Insights and Tips for Hiking the Bright Angel Trail by Expert and Experienced AzRA Hiking Guide Helen Ranney
It is something quite special to walk into and out of Grand Canyon early in the morning. The distinctive descending call of the canyon wren echoes off the walls, maybe a Desert Bighorn Sheep is browsing on a nearby shrub, or a condor may fly overhead. You will definitely see a lot of pesky and persistent squirrels as you encounter other adventurers experiencing the Canyon on foot. River rafting and hiking are the best ways to get a sense of the magnificence of “this place.” If you’re doing a partial canyon trip with AzRA, lucky you – you get to do both!
Thinking in advance about “this place” will better prepare you for the hiking portion of your upcoming AzRA river trip and make this part of your adventure more meaningful and enjoyable.
What does hiking the Grand Canyon entail? Will it be an obstacle like it was to the early European explorers expecting to find treasure from the back of a horse thousands of miles from their homeland? Or will it be like a home to you as the eleven tribes who have a pre-historic connection to the Canyon? Will it be a part of your family story if you are traveling with your parents, siblings, or other family members? Maybe for some of you it’s a bucket list, and that’s okay. Whatever it is, the memory will stay with you for a long time. Embrace it!
The Bright Angel Trail is the Real Deal
Here is the National Park Service description of the history of the Bright Angel Trail:
Following a natural break in the cliffs formed by the massive Bright Angel Fault, today’s Bright Angel Trail approximates a route used for millennia by the many Native American groups that have called Grand Canyon home. Early western pioneers at the canyon first built a trail in 1891 to reach mining claims established below the rim at Havasupai Gardens. Recognizing that the true worth of the claims would be measured in visitation by tourists, these pioneers immediately registered their trail as a toll road and extended the trail to the river. The mining
claims and use of the trail as a toll road would be the source of much controversy, first in legal battles with railroad companies that wanted to control tourism and later with the federal government. The trail was turned over to the National Park Service in 1928. Though it has been rerouted and improved considerably over the years, present day visitors on the Bright Angel Trail can sense its rich history from ancient pictograph panels and historic structures, and by marveling at the trail’s construction over some of the roughest terrain in North America.
Bright Angel Trail Elevations/Mileages:
South Rim (6860 ft / 2093 m) to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse (5729 ft / 1748 m): 1.6 mi (2.6 km)
Mile-and-a-Half (5729 ft / 1748 m) to Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft / 144 9m): 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft / 1449 m) to Havasupai Gardens (3800 ft / 1160 m): 1.7 mi (2.7 km)
Havasupai Gardens (3800 ft / 1160 m) to River Resthouse (2480 ft / 756 m): 3.2 mi (5.2 km)
A beautiful view from the Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Hiking Preparation-Let’s Start Training!
The best way to have a successful and enjoyable hike is to train with your backpack filled with the amount of weight you expect to carry (not much!). Start well in advance of your start date and do it as often as possible (three to four times per week). Slowly manage being on your feet with weight on your back. Be sure to train using the shoes and socks you plan on using for your hike. Side note: the best shoes to wear are the ones you’re comfortable hiking in. This could be a cross-trainer, a hiking boot, or chacos. Everyone is different; find the shoes you’re most comfortable in, and that’s your best choice. Regarding socks, non-cotton socks tend to be best as they don’t slip and slide on your feet as you’re going up or down in elevation. You can read a blog we wrote on this too!
Many of you live in locations that have little to no elevation – there are still lots of things you can do to help yourself prepare for your hike.
- Use the stairmaster at your local gym
- Go up and down the stairs in a high rise if you live in a city
- Find your local football/track stadium and walk up and down the stairs over and over and over.
Don’t worry about looking silly with a backpack on your back – brag to anyone that looks at you strangely and tell them enthusiastically that you are going to hike in Grand Canyon and raft the Colorado River! Most will understand and even be jealous of you. Use these training sessions to get comfortable walking downhill (or uphill if you’re hiking out) with some extra weight on your back.
Squats, yoga, more walking with weight on your back, hiking, whatever…are other great ways to get you ready for your Canyon hike. And remember to have fun while you’re training too! Although this training program isn’t specific to hiking the Bright Angel Trail, doing this program in addition to hiking with a weighted pack will help you get the experience and strength needed to be prepared!
Train well and train often. Take your hike seriously. Make it easy on yourself!
