The scenery transformed so suddenly, we could hardly believe our eyes. The parched desert shrubbery we saw while slogging down the rust-colored powdery path did nothing to prepare us for what awaited us down in the Indian Garden.
We had done little to no research on the trail we were hiking that day - we picked it the night before based on a ranger’s recommendation. Having done a three-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon a few months prior, we thought we knew what to expect from this place in addition to staggering views - punishing heat (it’s August!), sparse shade along the trail, occasional knee pain.
Entirely not anticipated were shoulder-high grasses gently swaying in the wind, tall cottonwoods with lush crowns casting ample shade, and a tiny murmurous creek beckoning with piercing-cold water.
Is this still the Grand Canyon?
It sure is! Indian Garden is a bonafide oasis 3000 ft (915 m) below the south-rim, and a perfect destination for a day hike.
Grab your favorite hiking boots, a tube of sunscreen, and follow us on one of the most delightful day hikes in the Grand Canyon!
Quick overview
- Trail type: Out-and-back
- Distance: 9 mi (8.6 km) round trip
- Elevation change: -/+ 3000 ft (915 m)
- Difficulty: moderate
- Cost: park entrance fee
Trail Description
Zigzagging down a stunning side-canyon, Bright Angel Trail takes you to the Indian Garden along the gash of the Bright Angel Fault - an enormous fault that sprawls toward and beyond the horizon, dissolves somewhere at the North Rim, and bluntly exposes geological lineage of this magnificent place.
Your descend begins between colossal vertical walls from which, it seems like, a giant deranged sculptor ferociously chiseled away massive pieces of rock. These walls frame breath-taking vistas the expanse of which is hard to comprehend with the eyes so accustomed to cityscapes. The poly-chromatic canyon slopes, solemn and sublime, look like they belong on another planet.
The side-canyon walls provide ample shade, and your descend, assisted by gravity, is quick and pleasant. Now and then, you are passed by a rider with a few mules in single file. The smelly creatures are carrying beaming tourists and heavy bags with provisions. They do it patiently and with stoic indifference, thinking perhaps only about water and treats they will get when at the rim.
Down at the bottom, cradled in the Bright Angel Shale, rests the green wavy snake - Indian Garden. It likes to play hide-and-seek with hikers as they take turns on never-ending switchbacks.
As you get closer to it, the path levels out, the shrubs get taller and denser, and the trail, framed by cheerful cacti on both sides, gets narrower. Another minute and the Indian Garden welcomes you with its swaying trees and grasses, picnic tables and benches, and the air filled with peaceful silence and lots of history.
Rest at one of the picnic tables, listen to the wind rustling in the tree crowns above you, watch a gentle fawn hesitantly pick grass or a squirrel frantically try to hide something in the ground.
This place has hosted ancient Indian tribes, opportunistic Euro-Americans, and, most recently, countless backpackers wanting to spend a quiet desert night under the cottonwood trees. Now, it will graciously host you until you regain your strength and are ready to face the arduous and sweaty hike back up to the rim.
Where is Indian Garden?
Indian Garden is located 4.5 mi (7.3 km) down the Bright Angel Trail, the most popular south-rim hiking trail into Grand Canyon. It commences just west of Bright Angel Lodge. Get to the trailhead by car (there’s a large parking lot right at the trailhead) or utilize one of the shuttle buses if you are lodging in the Grand Canyon Village.
Keep in mind that the Grand Canyon National Park charges an entrance fee unless you own America the Beautiful Pass, in which case you can enter the park for free. Admission to the park is good for one week.
Brief history of the Bright Angel Trail and Indian Garden
Indigenous people have tended to what is now known as Indian Garden for centuries, as it provided a reliable source of water and fertile soil for cultivating crops like corn, beans, squash, and melons. Allegedly, archeological evidence around the Indian Garden point to the area’s being inhabited as early as 300 CE.
In late 1800s, Euro-Americans reached the Grand Canyon looking to mining opportunities. One of them was Ralph Cameron who, upon his arrival, did not hesitate to set up multiple mining claims in the area. He helped construct the Bright Angel trail (which loosely follows the original trail Havasupai people used to descend into the canyon), built a hotel near the trailhead, and developed campsites near the hotel and down in the Indian Garden. Shortly after, he set up a toll at the trailhead and started charging for trail access.
In early 1900s, the federal government found many of Cameron’s claims invalid. In 1919, the Grand Canyon National Park was created, and National Park Service (NPS) took over the management. Yet Cameron continued to fight for control of the Bright Angel Trail for the next nine years until in 1928 the trail was transferred to the NPS.
Upon transfer, the NPS forced out of the Bright Angel area not only Cameron with his questionable business practices but also the last Havasupai families.
The people who called Grand Canyon their home for centuries were restricted to a piece of land just under a square mile (2 square km) and had to drastically adjust their lives. After decades of struggle for their rights, in 1975, Havasupai people regained control of 300 square miles (770 square km) of their ancestral land - the place now known as Havasupai Indian Reservation, one of the most remote Indian reservations in the United States.
Renaming of Indian Garden
In 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) has initiated a conversation with the Havasupai Tribe regarding changing the name of the Indian Garden to Havasupai Garden in an attempt to repair the relationship between the park and the tribe. On the NPS agenda is also to include educational information about the tribe and its significance in the history of the Grand Canyon.
