Bright Angel to Phantom Ranch

The route begins at Bright Angel, 6,840' in Grand Canyon Village, and ends at Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River. From the trailhead, follow Bright Angel Trail through the 1st and 2nd Tunnels, reaching 1.5-Mile Resthouse at 1.5 miles and 3-Mile Resthouse at 3 miles. At 4.5 miles, reach Havasupai Gardens. A spur on the left leads 1.5 miles to Plateau Point; stay straight on the main trail and drop through the tight switchbacks of Devil's Corkscrew into the Inner Gorge. At 8 miles, reach the Colorado River at River Resthouse, having lost 4,380 vertical feet from the rim. Turn onto River Trail and follow it 1.9 miles, crossing the river on Silver Bridge, to reach Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. There is no shade below Havasupai Gardens, and the trail is heavily used by mule trains; yield the uphill side of the trail when mules pass. Most parties treat this as an overnight rather than a day trip; reserve a Bright Angel Campground permit or a Phantom Ranch bunk well in advance, since each runs on its own separate lottery.