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Old Bright Angel Trail
A century-old, unmaintained route into Bright Angel Canyon
About
The Old Bright Angel Trail is a historic, unmaintained route on the North Rim, dropping into Bright Angel Canyon toward its confluence with Roaring Springs Canyon. It was originally surveyed in 1902 by Francois Matthes for the U.S. Geological Survey and served for a time as the main cross-canyon route from the north before it was abandoned around 1920 in favor of the newly built Roaring Springs Canyon alignment, which became today's North Kaibab Trail.
What to expect
This is not a maintained corridor trail. It's overgrown and vague in places after roughly a century without upkeep, and route-finding through dense scrub oak is part of the challenge, especially near the top. The path descends through the same limestone and sandstone layers exposed throughout this side of the canyon before reaching the creek drainage below. Because it's an old, unofficial route rather than a signed park trail, it demands real backcountry navigation experience and is not a hike to take on casually or without a map and route beta in hand.
- Unmaintained and overgrown — expect to lose the trail at points, particularly in the first mile
- Descends into Bright Angel Canyon toward its confluence with Roaring Springs
- Connects historically to the modern North Kaibab Trail corridor below
Best Time to Attempt It
Like the rest of the North Rim, this route is only accessible during the seasonal operating window; route-finding is harder when brush is fully leafed out in summer.
Trail Tips
- Unmaintained and overgrown — expect to lose the trail at points, particularly in the first mile, and route-finding through dense scrub oak is part of the challenge.
- Descends into Bright Angel Canyon toward its confluence with Roaring Springs.
- Connects historically to the modern North Kaibab Trail corridor below — a piece of trail history worth knowing even if you take the modern route instead.
Getting to Old Bright Angel Trail
This is not a maintained corridor trail — it's overgrown and vague in places after roughly a century without upkeep, demanding real backcountry navigation experience and a map with route beta in hand.
What to Expect on Old Bright Angel Trail
The Old Bright Angel Trail is a historic, unmaintained route on the North Rim, dropping into Bright Angel Canyon toward its confluence with Roaring Springs Canyon. It was originally surveyed in 1902 by Francois Matthes for the U.S. Geological Survey and served for a time as the main cross-canyon route from the north before it was abandoned around 1920 in favor of the newly built Roaring Springs Canyon alignment, which became today's North Kaibab Trail.
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