Did as part of the 3 day backpacking with the family (wife, 13 y/o and 5 y/o sons). Hiked down South Kaibab and climbed back on Bright Angel Trail. Very beatiful.
ncst - Oct 20, 2009 9:14 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2009
Great day
I was lucky to get a backcountry permit to camp at Indian Garden the day before. After pitching my tent there, I walked down to the Colorado river and on to Phantom ranch, got there around 3pm. Had coffee and bagel, went up S. Kaibab, then west on the Tonto trail, where I watched sunset, and then walked on to Indian Garden which I reached around 7.30 pm. A long but satisfying day!
Hotoven - Apr 20, 2009 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2008
Long uphill hike...
Did this in 1999 as well. Its a nice way out of the GC because of all its water sources. We hikes out the 2nd time in a night when there was a full moon out. Flashlights were not even needed. It was truly beautiful!
selinunte01 - Jan 29, 2009 11:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2000
To the river lookout
below Indian Gardens and back. We had 105 degrees at Indian Gardens, that was quite a experience ...
Wonderful scenery !
srclimb1 - Oct 14, 2008 11:47 am Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2008
Phantom Ranch & Back
World Class scenery!!! One of my favorite hikes so far. I've done a number of Colorado 14ers, and those are inrcedible. But, you can't beat the Grand Canyon for a unique experience! My first time out was certainly worth every second of the wait...
StumblingBear - Aug 30, 2008 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1971
Three Times
Have done the hike 3 times, first time in Aug, another in May and again in Dec. Like everything. each was unique and a diffrent experience. Cold as the Dickens in Dec and 110 degrees in Aug, but it is a classic World hike! Did a side hike to Plateau Point, well worth the time!
bblack99 - May 21, 2008 2:35 am Date Climbed: May 19, 2008
Crazy heat!
I knew we were in trouble when the forecast showed record highs all across Arizona, but 102 at 10am is ridiculous! We made it to our destination, Indian Gardens, in good time and had a leisurely lunch. My left knee went a little crazy somewhere between the 1.5- and 3-mile resthouses, but I managed to hop up the final few miles and take in a ton of scenery along the way!
My hubby, our friends and I hiked down the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch. Stayed a few nights, explored other trails and the north rim then hiked out along the Bright Angel trail.
jimegan - Feb 17, 2008 7:33 pm Date Climbed: Dec 30, 1976
to the river and back
First visit to the canyon. A snowstorm hit while I was down in the canyon and there were about 4-5" of snow on the ground by the time I got back up.
Also hiked down for a raft trip with wife 8/25/05
Hiked up on 2nd day of rim to rim to rim 9/14/03 and 10/14/07
bighornmonkey - Jan 20, 2008 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2007
Done...
Went down the bright angel trail as part of a R2R2R trip.
bobeck - Dec 18, 2007 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2007
In a snow storm...
And with Tanya. Was almost not sucessful during the storm!
tanya - Nov 30, 2007 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2007
Bright Angel Trail
I agree with Chaser... stupid mules! Dang they stunk! I never hiked so fast in my life trying to stay ahead of them. Did this on a rim to rim.
SilasCL - Nov 19, 2007 8:50 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2007
Rim to river and back
What a great hike. Hit the trailhead at 7am, after seeing Elk near the train tracks up in the village. Proceeded quickly down the trail and arrived at the river at 10:15. Saw Condors on the way back up to Indian Gardens, where we stopped for lunch. Pretty leisurely pace on the hike up, saw some bighorn sheep right below the rim, and got back to the top around 4:30 for some ice cream!
It was 45-50 at the start, 75-80 at the bottom, and perfect temps most of the day. Probably the best trail I've ever done.
justinjohnsen - Oct 23, 2007 10:35 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2007
Kaibab-Angel Loop
Took Charles' suggestion and used Bright Angel for our uphill return with a group of Outdoors Club friends. It was far more crowded than Kaibab, but every bit as scenic, with continual changes in the look and feel of the river, side canyon and plateau. People watching was great, as in all National Parks, but some folks were clearly having trouble with it. Even with South Rim night temperatures dropping below freezing, the resthouses still had running water available, a real treat for the back muscles.
Blackmouth - Jun 29, 2007 12:33 am Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2007
S. Kaibab to Bright Angel
An awesome day hike. It was 90 degrees when we got down to the river and snowing when we got back up to the top. It was nice to sit at the bar in the El Tovar and look at the snow.
Me and my brothers were doing all we could to carry my parents up the last few miles!
diane - Mar 5, 2007 8:26 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2005
as far as indian gardens
didn't go all the way to the river and back (will at some future date i'm sure) but hiked as far as indian gardens and then came back up. had to hit the lodge at the top for a celebratory bright angel lager (or maybe it was a pale ale, i forget, i just remember there was a beer named after the trail/ lodge)
On my second visit to the Grand Canyon, I decided to come up the Bright Angel Trail instead of returning up the Kaibob. The Canyon's a special place and I don't know why more people don't go in the winter and avoid the summer heat and crowds. Awesome hike!
