Existing comment:
Bright Angel Trail:
Bright Angel Trail descends 4.6 miles from the canyon rim to Indian Garden, then continues an additional 3.2 miles to the Colorado River. The Bright Angel trailhead is located near the Kolb Studio.
The trail zigzags down the canyon toward the Colorado River. The Bright Angel is Grand Canyon's most heavily used trail. For centuries, Havasupai Indians used this trail route, which has two great virtues -- water and access. A reliable spring emerges at Indian Garden, and a natural break in the cliffs provides access.
In the 1890s, prospectors improved the old Havasupai route. One prospector, Ralph Cameron, secured control of the trail through mining claims and then charged tolls for trail use. After years of legal battle, in 1928 the National Park Service gained jurisdiction over the trail and tolls ceased. The Bright Angel has been Grand Canyon's most popular trail ever since.
The conspicuous trail north of Indian Garden is the Plateau Point Trail, which leads 1.4 miles from Indian Garden to Plateau Point, an overlook 1400 feet above the Colorado River. |