Pipe Spring

Pipe Spring is a perennial water source in the inner canyon, tucked into the Pipe Creek drainage along the Tonto Trail between the South Kaibab Trail's Tipoff junction and Bright Angel Trail near Havasupai Gardens. The spring issues from the Bright Angel Shale near an old backcountry cabin, and hikers on this stretch of the Tonto reach it not long after passing Burro Spring, another shaded seep lined with cottonwood trees to the west.

What to know

• Pipe Spring is considered one of the more dependable water sources on this section of the Tonto Trail, but like all inner-canyon water it still needs to be treated before drinking.
• It sits well below the rim in exposed, hot terrain with little shade for most of the approach — this is backcountry hiking, not a rim walk.
• Check current water source conditions with the Backcountry Information Center before relying on Pipe Spring, since canyon springs can run low or dry depending on the season.

There's no direct rim access to Pipe Spring; reaching it means committing to a multi-day Tonto Trail traverse or a long connector hike from South Kaibab or Bright Angel.