Advertisement: This was a 5-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. We started by descending the Hermit Trail to the Tonto Plateau, mid-way between the rim of the canyon and the river. We then travelled east along the plateau to camp at Monument Creek. On the second day, we left our packs to take a day trip down to the river at Granite Rapids, where we sat by the river on a sandy beach and watched rafters go by. We camped at Salt Creek for our second night. On the third day we hiked along the Tonto Trail all the way to Bright Angel Campground where we would stay for two nights. We arrived at camp early and bathed in the creek running through the campsite. The fourth day was free for us to take a day trip, and we opted to hike to Ribbon Falls, a surprisingly green and mossy waterfall in the middle of a desert landscape. We hiked up the rock to a mossy “cave” behind the waterfall and ate lunch, and the cool mist from the spray gave us respite from the heat. We hiked out on the fifth day.
More photographs.
Difficulty: Varied depending on the day, and you can adjust your plan accordingly. Expect heavy packs due to extra water. Our 13-mile hike from Salt Creek to Bright Angel Campground sounded difficult, but it was mostly flat and we had no problems. The most difficult day is likely going to be the hike out, which one can split up into two days (by camping at Indian Garden) if one desires. Otherwise it’s a 4380-ft elevation gain with heavy pack. It will be much easier if you start early – we started out hike out around 4am and made it out by late morning.
Preparation:The park service is pretty good about preparing you when they send you your permit. The biggest thing is probably to know your water sources. We parked at our terminus in Grand Canyon Village and took a shuttle to our trailhead at Hermit’s Rest. I would recommend hiking poles so that the hike down the canyon is easier on the knees. Also note that not all creeks depicted on the maps will be flowing or have drinkable water – for example, Salt Creek barely had any flow, and also had levels or uranium in the water higher than drinking standards.
Summary: You really don’t get anything close to the full Grand Canyon experience from the rim. The Tonto Plateau provides the best views, as you can see both up to the rim and down to the river, but a longer trip into the canyon also allows for side trips. I was very happy with both of our side trips to Granite Rapids and Ribbon Falls. You’ll find true solitude at some of the creeks along the Tonto Trail (especially Salt Creek, where there is no water), and something resembling a small village at Bright Angel Campground. 5/5
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| Views of the canyon above and below from the Tonto Plateau |
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| Flowering succulents on the Tonto Plateau |
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| A day trip to Granite Rapids |
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| An idyllic creek at Bright Angel Campground |
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| Ribbon Falls, a mossy waterfall in the desert |
More photographs.
Difficulty: Varied depending on the day, and you can adjust your plan accordingly. Expect heavy packs due to extra water. Our 13-mile hike from Salt Creek to Bright Angel Campground sounded difficult, but it was mostly flat and we had no problems. The most difficult day is likely going to be the hike out, which one can split up into two days (by camping at Indian Garden) if one desires. Otherwise it’s a 4380-ft elevation gain with heavy pack. It will be much easier if you start early – we started out hike out around 4am and made it out by late morning.
Preparation:The park service is pretty good about preparing you when they send you your permit. The biggest thing is probably to know your water sources. We parked at our terminus in Grand Canyon Village and took a shuttle to our trailhead at Hermit’s Rest. I would recommend hiking poles so that the hike down the canyon is easier on the knees. Also note that not all creeks depicted on the maps will be flowing or have drinkable water – for example, Salt Creek barely had any flow, and also had levels or uranium in the water higher than drinking standards.
Summary: You really don’t get anything close to the full Grand Canyon experience from the rim. The Tonto Plateau provides the best views, as you can see both up to the rim and down to the river, but a longer trip into the canyon also allows for side trips. I was very happy with both of our side trips to Granite Rapids and Ribbon Falls. You’ll find true solitude at some of the creeks along the Tonto Trail (especially Salt Creek, where there is no water), and something resembling a small village at Bright Angel Campground. 5/5
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