Bright Angel Campground — Grand Canyon National Park

What a phenomenal place to camp.  After a long hike have an awesome place like this to stay is amazing.  To camp here requires a long days hiking and the anticipation of an even longer day getting out.  Camping along bright Angel creek is absolutely the most amazing place ever.  Any other campers that you would associate with at this place have also put in a long day and are always fantastic neighbors.  You must swing into the Phantom Ranch Store to grab a cold lemonade and enjoy the company of the guests at the ranch.  The daily Ranger talks are interesting and informational.  Plan early and reserve a campsite at Bright Angel Camp.

If anyone is hoping for a secluded backcountry experience, they will be disappointed with Bright Angel Campground. However, everyone else should be pretty happy with this beautiful place.

We went in December and the leaves were all yellow, making the creek especially pretty. For those used to roughing it, the running water may not be a huge deal but it's pretty nice to have that luxury after a long day of hiking through the canyon. Plus, if you forget any supplies/food you can just run over to Phantom Ranch and purchase them. 

Of course, the hiking experience is the main draw of this place. I don't think anyone is making this trip just for the opportunity to stay here, but Bright Angel Campground certainly doesn't take away from the overall experience. From the South Kaibab Trail, it doesn't take long to get here, we made it down in just over 3 hours. From there you can just take the day to relax and soak in the beauty or go off on a side hike.

Sites are fairly close together, but we didn't find that to be much of a problem. I do wish our fellow campers were more respectful of the red light rule, but noise was not a problem. The numerous deer that just hang out all around you made more noise than the campers, and that was just fine by me.

We didn't have the pleasure of staying at Bright Angel Campground, because we had bunks a Phantom Ranch, but what an amazing place to stay! At the bottom of the canyon, how many people get to say they've been there?

It's hard to get there, since you have to hike over a mile down into the earth to find it, but if you've reserved your spot in advance, it's an amazing opportunity! You MUST have a permit to stay at this campground, and it takes months to get one, so please plan in advance.

You can not hike down and get a spot at the campground. You have to have a permit.

Cost: $10 for the permit and $8 per person with 30 sites for small groups (1 to 2 tents) and 2 spots for larger groups (up to 7 tents, I think)

Once you have a permit, and arrive at the campground, it is first come first serve to pick a spot.

The sites aren't terribly private, but they are incredibly unique. Each features a spot on the water, or just across the trail from the water, and it's on the Bright Angel Creek, just a half mile from the Little Colorado River. Each site also had a lock box (like a cooler with latches) for food to keep it from the ravenous, and none to shy, squirrels, as well as a metal "T" post for hanging your packs and shoes. NOTE: Keep your packs UNZIPPED so that the squirrels don't chew holes into them, if they manage to pull circus stunts and find them on the poles. The cool part? Those poles are part of the old telephone line/system in the canyon! Great little piece of history being repurposed!

I assume that everyone at the bottom has the stamina and gumption to get there, so they respect everyone else that did too. And those that were crazy enough to try, without athletic ability, have a newfound insane appreciation for what it takes to do it at all, and respects everyone even more, so privacy at the campsites isn't an issue. It's a privilege to be there at all.

There are bathrooms, potable water, emergency phone, boat beach for soaking tired feet in icy water, ranger station and lots of good company. I highly recommend it, if you are just crazy enough to try. You won't regret the memories!