Bright Angel Campground

Spend a night at Bright Angel Campground in the bottom of the Grand Canyon

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Bright Angel Campground is a half-mile north of the Colorado River on the banks of Bright Angel Creek, a tributary of the Colorado. To get there, you’ll have to hike a vertical mile into the depths of the Grand Canyon.

This sought-after campground fills up quickly, so plan ahead and get your permit early. A few walk-in permits may be available daily at the backcountry permit office.

How to get to there

Since Bright Angel Campground sits at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you’ll have to hike in via one of the park’s three corridor trails. Choose between the North Kaibab Trail, which begins on the North Rim, or the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trails on the South Rim.

About Bright Angel Campground

This popular campground is an oasis in the Grand Canyon, with cool, flowing water and shady cottonwood trees. There’s nothing better than soaking your feet in the creek after a long, hot day hiking in the Grand Canyon!

Your backcountry permit is good for any of the available campsites, so you get to choose an open site to call yours for the night.

Sites include picnic tables, food storage boxes, and poles to hang your packs.  And some even have creek-side views!

What to do at Bright Angel Campground

From the campground, follow the creek a half mile upstream to the Phantom Ranch Canteen, where you can treat yourself to a cold lemonade or beer after your grueling hike. You can also buy snacks, play games, and mail postcards.

If you’d like to lighten your load, you can pay to have mules carry your gear in and out of the canyon. Contact the Bright Angel Lodge on the South Rim to make the appropriate arrangements.

A trip to Bright Angel Campground can be the perfect one-night excursion into the Grand Canyon, but many hikers use it as a stop on extended backpacking trips. From here, you can take the Clear Creek Trail east along the river, or use the corridor trails to make your own route. Check out our Grand Canyon map for itinerary ideas ›

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Permits for to camp in the Grand Canyon

Camping below the rim of the Grand Canyon requires a backcountry permit, which you can get up to four months in advance of your trip.  The earlier you start planning, the better! Get your permit today at recreation.gov

More information on Grand Canyon backcountry permits