Nature Trail

Best Time to Walk It

Since this trail is only reached after a full rim-to-river descent, timing follows the broader seasonal considerations for that trip rather than a season specific to this short walk.

Trail Tips

• Level, easy walking on the canyon floor — no significant elevation change, and connects to the corridor trail network (Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails, plus the route toward Clear Creek).
• Cottonwood shade along Bright Angel Creek is a rarity this deep in the canyon.
• Anyone down here should already be carrying a backcountry permit for Bright Angel Campground or a Phantom Ranch reservation.

Getting to the Nature Trail

You only reach this stretch of the canyon on foot, by mule, or by rafting the Colorado River, since it lies below both rims. This is not a standalone destination hike, but a walking route within the Phantom Ranch/Bright Angel Campground area.

What to Expect on the Nature Trail

This short trail sits at the bottom of the canyon in the Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground area, along Bright Angel Creek near the Colorado River. It's a walking route rather than a backcountry trek — flat, shaded by cottonwoods, and used by campers and Phantom Ranch guests to move between the campground, the ranger station, and the creek rather than to reach a distant destination.