in one day. Rangers rescue hikers who try this every week.
- Water at the rest houses runs May–October only.
- Start at first light — the inner canyon reaches 110°F in summer.
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