Villages, ruins & good food

Bob and Andy and Andy's friend Zarko backpacked in the Grand Canyon for five nights:

1. Indian Garden, halfway down

2. Clear Creek, a good day's hike

3. Day hiking and another night at Clear Creak

4. Bright Angel, near Phantom Ranch

5. Day hiking and another night at Bright Angel

Then the 5000 foot vertical climb out, completed by 3 pm

Why stop at Indian Garden on the way in? Because you are not allowed in camp in any one place more than two nights. We had to avoid a third night in Bright Angel. Ergo...

This is a highly recommended itinerary for a first trip in the Grand Canyon. The only challenging day is Indian Garden to Clear Creek. We met a pair who left Grand Canyon Village in the morning and reached Clear Creek at noon, but they were really pushing it!

Plateau Point 

The Colorado from Plateau Point 

The silvery Colorado near Phantom Ranch 

On the Clear Creek trail 

Keep your distance... 

Moonrise at Clear Creek 

On the plateau approaching Clear Creek 

Spires above Clear Creek 

Clear Creek 

Down Clear Creek from the camp 

Cottonwood Creek 

Picking our way through cactus 

Leaving Clear Creek 

Spring leaves at the bottom of the canyon 

Ribbon Falls