Bright Angel Campground Route

Best Time to Visit Bright Angel Campground

NPS does not recommend this as a day hike — it's an overnight backcountry trip for prepared hikers, with the climb back out taking substantially longer than the way down. Cooler months reduce the risk on both descent and the harder return climb; summer heat below the rim is a serious factor on either trail.

Trail Tips for Bright Angel Campground

• Camping here requires a backcountry permit; day hikers should not plan on reaching the river and back in one day.
• The South Kaibab route has no water or shade at all — carry everything you need if you choose that trail down.
• Budget substantially more time for the climb back out than the descent took, on either route.

Getting to Bright Angel Campground

Coming down the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim covers roughly 9.3 miles and about 4,400 feet of elevation loss, with water available seasonally at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses and year-round at Havasupai Gardens along the way. The South Kaibab Trail is more direct at around 7 miles with roughly 4,700 feet of descent, but it's a ridgeline route with no water and almost no shade the entire way. Both trails cross the Colorado River on suspension bridges to reach the campground.

What to Expect at Bright Angel Campground

Bright Angel Campground sits at the bottom of the canyon, a half mile north of the Colorado River where Bright Angel Creek meets it — the reward at the end of two very different descents. The campground has a ranger station, potable water, and toilets year-round, plus cottonwood shade trees along Bright Angel Creek, a rarity below the rim. Meals are available nearby at Phantom Ranch with advance reservations.