Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail

Posted on by

One of the most well known trails below the rim of the Grand Canyon is the Bright Angel Trail. Meandering steeply 19 miles into the depths of the Grand Canyon, the Bright Angel Trail is not for the beginning hiker. There are warning signs everywhere advising to take serious precautions while hiking down into the canyon. Even the relatively short hike down 1.5 miles to the resthouse is not for the faint at heart.

A snapshot of what your hiking options are below the rim on the Bright Angel Trailhead.

Since we were with our children, we only walked ten minutes or so down the Bright Angel Trail holding on tightly to our kids hands. I had heard that the best way to experience the canyon was to go into it thus we thought a short, safe walk would be worth the views. We noticed lots of people doing the hike, even some families with children, but we didn’t feel comfortable taking our kids very far. It is a long way down if you slip and fall, and there are no safety railings to stop you.

Here are a few shots I took during our short walk into the Bright Angel Trail. Although we didn’t go far it made me realize that I needed to add a hike down to the bottom of the canyon onto my every-growing bucket list. A stay at the Bright Angel Camp would be amazing!

Start of the Bright Angel Trailhead

Glorious views!

Here we go

Another way to get down to the bottom of the canyon is to ride by mule. Personally I would much rather walk on my own two feet. I wouldn’t want to hold a donkey responsible for my life! I think I’d pass out of fear riding a donkey down below the rim. But it is an option.

As we venture down, the views become even more breathtaking than before.

It truly is a magical place!

We got a little further before we decided it was best to head back.

You can see the trail in the distance meandering down. At parts it is quite steep.

 

Mother Nature’s masterpiece

Just that short walk made me decide to do a little hike of my own later on that same day without the kids. It was too beautiful to not explore further. Stay tuned for a sneak peak at my lovely hike!

If you go:

There are several hikes below the rim on the Bright Angel Trailhead:

  • Bright Angel to 1.5 Mile Resthouse ( 3 miles roundtrip)
  • Bright Angel to 3.0 Miles Resthouse (6 miles roundtrip)
  • Bright Angel to Indian Gardens* (9 miles roundtrip)
  • Bright Angel to Plateau Point* (12 miles roundtrip)
  • Bright Angel to Bright Angel Camp * (19 miles roundtrip)

*Day hiking is not recommend by the National Park due to long distances and extreme elevations.

If you want a more challenging hike, check out the hike down to Ooh Ahh Lookout Point.

From the Visitor’s Center, jump on the free shuttle and ride it to the start of the Bright Angel Trailhead. For more information, please visit The Grand Canyon National Park website. It is loaded with excellent information and resources on planning your visit to the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

22 thoughts on “Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail”

  1. maamej – Australia – I'm a single white Aussie mum of anglo-celtic background with a teenage son whose dad is from Ghana in West Africa. I’m blogging to share experiences, insights & funny stories about living in a mixed family. I also blog about health, politics, culture, racism and food.
    maamej on said:

    Well I think this is on my bucket list now too, it looks amazing, great pics. When my son and I were in the US earlier this year we went to the Canyon but it was a very touristy fly in fly out affair. Still awesome, but I was longing to walk down into it.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Great! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      So happy! We just planned our next summer adventure with the kids. A trip to the Black Mountains of South Dakota. Never thought it would be “exciting” but I have a lot of friends who have done the road trip through that area and said it is great for the kids! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  3. lexklein – I’m a restless, world-wandering, language-loving, book-devouring traveler trying to straddle the threshold between a traditional, stable family life and a free-spirited, irresistible urge to roam. Even when I was young, I always wanted to be somewhere else. I was the kid who loved camp, vacations, sleepovers, and all forms of transportation. Did my restlessness spring from a love of languages and other cultures? From a fiction fixation and all the places I’ve visited on the pages of a globeful of authors? I think it’s more primordial, though, an innate itch that demands scratching at regular intervals. I’m sure I won’t have a travel story every time I add to this blog, but I’ve got a lot! I’m a pretty happy camper (literally), but there is some angst as well as excitement in always having one foot out the door. Come along for the trip as I take the second step …
    lexklein on said:

    Ditto and ditto. We took our kids only a little way down (I was way more nervous about them than myself) and I, too, want to go back and do the full hike to the bottom and stay overnight!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I have way too many things on my bucket list!!! But that should keep me busy right?!