Trail difficulty
The Bright Angel Trail is a well-maintained trail that is a pleasure to walk on. Along the trail, amenities such as water (from May through September), vault toilets, and emergency phones are available at 1.5-mile (0.9 km) and 3-mile (1.9 km) rest-houses and at the Indian Garden. It is an excellent trail for first-time Grand Canyon visitors.
This being said, the hike may be challenging - especially for novice and occasional hikers - due to its steepness. People often underestimate the difficulty of returning to the rim with the gravity now playing against them.
Give yourself ample time to return - you will be stopping often to catch your breath. Going back typically takes twice the amount of time it takes to go down.
Best time to hike
An incredible place like Grand Canyon is certainly worth visiting at any time of the year - especially with thorough planning and adequate for the season gear.
Yet for a day-hike like this one, we recommend planning your trip for spring or fall as the temperatures are milder and the crowds are thinner.
In winter, the snow-cloaked precipices of the canyon make it seem desolate, tranquil, hypnotic - a gorgeous sight from the rim. However, winter weather and low temperatures may also mean a less pleasant hike, ice on the roads and trails, and travel delays.
During summer months, mid-day temperatures in the canyon can hover over 100F (38C) making it rather dangerous to be on a trail in the afternoon - heat-related illnesses are not uncommon among less experienced hikers. Summer is also the most popular time to visit the Grand Canyon which means you will be jostling your way through the crowds.
No matter the time of the year you chose to venture out there, be certain to check the current weather conditions and pack accordingly. Start your hike early so you can beat the crowds, get a parking spot easily, and have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. In summer, an early start is crucial - avoid hiking in the sweltering afternoon heat.
What to bring on the trail
It goes without saying - bring plenty of water to stay hydrated while adventuring!
As mentioned above, water is available at the rest-houses, but only seasonally (from May through September). Though you might not want to drink it anyhow - we found it had a funky aftertaste. As we were there in August, because of the high ambient temperature, the water was also unpleasantly warm. You’d have to be extremely thirsty to drink it!
Bring at least a gallon of water per person for the entire hike. There is a creek down at the Indian Garden (with much tastier water), where you can refill - just make sure to use a filter. A water station is also available there year-round.
Bring plenty of snacks and snack often, you will need a lot of energy to handle the elevation change. We recommend bringing lunch with you, as you might want to wait out the peak heat down at the Indian Garden and start your hike back later in the afternoon when the sun is less ferocious.
We highly recommend proper hiking boots with good traction and hiking poles. Even though poles might seem like a nuisance, especially at the beginning of the hike, they prove useful by reducing impact on your knees, ankles, and feet.
The upper portions of the trail may get icy during winter and early spring. If venturing out there during colder months, be sure to bring microspikes for increased traction and confidence in your step.
Trail etiquette
Alas, with stunning views and ease of access to many non-technical routes come legions of people who lack trail manners.
We have witnessed people leaving trash on trails, short-cutting switchbacks, plucking plants, feeding wildlife (for crying out loud!), blasting music on their phones while hiking, and not yielding to others on trails.
We all get a little distracted during hikes - gorgeous landscape around, adrenaline in our blood, adventure in the air. Yet common courtesy and the feeling of responsibility are still essential for a pleasurable and, most importantly, safe hiking experience.
A few simple rules to keep in mind:
- Pack your trash out. There are no trash cans along the trail, so bring a gallon bag with you for all your rubbish and dispose of it properly once you are back at the rim. One more thing - if you see trash on the trail, be a good Samaritan and pick it up. Just because it is the right thing to do.
- Stay on the trail. Short-cutting the trail contributes to soil erosion and destroys fragile vegetation. In addition, you might accidentally step on and injure wildlife (or wildlife can injure you - if wildlife is a rattlesnake.)
- Do not throw rocks (or anything else) down into the canyon. A small object thrown from the rim can hit and seriously injure a hiker or an animal down below, or cause a rock slide.
- Do not feed wildlife. Surely, feeding a squirrel or a chipmunk may be highly entertaining. It is also incredibly damaging - or even fatal - to those adorable fragile creatures. Human food is unhealthful for wildlife; it may lead to malnutrition, disease, or even death. Over time, animals lose their fear of humans and may become aggressive when begging for food. Wild animals have enough food in their environment and know how to get it. Please keep your snacks to yourself.
- Yield to the right-of-way. Trail etiquette exists for everyone on the trail to have a pleasurable and, most importantly, safe experience. In essence, it requires yielding to slow-goers - downhill hikers yield to uphill hikers, day-hikers yield to backpackers, and everyone moves out of the riders’ way. The Bright Angel Trail is used by mule-riders. Mules can be spooked easily and may act unpredictably. For everyone’s safety, please step aside for them (away from the edge of the trail) and stand silently until the last animal is roughly 50 ft (15 m) past you.
- Do not play music and keep your voice down. Give everyone a chance to have a peaceful experience they have come here for.
A Hike to Plateau Point
You may choose to hike to the famous Plateau Point which offers spectacular views of the Colorado River. To do so, continue an extra 1.5 mi ( km) down the trail from Indian Garden. It is an exposed hike, the trail traverses the Tonto Plateau for about a mile, so be prepared with adequate an amount of water and sun protection.
Camping at Indian Gardens
If you are looking for something more than just a day-hike, consider camping in the Indian Gardens. To do so, you will need to obtain a backpacking permit.
