The Corridor Trails
Grand Canyon National Park has published a very nice and informative brochure on the Corridor Trails. This 2-page color brochure has tips on hiking safely throughout the year, as well as information on the elevations of various landmarks and campgrounds, trail distances, and average temperatures. Included is a map showing the various services available at each stop (toilets, emergency phones, etc.) and a cross section of the canyon and its rock layers with the trails superimposed on it. Download brochure - 1.09 MB PDF
There are three maintained trails that you can hike to Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River from, and these trails are what the Backcountry Office refers to as the "Corridor" trails. On the South Rim, you can take the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail. From the North Rim, you would hike the North Kaibab Trail. Below is a table to use as a quick reference for distances to certain landmarks, as well as the availability of water, toilets, emergency phones, ranger stations, and campgrounds at each.
Items marked with an asterisk (*) provide more details when you hover your mouse over them. Distances below are shown in miles/kilometers and elevation in feet/meters.
Keep up-to-date on trail and road conditions and closures via Grand Canyon's Critical Backcountry Updates RSS feed.
| Bright Angel | Distance | Elevation | Water | Toilet | Phone | Ranger | Camp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailhead | n/a | 6890/2091 | |||||
| 1.5 Mi. Resthouse | 1.5/2.4 | 5720/1743 | Yes*Water is only available during non-freezing periods, usually May through September. | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 3 mile Resthouse | 3.0/4.8 | 4720/1439 | Yes*Water is only available during non-freezing periods, usually May through September. | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Indian Garden | 4.6/7.4 | 3800/1158 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plateau Point | 6.1/9.8 | 3781/1152 | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| River Trail Jct | 7.7/12.4 | 2440/744 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Bright Angel | 9.3/14.9 | 2400/732 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phantom Ranch | 9.8/15.7 | 2560/780 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No*Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Camp are located within a short distance of each other. Bright Angel offers camping; Phantom Ranch has concession-run lodging. Click to visit the Lodging and Campground page. |
| South Kaibab | Distance | Elevation | Water | Toilet | Phone | Ranger | Camp |
| Trailhead | n/a | 7260/2213 | |||||
| Cedar Ridge | 1.5/2.4 | 5760/1756 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Tonto Trail Jct | 4.4/7.1 | 4000/1219 | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| River Trail Jct | 6.0/9.7 | 2640/805 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bright Angel | 6.4/10.3 | 2400/732 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phantom Ranch | 6.9/11.1 | 2560/780 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No*Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Camp are located within a short distance of each other. Bright Angel offers camping; Phantom Ranch has concession-run lodging. Click to visit the Lodging and Campground page. |
| North Kaibab | Distance | Elevation | Water | Toilet | Phone | Ranger | Camp |
| Trailhead | n/a | 8241/2512 | |||||
| Supai Tunnel | 2.0/3.2 | 6800/2073 | **Water is both seasonal and subject to waterline breaks at this location. Be sure to check with the Backcountry Office for current status. | Yes | No | No | No |
| Roaring Springs | 4.7/7.6 | 5200/1585 | Yes*Water is only available during non-freezing periods, usually May through September. | Yes | No | No | No |
| Cottonwood | 6.9/11.1 | 4000/1219 | Yes*Water is only available during non-freezing periods, usually May through September. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ribbon Falls | 8.4/13.5 | 3720/1134 | No | No | No | No | No |
| Phantom Ranch | 14.0/22.5 | 2560/780 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No*Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Camp are located within a short distance of each other. Bright Angel offers camping; Phantom Ranch has concession-run lodging. Click to visit the Lodging and Campground page. |
| Bright Angel | 14.5/23.3 | 2400/732 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |