Bright Angel Trail, mid morning

I had heard about a route along the base of the Tapeats cliffs below Plateau Point that forms a complete sort of loop, and may also provide access to the Colorado River. I hiked down the Bright Angel Trail and gave the route a try on March 27th.

The Bright Angel Trail was uncharacteristically quiet and pleasant this morning.

Spring had come to Indian Garden. This is the ranger station there.

The route simply leads down the first significant drainage west of Plateau Point. This is sometimes called Lone Pine or Prospector Canyon. Follow the drainage to a sort of pouroff above the Colorado River, and then contour along the base of the Tapeats cliffs east to Garden Creek and the Bright Angel Trail.

I took the trail to Plateau Point, and followed the rim of the cliffs west to Lone Pine Canyon.

Plateau Point

The trans-canyon pipeline surfaces above ground just west of Plateau Point. This pipeline is the municpal water source for all the facilities on the South Rim. It originates at Roaring Springs, on the North Rim.

This small indentation, though marked with a cairn, is not the first drainage that I am speaking of.

first look at Lone Pine Canyon

Don’t miss the next page (This day continued)