A narrow dirt hiking trail winds through desert scrub toward towering red rock buttes deep inside Grand Canyon National Park.
Day Hike

Plateau Point Trailhead

A quiet overlook above the roar of the Colorado River

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Grand Canyon interior, AZ

About

Plateau Point sits on the edge of the Tonto Platform, a thousand feet above the Colorado River, and it's one of the few inner-canyon spots where you can both see and hear the river below. The trailhead for this final leg starts near Havasupai Gardens (formerly Indian Garden), reached via the Bright Angel Trail about 4.5 miles below the South Rim. From the rim, Plateau Point is a 12-mile round trip with roughly 3,080 feet of elevation change and typically takes 9-12 hours — a full-day undertaking, not a casual walk. Hikers already camped or resting at Havasupai Gardens can do just the point itself: a relatively flat but fully exposed 3-mile round trip across open plateau with no shade.

Good to know

  • The Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point segment is currently open
  • No shade or reliable water along the plateau crossing
  • A popular sunrise and sunset spot for those overnighting at Havasupai Gardens

Best Time to Visit

A popular sunrise and sunset spot for those overnighting at Havasupai Gardens, since the shorter 3-mile round trip from the gardens makes those timings realistic.

Trail Tips

  • The Tonto Trail junction to Plateau Point segment is currently open.
  • No shade or reliable water along the plateau crossing.
  • Consider camping at Havasupai Gardens specifically to make a sunrise or sunset trip to the point realistic.

Getting to This Trailhead

The trailhead for this final leg starts near Havasupai Gardens (formerly Indian Garden), reached via the Bright Angel Trail about 4.5 miles below the South Rim. From the rim, Plateau Point is a 12-mile round trip with roughly 3,080 feet of elevation change and typically takes 9-12 hours.

What to Expect at Plateau Point Trailhead

Plateau Point sits on the edge of the Tonto Platform, a thousand feet above the Colorado River, and it's one of the few inner-canyon spots where you can both see and hear the river below. Hikers already camped or resting at Havasupai Gardens can do just the point itself: a relatively flat but fully exposed 3-mile round trip across open plateau with no shade.

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