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Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch
Extremely StrenuousSAC: T2Out & Back

Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch

Grand Canyon National Park • Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

Distance19 mi(30.6 km)
Elevation Gain+4,460 ft(+1359 m)
High Point6,860 ft(2091 m)
Est. Duration9 - 12 hours (Multi-day recommended)Typical pace
Quick Answer & Key Takeaways

Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park is a 19-mile out & back trail with +4,460 feet of elevation gain, rated as Extremely Strenuous (SAC T2). Best hiked between October, November, December, March, April, the route requires approximately 9 - 12 hours (Multi-day recommended) and does not require an advance day-use permit.

Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous • Elevation gain: +4,460 ft
Water availability: 1.5-Mile Resthouse, 3-Mile Resthouse, Indian Garden, and Phantom Ranch (seasonal pipelines; always verify NPS water status).
Primary hazards: Deadly heat exhaustion and heat stroke (110°F+ at canyon floor in summer), Dehydration and hyponatremia, Inverted hiking profile (downhill first, brutal uphill second), Flash floods in side canyons
Permit requirement: No permit required

Trail Overview

Unlike mountain trails where the hardest effort is at the beginning, the Bright Angel Trail tempts hikers with an effortless downhill descent before requiring thousands of vertical feet of climbing back out under punishing desert heat. Passing through two hand-chiseled rock tunnels, the trail switchbacks down the Bright Angel Faultline. Indian Garden (Havasupai Gardens) offers cottonwood shade and year-round spring water before the trail plunges down the Devil's Corkscrew into the Vishnu Schist basement gorge to cross the Silver Suspension Bridge over the Colorado River.

Key Route Highlights

  • Two billion years of visible geology
  • Havasupai Gardens cottonwood oasis
  • Silver Suspension Bridge crossing over Colorado River
  • Historic Phantom Ranch canteen
Critical Hazards & Risk Factors
Deadly heat exhaustion and heat stroke (110°F+ at canyon floor in summer)
Dehydration and hyponatremia
Inverted hiking profile (downhill first, brutal uphill second)
Flash floods in side canyons
Ranger Safety Recommendations:
  • DO NOT attempt to hike to the river and back in a single day during summer months; dozens of emergency rescues occur every year.
  • Hike during the cooler hours: be off the inner canyon trail between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
  • Pair fluid intake with salty snacks or electrolyte replacement to avoid fatal exercise-associated hyponatremia.
Field Preparation Tool

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Logistics & Regulations

Permits & Reservations

No permit required for day hiking; backcountry permit strictly required for overnight stays at Bright Angel Campground or Phantom Ranch.

Optimal Season

October, November, December, March, April

Water Availability

1.5-Mile Resthouse, 3-Mile Resthouse, Indian Garden, and Phantom Ranch (seasonal pipelines; always verify NPS water status).

Pet / Dog Regulation

Not Allowed

Crowd Density

High Traffic

GPS Coordinates
36.0573, -112.1437Map →
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