MAY 2017 :: Rim to Indian Garden to Bright Angel Camp to Indian Garden to Rim
Meet at Backcountry Office and adjust permit to add hikers. Park at the backcountry office parking lot and walk to BA Lodge. Check in at BA Lodge for any meal reservations.
Meet at Backcountry Office and adjust permit to add hikers. Park at the backcountry office parking lot and walk to BA Lodge. Check in at BA Lodge for any meal reservations.
DAY 1: The first day of this 5 day/4-night backpack is down the Bright Angel Trail (BA Trail) to camp at Indian Garden.
BA Trail to Indian Garden
Trailhead is located adjacent to Kolb Studio on the rim (elevation 6,860). Parking available at Backcountry Office parking lot.
- 4.7 miles rim to Indian Garden
- 3,060 feet elev. change; 18% avg. grade
- 1-1/2 Mile Rest House – outhouse, emergency phone (no water Nov-Mar)
- 3-Mile Rest House – emergency phone (no water Nov-Mar)
- Indian Garden (elevation 3,800 feet)
Ranger station, emergency phone, compost outhouses, water facets in campground and by mule corral, and campground. Tree-covered designated campsites with ramada and picnic table. Each campsite also has two ammo cans for storing food (a must-use to keep the mice and other animals from getting your food).
Things to do...
- Indian ruins east of Indian Garden off the Tonto Trail, and north of Indian Garden off the BA Trail. Maybe done as a side trip when heading down/up BA Trail. (1.5 mi RT from camp)
- Plateau Point Trail: Easy trail to edge (with railing) for view of Colorado River and lower BA Trail. Water facet. (3 mi RT)
- Ranger Programs (seasonal)
DAY 2: The second day is a hike down the lower part of the BA Trail crossing Garden Creek where the trail has been washed out, dropping down the Devil’s Corkscrew and crossing Pipe Creek several times, hiking above the Colorado River up river on a trail cut out of the cliff and trudging through a sand dune, and crossing the sliver suspension bridge to Bright Angel Camp. There are no potable water sources between Indian Garden and Bright Angel Camp, so fill up before leaving IG.
Notes: The Devil’s Corkscrew is brutally hot during summer months and should be attempted during early morning or late evening hours. Also, during hot weather, the sand dunes become a dangerous slog.
Indian Garden to Bright Angel Campground
Trail leaves the north end of campground and continues on east side of mule corral.
- 4.8 miles Indian Garden to Bright Angel Camp
- Indian Garden (3800 ft / 1160 m) to River Resthouse (2480 ft / 756 m)
- River Resthouse (2480 ft / 756 m) to BA Camp (2480 ft / 756 m): 1.6 mi
- 1,254 feet elevation change; 18% average grade
- 4 to 5 wet crossings, boulder hopping
- River Resthouse – outhouse, emergency phone
- Over 1 mile of exposed sand dune
- 0.4 miles Bright Angel Camp to Phantom Ranch
- Phantom Ranch (elevation 2,546)
Ranger station, emergency phone, pay phones and bathrooms, cabins, dorms, and canteen. Canteen sells candy, postcards and stamps, tshirts (design only found at Phantom Ranch), miscellaneous sundries, lemonade, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, beer and wine. No soda pop. Canteen open from 8:30AM to 4PM and 8PM to 10PM.
DAY 3: On the third day, rest and explore area.
Things to do...
- Clear Creek Trail to Phantom Overlook/CCC bench (elevation 3,600 feet, 2.4 mi RT *)
- Clear Creek Trail/Sumner Wash overlook of PR and river (elevation 3,750 feet, 4.8 mi RT *)
- River Trail between two bridges (1.2 mi loop)
- North Kaibab Trail to Ribbon Falls (11.2 mi RT)
- Ranger Programs (seasonal)
* Includes round trip mileage from Phantom Ranch to Clear Creek Trail at 0.6 mi; Bright Angel Camp to Phantom Ranch at 0.8 mi. (1.4 miles).
DAY 4: On the fourth day, after breakfast, start packing everything up for the slow hike up the BA Trial back to Indian Garden. Once on the trail, pace yourself to get to key landmarks (sand dune, rest house, corkscrew, creek crossings) with breaks between. Of course, take pictures along the way, which doubles as a short break.
Bright Angel Camp to Indian Garden
Trail leaves the southern end of the campground.
- 4.8 miles rim to Indian Garden
- 1,254 feet elevation change; 18% average grade
- River Trail Junction Rest House – outhouse, emergency phone
- Indian Garden (elevation 3,800 feet)
DAY 5: On the final day, after breakfast, start packing everything up for the hike up the BA Trial back to rim. Once on the trail, pace yourself to get to each Rest House with breaks between, and take a break at each rest house. Of course, take pictures along the way, which doubles as a short break.
Indian Garden to rim
Trail leaves the south end of the campground.
- 4.7 miles I.G. to rim
- 3,060 feet elevation gain; 18% average grade
- 3-Mile Rest House – emergency phone (no water Nov-Mar)
- 1-1/2 Mile Rest House – outhouse, emergency phone (no water Nov-Mar)
- South Rim (elevation 6,860 feet)