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Activity South Rim, Grand Canyon

Bright Angel Trail

An activity in South Rim, Grand Canyon, free to visit and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: Early morning.

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Bright Angel Trail in South Rim, Grand Canyon
Photo: Jarek Tuszyński · CC BY-SA 4.0 · license

Why go

Classic switchback trail below the rim; turn around at the 1.5- or 3-mile resthouse.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Grand Canyon, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 2 sights. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Arizona Steakhouse and El Tovar Dining Room. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.

Type
Activity · Adventure
Neighborhood
South Rim
Price
Free
Time needed
4 hr
Best time
Early morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Grand Canyon, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Arizona Steakhouse

    Southwestern steakhouse at Bright Angel Lodge with big canyon windows.

    Food · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    El Tovar Dining Room

    Historic 1905 lodge dining room steps from the rim.

    Food · 0.3 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    El Tovar Lounge

    Small lodge bar with a porch overlooking the rim.

    Drinks · 0.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Rim Trail

    Mostly paved path linking overlooks from Yavapai Point toward Hermits Rest.

    Outdoors · 0.9 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Hopi Point

    Hermit Road overlook jutting far into the canyon, with Colorado River views.

    Outdoors · 1.3 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Yavapai Geology Museum

    Glass-walled museum on the rim that explains the canyon's rock layers.

    Sight · 1.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Bright Angel Trail is a stop on our Grand Canyon & Arizona route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Grand Canyon

Bright Angel Trail is our only activity pick in Grand Canyon; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Grand Canyon guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Grand Canyon run from 52°F in December to 99°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Bright Angel Trail itself, we suggest: Early morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Grand Canyon from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Grand Canyon weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Bright Angel Trail, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
15 Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA
Coordinates
36.05741, -112.14360
Destination
Grand Canyon, Arizona

Bright Angel Trail: quick answers

How much time do you need at Bright Angel Trail?

Plan on about 4 hours at Bright Angel Trail. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Bright Angel Trail?

Our pick: Early morning. Insider tip: Going down is the easy half; budget twice the time to climb back.

Is Bright Angel Trail free?

Yes, we list Bright Angel Trail as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Bright Angel Trail?

Bright Angel Trail is at 15 Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA, in South Rim. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Bright Angel Trail?

Bright Angel Trail appears on Grand Canyon & Arizona, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Bright Angel Trail to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Grand Canyon.

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Also in Grand Canyon

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.