Indian Garden Campground via Bright Angel Trail

Whether you plan to stay the night or not, the hike to the Indian Garden Campground on Bright Angel Trail is worth every step. Although, if you can manage to book yourself a site, you’d be sleeping in one of the most astounding wonders of the natural world. Pretty neat!

Bright Angel Trail is the most-used route in the entire canyon. It’s immaculately maintained, very easy to follow, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. This is the Grand Canyon, after all. Indian Garden is one of the stops along this iconic hiking trail, and it’ll likely compete for one of the coolest places you’ve spent a night. Tucked underneath the trees inside the canyon, you’ll walk out of your tent in the morning to have coffee within one of the most iconic sites in the country. Also pretty neat!

Even if you don’t plan to stay at the campground, this hike is still a fantastic trip. Note that the distance and elevation gain reflects the downhill trip to the campground only. Should you want to do this as an out and back, double the distance and prepare for about 3050ft of elevation gain on the way back up. Poles will be handy.

If you’re hiking to the campground and continuing through, you won’t need to worry about the return trip just yet. If you are hiking out and back, bring plenty of water. It can be very hot in the canyon during the summertime and you’ll want to have plenty of hydration with you.

From the well-marked Bright Angel Trailhead, you’ll take Bright Angel Trail as it curves through two wide traversing switchbacks before settling into a course of narrower, steeper turns. As you make your way down, make sure to pause and look up as you go. The view of the canyon changes with your descent and you’ll enjoy a closer look at the striations of the walls and unique foliage as you go.

There’s a water refill station called Mile and a Half Resthouse at the end of a traverse in between the switchbacks. There’s also a restroom here if needed. After this pit stop, you’ll launch back into switchbacks along the well-defined route.

Three-Mile Resthouse marks the approximate halfway point. After this, the route straightens out as it covers the remaining distance to Indian Garden, running alongside Garden Creek. At this point, you’re about halfway down the canyon to the Colorado River.

At the campsite, either set up for the night, keep going on Bright Angel, or take a moment to let your knees recoup before the return trip.

Hiking Route Highlights

Grand Canyon

Revealing millions of years of geological history, the layered and massive Grand Canyon is a 3060 square mile canyon in Arizona. The canyon is 277.0mi long, up to 18.0mi wide and is over 6000ft at its deepest point. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the canyon is now one of the world’s top natural attractions, bringing about 5 million visitors to its rim every year. Indigenous people have inhabited the canyon for many years, some considering it to be a holy site.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you camp at Indian Gardens Campground?

You’ll need to get a backcountry permit to stay the night at Indian Garden. Make your reservation as far in advance as you can to ensure you get a spot. Spots can be booked with the National Park Service on the first of the month four months before your planned visit.

Can you hike Bright Angel Trail in a day?

The only people who manage to do the entire Bright Angel Trail in a day are very fit, very fast, and very early risers. This section to the campground and back is much more manageable.

Do you need a permit to hike Bright Angel Trail?

You only need a backcountry permit if you’ll be camping. Day hikes do not require permits beyond your entry to the park.