This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
The best-known trail into the Grand Canyon. From the South Rim at Grand Canyon Village, the Bright Angel Trail switchbacks down through the canyon's rock layers to the cottonwoods of Havasupai Gardens (formerly Indian Garden), then follows a level spur across the Tonto Platform to Plateau Point, a viewpoint right above the Colorado River. Grand Canyon National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Trail Map
Initialising Map Engine...
Trail Profile
General Instructions
About 20 km return with roughly 1,000 m of climbing, all of it on the way back up. Going down is easy, coming up is not: the park warns against hiking to the river and back in one day, and Plateau Point is a long day too. Avoid the middle of the day from May to September, when the inner canyon can pass 40 °C. Seasonal water stations are along the trail, but carry plenty and salty snacks.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
36.0573, -112.1436
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: 36.0573, -112.1436 @ 2079m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- Look down on the Colorado River from Plateau Point
- Rest in the shade at Havasupai Gardens
- Spot the ancient pictographs near the first tunnel
- Watch for bighorn sheep and California condors
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+973 m
Total Descent
-973 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
94.9
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
2.18
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 6.6 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
Reviews & Discussion0
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Plan this trip
Before you go: Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
Best time to go
May–Oct
Ride and hike the low desert from October to April, since Phoenix summers are dangerously hot; the Rim country and Flagstaff area are best from May to October, with afternoon monsoon storms common from July to September.
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