Bright Angel Loop Mule-Supported Grand Canyon Hiking Tour 

Your Grand Canyon adventure begins on the South Rim, where you’ll meet your guide and shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead. After final preparations, the hike begins with sweeping views that stretch across the Canyon’s layered expanse. The descent follows a well-built trail past Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point — ideal spots for breaks, photos, and a first taste of the Canyon’s vast scale.

As we near the Colorado River, the trail crosses the dramatic Black Bridge, leading just a few minutes farther to our camp at Bright Angel Campground, nestled along Bright Angel Creek. Settle in and relax beneath the cottonwoods while your guide prepares a hearty dinner. 

After a well-earned dinner prepared by your guide, you can stroll to Phantom Ranch, join an evening ranger program, or simply marvel at the brilliant Grand Canyon night sky, ablaze with countless stars.

Distance & Elevation: 7 miles, 4800-foot descent

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Awake to the peaceful sounds of Bright Angel Creek and the soft glow of sunrise on the canyon walls. After breakfast, we set out on a scenic hike along the Clear Creek Trail, gaining gentle elevation to enjoy breathtaking views of the Colorado River winding far below. This vantage reveals the immense scale and quiet beauty of the Grand Canyon’s inner gorge.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore The Box, a dramatic corridor where the trail meanders between soaring 1,000-foot cliffs of polished schist and granite. The narrow canyon walls create a cool, shaded environment perfect for a relaxed afternoon walk. 

Depending on group interests and energy, your guide may also suggest other hikes or accommodate leisurely time at Phantom Ranch. The day concludes back at Bright Angel Campground, where you can unwind by the creek and enjoy another well-earned dinner beneath the stars.

Distance & Elevation: up to 8 miles, variable elevation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll rise early to begin our journey back to the South Rim, following the famous Bright Angel Trail. The day starts with beautiful morning light along the Colorado River, where we’ll trace its course before turning up Pipe Creek and beginning our steady ascent. This route provides a striking contrast to the South Kaibab Trail we descended on Day 1.

As we climb, keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep and the magnificent California condor, one of the world’s rarest birds, often seen gliding high above the canyon walls. We’ll pause for a scenic trailside lunch and take in sweeping views across to the North Rim before the final push to the top. 

Standing at the Bright Angel Trailhead in Grand Canyon Village, you’ll celebrate completing one of the most iconic hikes in the Grand Canyon — a true bucket-list adventure and an unforgettable personal accomplishment.

Distance & Elevation: 9.5 miles, 4400-foot ascent

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Due to a temporary closure of the Silver Bridge and River Trail, which provide access to the Bright Angel Trail from Bright Angel Campground, all Bright Angel Loop trips will need to exit the canyon via the South Kaibab Trail on the last day.

This hike is rated Intermediate Plus. It is intended for active people who exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and do not have any chronic knee issues. Though mules will carry all of the camping gear, that does not mean that this is an easy Grand Canyon hike. It is a strenuous endeavor and the decision to join one of these trips should not be taken lightly. Each participant must be able to comfortably manage an approximately 20-pound backpack while hiking for 7 to 9 hours on steep canyon trails, descending or ascending more than 4500 feet in a single day. The descent into Grand Canyon is perhaps the most challenging part of the hike and the physical demands of downhill hiking is often underestimated.

It is each participant’s responsibility to ensure they possess the level of physical fitness required to complete the hike. Do not take this lightly or fail to properly prepare for the hike. If you are not already a very active person in excellent health, then you are encouraged to consider a different trip style. 

• A professional, licensed and medically trained guide
• All necessary gear: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
• All cooking/eating gear: bowls, cups, utensils (your guide will prepare all meals)
• All meals from a lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the last day + trail snacks
• Backcountry permits and fees
• 5% National Park Service Commercial Fee (a required fee that passes through to Grand Canyon National Park)
• Duffel service for tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, group gear and food to be carried by the mules. Participants only carry personal clothing/items.

• Transportation to/from Grand Canyon, South Rim
• Lodging the night before/after the trip
• Clothing, raingear, and footwear
• Personal toiletries, sunscreen
• Water bottles/hydration bladder
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Guide gratuity (suggested 10-20% of trip cost)

*Upon booking you will receive a detailed trip information packet

Most camping trips below the rim of Grand Canyon will accommodate 5 people plus one guide. On occasion, a group may be as large as 9 people plus 2 guides.

Children under the age of 13 are generally not permitted. This restriction may be negotiable on private tours. Please contact us with any questions regarding this policy.

In order to confirm a reservation, we require an initial deposit of $250 per person, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the trip’s departure. If you book a trip within 90 days of the trip’s scheduled departure, then full payment is due at the time of booking.

Once we confirm availability, you will be provided with an online registration link. Your deposit is payable online by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or ACH transfer.

This trip will begin/end in Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and you will need to spend the night prior to your trip’s scheduled departure here. You will want to fly into either Phoenix (3.5 hour drive) or Flagstaff (1.5 hour drive).

We will hold a pre-trip orientation at 5:00pm the evening prior to your trip’s departure at the Maswik Lodge in Grand Canyon Village. Departure times and logistics for the following morning will be discussed at the orientation. Most trips will depart between 5:30am and 7:30am.

The mules will carry your tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, all group kitchen/eating gear and food. Each person is expected to carry up to 15 pounds. This will include 3 liters of water (~ 6 pounds) and all personal clothing/items. The weight you carry is largely dependent on how much personal clothing/items you bring.

On the morning of your hike’s departure, the group will meet at the Backcountry Information Center at a predetermined time. There is a large, long-term parking area here where you can leave your car. Most guests leave their extra luggage in their car during the hike. However, feel free to discuss luggage storage options with your hotel. They are often willing to accommodate you, especially if you will be spending an additional night there after the hike.

Expect to be back on the South Rim by 4pm at the latest on the last day of the trip. Some trips will return earlier but we cannot make any guarantees. In general, it is recommended that you do not plan to fly home on the same day your trip finishes. Since each trip has slightly different logistics, feel free to contact us with specific questions related to the expected return time for your trip.