Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
An extremely strenuous day hike through Havasupai Gardens to an exposed overlook above the Colorado River.
Route overview
Descend to Havasupai Gardens, follow the signed Plateau Point Trail across the platform and return by the same route.
Plateau Point adds three exposed miles to the Havasupai Gardens round trip and ends at an unshaded viewpoint over the river and Granite Gorge. NPS characterizes the hike as extremely strenuous. It is inappropriate in hot weather for most visitors and requires enough reserve for the final 4.5-mile climb to the rim.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Distance
- 19.3 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 8–12 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Elevation gain
- approximately 950 m on return plus rolling Tonto Platform travel
- Best season
- Cool months only for most hikers
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No for normal day hiking; verify special-use rules for organized groups
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
No shade, extreme distance, heat, exposed viewpoint, darkness and exhaustion
Highlights
Plateau Point, Colorado River overlook, Tonto Platform, Granite Gorge
Why find a buddy
Requires closely matched endurance, conservative decision-making and shared monitoring throughout a very long day.
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.