Pipe Creek Beach Trail
The river's edge at the bottom of the Bright Angel Trail.
About
Pipe Creek Beach sits where the Bright Angel Trail finally meets the Colorado River, at the River Resthouse junction with the River Trail. It's the reward at the bottom of one of the toughest day hikes in the park: roughly 8 miles one-way from the Bright Angel Trailhead on the South Rim, dropping about 4,380 feet from 6,860 feet at the rim to 2,480 feet at the river. The trail is well-graded and the most heavily used corridor route into the canyon, but the descent still crosses several climate zones and the climb back out is far harder than the way down.
What to know
- Below Havasupai Gardens, Pipe Creek and Garden Creek run year-round, and river water is accessible at River Resthouse — but nothing there is treated, so plan to filter or otherwise treat any water you collect.
- River Resthouse has composting toilets and an emergency phone, not a water pump.
- From the beach, the River Trail continues about 1.9 miles further to Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch.
- Seasonal water stops exist higher up the trail at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses in warmer months only.
Best Time to Hike Here
The descent crosses several climate zones and the climb back out is far harder than the way down — cooler months make both stretches considerably more manageable.
Trail Tips
- Below Havasupai Gardens, Pipe Creek and Garden Creek run year-round, and river water is accessible at River Resthouse — but nothing there is treated, so plan to filter or otherwise treat any water you collect.
- River Resthouse has composting toilets and an emergency phone, not a water pump.
- Seasonal water stops exist higher up the trail at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses in warmer months only.
Getting to Pipe Creek Beach
Descend the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim, past Havasupai Gardens, to the River Resthouse junction. From the beach, the River Trail continues about 1.9 miles further to Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch.
What to Expect at Pipe Creek Beach
Pipe Creek Beach sits where the Bright Angel Trail finally meets the Colorado River, at the River Resthouse junction with the River Trail. It's the reward at the bottom of one of the toughest day hikes in the park: roughly 8 miles one-way from the Bright Angel Trailhead on the South Rim, dropping about 4,380 feet from 6,860 feet at the rim to 2,480 feet at the river.
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