Rinat Shagisultanov - Mar 16, 2010 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2010
GC with kids in WinterDid as part of the 3 day backpacking with the family (wife, 13 y/o and 5 y/o sons). Hiked down South Kaibab and climbed back on Bright Angel Trail. Very beatiful.
ncst - Oct 20, 2009 9:14 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2009
Great dayI was lucky to get a backcountry permit to camp at Indian Garden the day before. After pitching my tent there, I walked down to the Colorado river and on to Phantom ranch, got there around 3pm. Had coffee and bagel, went up S. Kaibab, then west on the Tonto trail, where I watched sunset, and then walked on to Indian Garden which I reached around 7.30 pm. A long but satisfying day!
VermontMike - May 21, 2009 8:10 pm
Up from Phantom RanchMuch easier heading up this one than South Kaibab
Hotoven - Apr 20, 2009 1:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2008
Long uphill hike...Did this in 1999 as well. Its a nice way out of the GC because of all its water sources. We hikes out the 2nd time in a night when there was a full moon out. Flashlights were not even needed. It was truly beautiful!
selinunte01 - Jan 29, 2009 11:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2000
To the river lookoutbelow Indian Gardens and back. We had 105 degrees at Indian Gardens, that was quite a experience ...
Wonderful scenery !
srclimb1 - Oct 14, 2008 11:47 am Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2008
Phantom Ranch & BackWorld Class scenery!!! One of my favorite hikes so far. I've done a number of Colorado 14ers, and those are inrcedible. But, you can't beat the Grand Canyon for a unique experience! My first time out was certainly worth every second of the wait...
StumblingBear - Aug 30, 2008 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1971
Three TimesHave done the hike 3 times, first time in Aug, another in May and again in Dec. Like everything. each was unique and a diffrent experience. Cold as the Dickens in Dec and 110 degrees in Aug, but it is a classic World hike! Did a side hike to Plateau Point, well worth the time!
bblack99 - May 21, 2008 2:35 am Date Climbed: May 19, 2008
Crazy heat!I knew we were in trouble when the forecast showed record highs all across Arizona, but 102 at 10am is ridiculous! We made it to our destination, Indian Gardens, in good time and had a leisurely lunch. My left knee went a little crazy somewhere between the 1.5- and 3-mile resthouses, but I managed to hop up the final few miles and take in a ton of scenery along the way!
tleaf - May 13, 2008 7:14 pm
Long weekend getawayMy hubby, our friends and I hiked down the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch. Stayed a few nights, explored other trails and the north rim then hiked out along the Bright Angel trail.
jimegan - Feb 17, 2008 7:33 pm Date Climbed: Dec 30, 1976
to the river and backFirst visit to the canyon. A snowstorm hit while I was down in the canyon and there were about 4-5" of snow on the ground by the time I got back up.
Also hiked down for a raft trip with wife 8/25/05
Hiked up on 2nd day of rim to rim to rim 9/14/03 and 10/14/07
bighornmonkey - Jan 20, 2008 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2007
Done...Went down the bright angel trail as part of a R2R2R trip.
bobeck - Dec 18, 2007 3:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2007
In a snow storm...And with Tanya. Was almost not sucessful during the storm!
tanya - Nov 30, 2007 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2007
Bright Angel TrailI agree with Chaser... stupid mules! Dang they stunk! I never hiked so fast in my life trying to stay ahead of them. Did this on a rim to rim.
SilasCL - Nov 19, 2007 8:50 pm Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2007
Rim to river and backWhat a great hike. Hit the trailhead at 7am, after seeing Elk near the train tracks up in the village. Proceeded quickly down the trail and arrived at the river at 10:15. Saw Condors on the way back up to Indian Gardens, where we stopped for lunch. Pretty leisurely pace on the hike up, saw some bighorn sheep right below the rim, and got back to the top around 4:30 for some ice cream!
It was 45-50 at the start, 75-80 at the bottom, and perfect temps most of the day. Probably the best trail I've ever done.
justinjohnsen - Oct 23, 2007 10:35 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2007
Kaibab-Angel LoopTook Charles' suggestion and used Bright Angel for our uphill return with a group of Outdoors Club friends. It was far more crowded than Kaibab, but every bit as scenic, with continual changes in the look and feel of the river, side canyon and plateau. People watching was great, as in all National Parks, but some folks were clearly having trouble with it. Even with South Rim night temperatures dropping below freezing, the resthouses still had running water available, a real treat for the back muscles.
Blackmouth - Jun 29, 2007 12:33 am Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2007
S. Kaibab to Bright AngelAn awesome day hike. It was 90 degrees when we got down to the river and snowing when we got back up to the top. It was nice to sit at the bar in the El Tovar and look at the snow.
mlbcard - May 12, 2007 10:25 pm
I hate the MulesI agree with Chaser, without the mules, it would have been an amazing hike.
chudder - Apr 11, 2007 9:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2006
to the river and backMe and my brothers were doing all we could to carry my parents up the last few miles!
diane - Mar 5, 2007 8:26 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2005
as far as indian gardensdidn't go all the way to the river and back (will at some future date i'm sure) but hiked as far as indian gardens and then came back up. had to hit the lodge at the top for a celebratory bright angel lager (or maybe it was a pale ale, i forget, i just remember there was a beer named after the trail/ lodge)
Wandering Sole Images - Feb 7, 2007 2:31 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2007
2nd visit to the CanyonOn my second visit to the Grand Canyon, I decided to come up the Bright Angel Trail instead of returning up the Kaibob. The Canyon's a special place and I don't know why more people don't go in the winter and avoid the summer heat and crowds. Awesome hike!