Hiking Backpacks-Spend the Time Researching What is Best for Your Body & Hike
Now about your backpack — please consider getting a good, well-fitted backpack for your hike. A borrowed pack or your 30-year old backpack can be a cheaper option but usually does not fit you well. Older backpacks can have straps that are dry and brittle making it difficult to adjust the weight to your body as needed, or can weigh a ton empty which could (and does) make things harder. If you decide that you prefer to borrow a backpack from a friend or use your old pack, make sure it feels good during your training sessions.
No matter what backpack you use start your training with water and snacks, then add your gear as your body adjusts to carrying weight. Check the straps to ensure you can adjust them as needed as you increase the weight and see how it feels. The more times you train with your weight on your back, the better you will do/feel during your hike on the Bright Angel Trail.
Here is a video from REI that may help you as you begin to figure out what kind of backpack you’ll need for the hike into the Canyon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SGiGZlppMM
Having a backpack with a good hip belt, shoulder straps, lifters and a sternum strap will make things so much easier on you. Don’t try to stuff all of your gear/clothing in a backpack that has too small of volume for your gear – it defeats the purpose of having a small pack and it could hurt your back and mess with your balance as it pulls the weight away from your body. Believe us, we’ve seen it.
The idea is to minimize things hanging off your backpack as the swinging motion will throw your body’s balance off during the hike. Bring a pack that will accommodate your gear with a minimal amount of items hanging on the outside. For you downhill hikers, keep in mind that during your pre-hike orientation that night before, your hiking guide will give you a coffee cup, pee cup and river guidebook that will need to be carried down with you.
Hiking Poles or No Hiking Poles?
Hiking poles can give you that extra stability for your hike in or out of the Canyon. Think “four points of contact vs. just two points of contact” while you are hiking. Kind of like the steady mules you will see going up and down the Bright Angel Trail.
You can find tutorials online on how to use hiking poles. If you decide to try hiking poles be sure to take the time to practice using your poles during your training sessions – it makes all the difference if you “become one with your poles” prior to your hike.
This doesn’t mean that we are requiring you to have hiking poles – we just want to share with you what we’ve learned over the years. Do your training with the poles and see how you feel.
We are giving you options based on our experience with people hiking in and out. Also, your hiking guide (downhill hikers) and river guides (uphill hikers) can help you adjust the poles height for your appropriate direction – taller for downhill/shorter for uphill.
Using hiking poles to get down Bright Angel Trail
A Few Other Important Things to Know/Do to Make Your Hike More Enjoyable
– Eat a hearty dinner the night before
– Limit alcohol consumption the night before
– Be well hydrated – start doing this three days before you start hiking
– Eat a hearty breakfast too – your body needs lots of fuel for this hike!
– Salty snacks are good – chips, pretzels, pickles, etc.
– You will be burning calories – eat often on the trail
– Drink to thirst (water consumption will depend on how hot it is) – water is great, have some electrolytes if you need it but don’t only drink electrolytes as they can make you nauseous.
– Stop and gawk, don’t walk and gawk
– Get wet = stay cool Use the water spigots and the water crossings (the lower part of the Bright Angel Trail) to get yourself wet. The evaporation process will keep you cool during the hot times of the year. Check with your guides regarding water availability on the trail.
– Remember to stop and look at where you are — The Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park!
– Be proud of yourself!
– Stay positive – you can do it!
What Will You Say After Your Hike?
People say some interesting things after hiking on the Bright Angel Trail
“That was easy!” or
“I did not realize how hard this would be” or
“I wish I had eaten more” or
“I am glad that I ate the amount of food that guides told me to do” or
“I cannot believe that I am finally here!” or
“I wish I had trained more” or
“I am so glad I took training for this hike seriously” or
“OH MY GOSH! This looks unreal” or
“I can’t believe that I am doing this!” or
“We have to go down there?” or
“We have to go all the way up there?” or
“I cannot wait to come back!”
“I am coming back to do the Lower trip next year!”
“This was fantastic!”
“I love Grand Canyon!”
“Rejoice, rejoice we have no choice!”
Remember Where You Are…
…Grand Canyon!
And on that morning when you begin your hike in or out of the Canyon, take a moment to center yourself. Remember that you are setting out to do something GRAND. Something that most people will never get to do. Be in the moment on your hike. Those who embrace this special time experience the most enjoyment (and bragging rights) for years to come.
Just one foot in front of the other…you’ve got this!
Happy Trails!
We have another blog written up with Bright Angel Tips too to peruse with some other smaller tips not mentioned in this one!
A view of the Devil’s Corkscrew
1 Comment. Leave new
I have hiked it a couple of times and also done one of the rafting trips. I think I prefer the walking. Hope to come back again sometime.