      Reply ↓
  4. Van Nomads – We are Maria and Jason. Two crazy 30 somethings from New York City who decided to trade in our metro cards for a young-at-heart cargo van. Retired from being a phone company's service vehicle, Houdini, is has transformed into our home on wheels and is taking us all the way to the southern most tip of South America. Follow along on our adventures.
    Van Nomads on said:

    Was able to hike this a number of years ago and stay on the bottom. Anxious to see it again with Maria.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Wonderful and lucky you!!! I hope to do it someday with my husband or even my kids once they are old enough!

      Reply ↓
  5. Painting with Bob – * Painter and Decorator, Project manager. Project consultant, author * Wallcovering, color, texture, and fine and decorative finishing specialist. * Brush, roller, spray gun, and custom tool applications. * Commercial, residential-commercial, industrial, government projects - Florida and Midwest (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin). * New construction, existing, expansion, upgrades, remodeling, renovation, restoration, maintenance. Note: Please click on "About Bob, the Painter," on the blog. Thank you.
    Painting with Bob on said:

    Phenomenal view! I’ve never been there in person. What’s the view through that huge “hole” in the rock formation?

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! The hole in the rock is a natural formation and the view through is the rest of the trail! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  6. Lyle Balenquah – I seek to provide an understanding of the longevity and cultural connections that Hopi People have to the landscapes of the American Southwest.
    PaaqaviINC on said:

    I know this place. You showed your respect for Mother Nature with this post. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I love nature!!! It always makes me happy! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  7. anotherday2paradise – Durban South Africa and Florida USA – I enjoy writing about absolutely anything, and started blogging with WordPress in 2012. This was my 'Hammock Lady' blog, and I really enjoyed sharing my travels here: http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/ In November 2013, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I started my blog afresh, and here it is. I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to do two round-the-world trips and visit more than forty countries so far. This year we visited our 7th continent, Antarctica. I enjoy photographing wildlife, especially in my backyard in Florida. I was born and brought up in England. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970. We now live in Florida, USA. I have a son and a daughter and five gorgeous grandchildren currently aged between 6 and 21 years. I'm so happy that you've taken the time to visit my blog, and would love for you to join me on my travels. Sylvia.
    anotherday2paradise on said:

    What a wonderful place to go hiking, Nicole. Your photos are spectacular. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sylvia!

      Reply ↓

  8. This post brought back lots of great hiking memories in the Grand Canyon. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I would love to go back! I loved the Grand Canyon. Good thing is it is not far from Tucson.

      Reply ↓
  9. restlessjo – Hi! I’m Jo! Johanna when I’m feeling posh, Jan to my Dad, and Joasiu to my Polish family. A bit of a mix-up, that’s me. The one constant, however, is my restless nature. I love to travel and to explore our world. It doesn’t have to be the big wide world. I can be ridiculously happy not too far from home, so long as I’m seeking new horizons. Of course I have a wish list, and it was to help me fulfil my dreams that I started to write travel guides for a venture called Simonseeks. I’d always kept a travel diary, and it was hugely satisfying to share my experiences and to make new friends who shared my passion for travel. Alas, Simonseeks hit a few troubles, but I still find myself writing about my travels. I’ve become addicted. I’d love to share them, and to make more friends. So, it has to be a blog- right? Or do I mean- write?
    restlessjo on said:

    The Edge of Vastness! How very apt, Nicole 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jo!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! It is a beautiful hike! You can go as long as your legs allow! Hard part though is getting back up!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I would love to visit!!! Someday I hope to!

      Reply ↓

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.