Reviews

Packing For Adventure

A nice resting point on the Bright Angel Trail. We rested here for a few minutes after trekking through the Tonto Trail from the Tipoff Point on the South Kaibab Trail.

Shyla Tibando

We hiked from the rim and back in the same day. Very lovely place to spend time and refresh. Wish we had camped here.

Jesse Palladino

Best trip of my life so far! Such a wonderful experience!Campground was beautiful! Was greeted with some mule deer in the morning to put the cherry on the top of this amazing place! There are no words to describe the night sky and stars. I felt like I could reach out and touch them! Wanted to camp in an undeveloped part…remember if you camp here you need a permit!

Huyen Kay

A nice rest place after getting all the way down from the top of the hiking trail, it is almost the bottom of Grand Canyon Valley. It is 3rd rest stop with outhouse and 4.5 miles from the top of Bright Angle hiking trail. It is nice to go down but harder to go back up. We hiked in December and refill station at every outhouse (one in every 1.5 miles); however, water was turned off at around 1pm 😳. So be prepared to have enough water to go back up because it is harder to go back up.

Brian Forseth

To be clear, this is a campground, no rooms, no service, but a great location. We stayed in the group site, it accommodated 10 easily. Multiple trees (trees!) provided shade and an incredible counterpoint to the surrounding high desert. This campground is a lush oasis compared to the other primitive campgrounds we stayed at on previous nights, and they were beautiful in their own light. There was much more foot traffic here and construction contractors were staging operations including helicopter landings.

Scott T

Well maintained, especially considering the volume of traffic. Expect loud neighbors and late/early hikers coming through your site.

Martin Franke

We loved spending a night at this campground during our Grand Canyon hike. Beautiful spot. We especially enjoyed gazing at the stars at night, so clear and bright.

nadine b

Be prepared for the hike out. It's a hard one

AdamS

An amazing place in the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. This is such a surprise after hiking for a few hours down the Bright Angel Trail. All you mainly see is some minimal plants and mostly rocks but when you get here it looks a little national park. Lots of vegetation and flowing water. The water stop is great. Normally in the past this was a very busy place but on September 26th 2021 it was empty. The covers were not on the shelter areas and just virtually no one was there. Water was available. I solo hiked this from the South Rim and back in one day. A little math here. Its 4380 feet elevation change from the River Rest House Pipe Creek where you are essentially as low as you will go in the Canyon up to the Trail Head of the Bright Angel Trail. So if you climb from that spot up to the top you do 4380 feet. Indian Gardens are at 3800 feet which puts it about 3000 feet from the Trail Head. Hiking to Indian Gardens and resting a few minutes and climbing back out means you descend 3000 feet and than go back up 3000 feet for a total elevation change of 6000 feet in about 6 hours or so. This is a tough hike and the day I did it only 4 others besides myself started at 5:20 am to beat the heat. This is a difficult trail with a round trip of 9 or so miles. If you are new to hiking just go to the 2nd tunnel. The 1.5 mile rest house is a good goal but you are climbing back up a good ways. Three Mile is a definite serious hike. Three Mile and 1.5 mile have seasonal water availability. Indian Gardens is often a overnight rest stop before going back up. Hiking down may seem easier but its hard on your knees and leg muscles. You will be hurting at Indian Gardens from the climb down. If you try to climb back up you are using most of the same muscles to go back up and now your are fighting elevation, thin air and the day I hiked we had smoke pollution. Old and young were stopping trying to catch their breath on the way up. The smoke was a problem at 5000 feet and up. Great place to hike just be sure you have water, salty snacks like cheese sticks and pepperoni sticks and crackers and yes more water. Watch closures of the water stations vary by the time of the year. You may see a mule train and a ranger during your hike. There are places you can easily fall so be cautious. Sand on rocks can make you slip and fall very easily. Trekking Poles are almost a must to help break your decent and help on the way up. The hike is stunning and the views are unbelievable 3000 feet down and you really see the Canyon and beyond. Hike safe and enjoy Indian Garden.

Katie Reagan

Great hike down the canyon. We spent all day with the hike down, looking around here and the hike back up.