Bright Angel Trailhead

Best Time to Start

Start early, especially in warmer months — the trail is well-graded but steep in both directions, and rangers note the climb back out takes roughly twice as long as the descent. An early start gives more buffer before afternoon heat sets in on the exposed lower sections.

Trail Tips

• Ranger-guided walks also depart from this trailhead — a good option if you want context on the trail's history and geology.
• Fill up at the year-round water station before you start, even if you're only going as far as the first resthouse.
• Arrive early for parking, or plan on the shuttle from the Visitor Center if Lot D is full.

Getting to the Trailhead

Trailhead parking is limited and fills early; most visitors park at the Backcountry Information Center (Lot D) and walk 5-10 minutes, or ride the free Village Route (Blue) shuttle from the Visitor Center. A water bottle filling station is at the trailhead year-round, with seasonal water stations at the resthouses in warmer months.

What to Expect at Bright Angel Trailhead

Bright Angel Trailhead sits at 6,840 feet in Grand Canyon Village, just west of Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio, and Kolb Studio, and it's the starting point for the most heavily used corridor trail into the canyon. From here, Bright Angel Trail switchbacks down through two tunnels before opening onto long views of the inner gorge, with resthouses at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile marking the way toward Havasupai Gardens and, eventually, Plateau Point or the Colorado River.