Phantom Ranch Area Activities

Phantom Ranch Topics

Once you get to Phantom Ranch, there are plenty of things to keep busy if you have the energy and time. I highly recommend spending two nights so you can explore the hiking opportunities and ranger programs available.

Phantom Ranch area map drawn by Sjors, volunteer at Phantom Ranger Station for nearly twenty years!
Phantom Ranch Area Day Hikes - If you are able to spend at least two nights at Phantom Ranch or Bright Angel Campground, I highly recommend that you do so! There are some wonderful areas to explore to keep your muscles from tightening up while enjoying the spectacular scenery. You can also do some very short hikes if you get in early enough in the day.
Grand Canyon National Park Ranger Programs - Grand Canyon National Park offers a wide variety of informative and fascinating interpretive ranger programs throughout the year on the South Rim, at Phantom Ranch, and seasonally on the North Rim. All ranger programs are free and open to the public. There are daily ranger programs on the human and natural history of the region with a question and answer period before and after each talk.

Phantom rangers offer two talks each day. The early talk is hosted just south of the Phantom Ranch Canteen at 4:30 P.M. The talk coincides with the closure of the Canteen so the employees can clean up and prepare for dinner seating. (The Canteen is open to the public from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., and then again from 8:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.) This casual "Ask a Ranger" style talk covers topics geared towards visitors' questions.

The Phantom ranger offers a more formal ranger talk every evening at 7:30 P.M. at the amphitheater north of the ranger station. Nightly topics are varied so those staying at Phantom Ranch or Bright Angel Campground can see a different program each night. The ranger arrives about 15 minutes prior to the start of the program to answer visitors' questions prior to the program. The evening talk lasts about 1/2 hour to correspond with opening of the Canteen. Believe me, a ranger has to be awfully interesting to compete with the beer hall!
Junior Ranger program - Kids ages 4 - 14 also have a wonderful opportunity available only to those who hike or ride a mule down to Phantom Ranch! Grand Canyon has a fun program known as the Junior Ranger program, and Phantom has an even more special Junior Ranger program. There are two requirements to become a Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger—first, you have to make it to Phantom Ranch, and second, you must complete the activities in the Junior Ranger booklet. If you do both, you will receive your badge, certificate and a free patch from a ranger at Phantom Ranch. Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger booklets are available in the Canteen, the campground or the Ranger Station. The Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger program is available throughout the year.
Fishing Regulations - And of course if you like to fish, there are wonderful opportunities to fish in Bright Angel Creek or the Colorado River. A fishing license is required with the appropriate stamps for fishing in the Colorado River or for trout.

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