Length

• 4.6 miles ( 7.4 km): Bright Angel Trailhead to Indian Garden
• 6.1 miles (9.8 km): Bright Angel Trailhead to Plateau Point
• 7.8 miles (12.6 km): Bright Angel Trailhead to the Colorado River
• 9.3 miles (15 km): Bright Angel Trailhead to Bright Angel Campground

Elevations

• 6860 feet (2091 m): Bright Angel Trailhead
• 3800 feet (1158 m): Indian Garden
• 3740 feet (1140 m): Plateau Point
• 2480 feet (756 m): Colorado River

Water Sources

• Mile-and-a-half Resthouse and Three- mile Resthouse (May through September).
• Indian Garden
• Colorado River
• Bright Angel Campground

Trail Conditions

Corridor Trail. Well Maintained and well marked.

Trailhead

Bright Angel Trail begins next to Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon Village.

Route

The trail descends through a natural break in the upper cliffs, passing the Redwall Limestone in a series of tight switchbacks called Jacobs Ladder. The trail follows Garden Creek below Indian Garden, threading the Tapeats narrows. Leaving the creek, the trail descends through the Vishnu schist in a series of switchbacks called the Devils Corkscrew. It joins the River Trail, branching right (east), 1.5 miles (2.4 km) along the river to the Bright Angel Suspension Bridge which leads to Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch on the north side of the river.

Emergency phones are located at Mile-and-a-half resthouse, three-mile resthouse, and the river resthouse, as well as at Indian Garden and Bright Angel Campground.

Variation

Plateau Point Trail leads 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Indian Garden to a dramatic view of the Inner Gorge and the river 1300 feet (396 m) below.

Tags: begining, bridge, bridges, bright angel campground, bright angel trail, campgrounds, canyons, colorado river, corkscrew, dramatic view, elevation, elevations, emergency phones, grand canyon village, inner gorge, jacobs ladder, kolb studio, natural break, phantom ranch, plateau point, redwall limestone, rivers, suspension bridge, switchbacks, trail, trail conditions, trailhead, vishnu schist, water, water sources

Well I just made my trip from Alabama to Nevada, it took me three days on the train. I would like to thank all my readers in continueing to visit my site with no new posts.

This was my fourth time riding on the train. It has been a few years since my last trip, so there have been alot of changes. First of all I had a great time, seeing the country roll by while sipping on a cold beer, what could be better? There was several dissappointments as well, one was that I was not able to visit Grant Park while I was in Chicago, but that just gives me an excuse to go back. Another thing that made me a little dissappointed was technology of todays time.

The main reason I decided to take the train instead of flying was because of the social aspect. The last three times I rode the train, I got to meet so many new people (fellow travelers), most of the time people was socialable. However this train ride was a little different, and I do believe that Amtrak has a little part to play in that role. They have removed the smoking car, now you might think that I am complaining because I am a smoker but that truly is not the issue.

Compared to the previous trips, people would socialize in the observatory car, go down to the lounge grab a snack or a drink and hang out and socialize. Mainly because this was the designated smoking area. Now that smoking has been banned on the train, the socializm has seriously declined. I took notice that people would go to the lounge and grab their snacks or drinks and just head back to their seats. I observed that many people brought along portable DVD players, I-pod’s, laptop’s, etc. And I wonder if technology is bringing us to a stage to where we isolate ourselves from being social beings.

I thrive on the isolation and serenity, however in my case I look for this in the backcountry. When I am around people I like to socialize. If someone came up to me while I was working or playing on my laptop I would quickly close the laptop and enteract with whomever was around. That is not the case in todays time though. I asked someone a question not realizing that they had ear phones in but they took them out and I had to repeat myself, which wasn’t a problem, then they answered just to quickly put the ear piece back into their ears. Now to me that is rude, kinda like talking on the phone while eating.

However the train ride itself was nice, seeing the country roll by while sitting back relaxing, doing my thing. There was a lot of wildlife, which I never seen from a train before which was nice, along with seeing parts of the country that you would never see from the road.

I am now in Nevada and I have already scoped out several places to go hiking, Valley of Fire is first on my list so be expecting to see trails from the Las Vegas area being posted soon. But dont worry I am still continueing to add trails from the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone areas.

Hope everyone has an adventerous New Year!

Ohh and the internet is touch and go until I get a router installed so please forgive my lack of time on here.

Tags: alabama, alot, amtrak, backcountry, canyons, car, cars, cold beer, continueing, dissappointed, enteract, fellow travelers, fired, grabs, grant park, great time, isolation, observatory, park, portable dvd players, serenity, smoker, smoking area, smoking car, snack, social aspect, socializm, technology, trail, train, train ride, training, travel, traveling

Length

• 2.5 miles (4.0 km): Hermit Trailhead to Santa Maria Springs
• 7.8 miles (12.6 km): Hermit Trailhead to Hermit Creek
• 9.3 miles (15.0 km): Hermit Trailhead to Colorado River

Elevations

• 6640 feet (2024 m): Hermit Trailhead
• 4880 feet (1487 m): Santa Maria Springs
• 2400 feet (732 m): Colorado River

Water Sources

• Santa Maria Springs
• Hermit Creek
• Colorado River

Trail Conditions

Wilderness Trail. Occasional washouts require some route finding skill.

