River Mile: 87.8-right
Time: 4 to 8 hours one way to the South Rim
Difficulty: Easy. Though a hike to the rim climbs nearly 5,000 vertical feet, the trail is wide and relatively smooth all the way
Wet or Dry?: Dry.
Ideal Weather: Cool
Potential: For someone who is more into hiking than floating, an Indian Gardens to Monument Creek hike along the Tonto Trail is a spectacular way to avoid Horn Creek Rapid.
Phantom Ranch is the most common place along the river to do exchanges with river trip participants. Some people end their trip here with a 9-mile hike to the South Rim, while others begin their river trip by hiking in and immediately running some of Grand Canyon’s biggest whitewater. There are two choices for people hiking between Phantom Ranch and the South Rim: the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab Trails.For a steep and direct route out of the Canyon, the Kaibab is the best choice, but for easier hiking and more convenience, the Bright Angel wins. You know that you’re close to the rim when you see adventurous cityphiles in fine white pumps. Don’t let the heavy traffic fool you, though, the Bright Angel is still a healthy walk. After crossing the silver bridge downstream from the mouth of Bright Angel Creek, the trail follows the river downstream for a mile to Pipe Creek before starting its climb to the rim. Three miles and 1,300 feet above the river is the welcome oasis of Indian Gardens- a shady cottonwood grove complete with fresh drinking water, trailside benches, and a ranger station.