Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail
Majority of the upper part of Bright Angel trail visible from the canyon rim.
Length	8.0 mi (12.9 km); 9.9 mi (15.9 km) to Phantom Ranch via River Trail
Location	Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Trailheads	Phantom Ranch Grand Canyon (South Rim)
Use	Hiking
Elevation
Elevation change	4,380 ft (1,340 m)
Highest point	South Rim, 6,860 ft (2,090 m)
Lowest point	Colorado River, 2,480 ft (760 m)
Hiking details
Trail difficulty	Strenuous
Season	All year
Sights	Grand Canyon Colorado River
Hazards	Severe Weather Overexertion Dehydration

The Bright Angel Trail is a hiking trail located in Grand Canyon National Park in the U.S. state of Arizona.

The trail originates at the Grand Canyon Village on the south rim of Grand Canyon, descending 4380 feet to the Colorado River. It has an average grade of 10% along its entire length. At trail's end, the River Trail continues another 1.9 miles to the Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch. These two trails combined are the most common method used to access Phantom Ranch by hikers and mules.

Two trails cross or join the Bright Angel Trail, the first being an intersection with the Tonto Trail at Indian Garden, leading toward the Monument Use Area to the west, and to the South Kaibab Trail 4.7 miles (7.6 km) to the east. The second is the River Trail, which officially begins when the Bright Angel Trail reaches the Colorado River at the River Resthouse (although some consider that the Bright Angel Trail officially ends after crossing the Colorado River at the Silver Bridge).

Grand Canyon National Park categorizes the Bright Angel Trail as a corridor trail. With this designation it receives regular maintenance and patrols by park rangers.

Water is available from the trans-canyon pipeline at the Mile-and-a-half Resthouse, the Three Mile Resthouse, and Indian Garden. During cooler months (usually October–April) the two higher elevation resthouses are shut off from the water supply to prevent the pipeline from freezing.

Below Indian Garden, both Garden Creek and Pipe Creek flow year-round (perennial). Water is also available at the River Resthouse from the Colorado River. All water from natural sources must be filtered, treated, or boiled prior to consuming.

Hikers can camp at Indian Garden Campground or at the Bright Angel Campground. At either site, they can stay overnight with a permit issued by the Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Information Center. Overnight use of the campgrounds is regulated by the National Park Service, and they call for a maximum number of groups (7 to 11 people) and parties (1 to 6 people), as well as a maximum total number of persons.