Bright Angel Trail to Havasupai Gardens
A full-day Bright Angel descent to the shaded oasis and ranger station at Havasupai Gardens.
Route overview
Follow Bright Angel Trail to Havasupai Gardens, rest and refuel, then return to the rim.
Havasupai Gardens is the maximum NPS-recommended Bright Angel destination for a summer day hike, not a casual summer objective. The route descends 4.5 miles to a developed inner-canyon rest area with year-round water, toilets, emergency phone and shade before requiring the entire climb back to the South Rim.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Distance
- 14.5 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 6–9 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Elevation gain
- approximately 930 m on return
- Best season
- Cool months and mild shoulder-season days
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No for a normal day hike; overnight stays require a permit
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Extreme heat, long climb, dehydration, overhydration, exhaustion and darkness
Highlights
Havasupai Gardens, Garden Creek, changing geology, inner-canyon oasis
Why find a buddy
Excellent buddy-matching route because pace, nutrition, heat tolerance and emergency judgment must align.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.