Plateau Point Trail
A hard-earned river view from the floor of the canyon
About
Plateau Point is the payoff at the end of a serious below-the-rim hike on the Bright Angel Trail, reaching a flat overlook on the Tonto Platform with a straight-down view of the Colorado River nearly 1,300 feet further into the canyon. Round trip from the South Rim it runs about 12 miles with roughly 3,080 feet of elevation change and typically takes 9 to 12 hours, dropping through the switchbacks past Havasupai Gardens before the trail levels out and cuts northeast across the plateau to the point. This is a full-day inner-canyon hike, not a rim stroll, and the last stretch beyond the Tonto Trail junction has no shade. Seasonal water is available at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses (May through October) and year-round at Havasupai Gardens, but nothing at Plateau Point itself.
Good to know
- Reached only by continuing past Havasupai Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail — not a standalone trailhead hike
- Reopened in late June 2026 after a waterline-construction closure; check current park alerts before you go
- Exposed, waterless final approach — plan around the heat of the day
Best Time to Hike It
Seasonal water is available at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses (May through October) and year-round at Havasupai Gardens, but nothing at Plateau Point itself — plan your water strategy around the season you're hiking.
Trail Tips
- Reached only by continuing past Havasupai Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail — not a standalone trailhead hike.
- Reopened in late June 2026 after a waterline-construction closure; check current park alerts before you go.
- Exposed, waterless final approach — plan around the heat of the day.
Getting to Plateau Point
Round trip from the South Rim it runs about 12 miles with roughly 3,080 feet of elevation change and typically takes 9 to 12 hours, dropping through the switchbacks past Havasupai Gardens before the trail levels out and cuts northeast across the plateau to the point.
What to Expect on Plateau Point Trail
Plateau Point is the payoff at the end of a serious below-the-rim hike on the Bright Angel Trail, reaching a flat overlook on the Tonto Platform with a straight-down view of the Colorado River nearly 1,300 feet further into the canyon. This is a full-day inner-canyon hike, not a rim stroll, and the last stretch beyond the Tonto Trail junction has no shade.
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