Trailhead

Hermit Trail begins at the end of the service road behind Hermits Rest, located at the end of West Rim Drive, 8 miles (12.8 km) west of Grand Canyon Village.

Route

The trail switchbacks into Hermit Canyon and swings north to the head of Hermit Gorge. Dropping into the gorge, it follows a series of long traverses and short descents through the Supai cliffs. Rock slides obscure portions of the trail. The route leaves this slide area where it meets the Redwall formation.

The Redwall descent follows a series of tight switchbacks known as the Cathedral Stairs. Angling across a talus slope below Cope Butte, the Hermit Trail intersects the Tonto Trail and heads left (west) toward Hermit Creek. The trail follows the creek 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the Colorado River and a view of the high standing waves of Hermit Rapid.

Variations

Waldron Trail, 2 miles (3.2 km) long, begins on the rim at the head of Hermit Canyon near Horsethief Tank. Switchbacking below the rim, it crosses Hermit Basin and joins the Hermit Trail.

Dripping Springs Trail, branches off Hermit Trail at the head of Hermit Gorge. Distance to Dripping Springs from Hermit Trailhead is 3 miles (4.8 km) one way. Water is available at Dripping Springs but must be treated. The Dripping Springs Trail continues past the springs and climbs to the rim.

Tags: begining, canyons, cathedral stairs, colorado river trail, colorado river water, descents, distances, dripping springs trail, elevation, elevations, grand canyon village, rapid variations, rivers, slide area, standing waves, supai, switchbacks, talus slope, tank, tonto trail, trail, trail conditions, trailhead, traverses, washouts, water, water sources, west rim drive, wilderness, wilderness trail

Louis Boucher first came to the Canyon in 1891, and soon began guding tourists and prospecting for mineral deposits.

He built a camp at Dripping Springs and a cabin near his copper mine in Boucher Canyon where he planted an orchard of 75 fruit trees. Remains of the cabin are still visible on the east side of Boucher Creek.

Length

• 10.5 miles (16.9 km): Hermit Trailhead to Boucher Rapid
• 9.5 miles (15.3 km): Dripping Springs Trail Junction to Boucher Rapid
• 8 miles (12.9 km): Boucher Trailhead to Boucher Rapid

Elevations

• 5280 feet (1609 m): Boucher Trailhead at junction with Dripping springs Trail
• 2760 feet (841 m): Boucher Creek

Water Sources

• Dripping Springs
• Boucher Creek
• Colorado River

Trail Conditions

Wilderness Trail. Steep sections with numerous washouts require some route finding. Very strenuous hike.

Trailhead

To reach the Boucher Trail, take the upper Hermit Trail to the Dripping Springs Trail in Hermit Basin (also known as Waldron Basin). Follow it west about 1 mile (1.6 km) until reaching the signed trailhead at a drainage coming from the west.

An alternate approach begins at the Dripping Springs trailhead on the rim south of Eremita Mesa. The road to it is closed to vehicles. Park along Boundary Road and walk to trailhead. Check with backcountry rangers for current conditions and closure information.

From the Dripping Springs trailhead, descend to the drainage and cross to the north side where the trail switchbacks through the Coconino Sandstone. At its base, a rock basin catches spring water dripping from clumps of maidenhair fern hanging from an overhanging cliff. Continue past the springs for 0.75 miles (1.2 km) until reaching the Boucher Trail sign.

Route

Boucher Trail contours along a shelf at the top of the Supai Group for the first 3 miles (4.8 km). It rounds Yuma Point before reaching the descent route through the Supai. Several very steep, exposed sections require hand-and-foot scrambling through the Supai cliffs. Pay attention to the line of descent the trail takes to the bed of Travertine Canyon.

Once below the Supai, stay on the west side of Travertine until reaching the saddle south of Whites Butte. The trail descends abruptly through the Redwall, Temple Butte, and Muav cliffs on the northwest side of the saddle. Be careful of loose rock and steep grades. The route runs north to join the Tonto Trail. Veering off the Tonto, the trail intersects Boucher Creek. It continues down the creekbed another 1.5 miles (2.4 km) along a boulder hopping route to the Colorado River.

Tags: alternate approach, backcountry rangers, begining, boucher creek, boucher trail, boundary road, canyons, coconino sandstone, colorado river trail, copper mine, creek water, creekbed, current conditions, dripping springs trail, elevation, eremita mesa, hermit trail, park, rivers, rock basin, steep sections, strenuous hike, supai group, trail, trailhead, trees, washouts, water, wilderness, wilderness trail