Descend through two billion years of geological history on the Grand Canyon's most famous corridor trail — from the South Rim to Indian Garden and the Plateau Point overlook.

Stationen dieser Tour (12)

1. 1
   Bright Angel Trailhead The Grand Canyon inverts the usual hiking equation — the hardest part is the climb back out. Every step down must be earned twice on the return. On a summer day, rim-to-Indian Garden round trip demands at least four litres of water and electrolytes. Do not underestimate this canyon.
2. 2
   Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse The first rest shelter with seasonal water. You have already descended 320 metres through the Kaibab and Toroweap limestone layers — rocks formed when this land lay beneath a shallow tropical sea, 270 million years ago.
3. 3
   Two-Mile Corner The Coconino Sandstone layer dominates here — cross-bedded dunes from a vast Permian desert frozen in stone. These are fossilised sand dunes, complete with ancient reptile tracks.
4. 4
   Three-Mile Resthouse The second rest shelter sits at 940 metres below the rim. The Hermit Shale layer crumbles in red slopes between cliffs. The Havasupai people maintained this trail for centuries before it became a mule route.
5. 5
   Jacob's Ladder Switchbacks Steep switchbacks cut through the Redwall Limestone — a 100-metre cliff of marine limestone from the Mississippian period, 340 million years old. The rock is actually grey; iron oxide staining from above paints it red.
6. 6
   Indian Garden A desert oasis at 1,160 metres below the rim. Cottonwood trees, running water, and shade — the Havasupai people farmed here for over 800 years. This is the turnaround point for most day hikers. Respect your energy reserves.
7. 7
   Garden Creek Garden Creek flows year-round, fed by springs in the Muav Limestone. The riparian zone supports birds, lizards, and ringtail cats. Practice Leave No Trace — this fragile ecosystem depends on clean water.
8. 8
   Tonto Trail Junction The Tonto Platform stretches flat for miles — a broad bench of Bright Angel Shale sitting atop the inner gorge. The trail to Plateau Point follows this ancient surface westward.
9. 9
   Plateau Point Trail The path crosses the Tonto Platform with minimal shade. The inner gorge begins to reveal itself — Vishnu Schist and Zoroaster Granite, some of the oldest exposed rock on Earth.
10. 10
    Plateau Point Overlook Standing 400 metres directly above the Colorado River. The rocks at your feet are 1.7 billion years old — Vishnu Basement Rocks, formed before any complex life existed on Earth. The river below carved this mile-deep gash in just six million years.
11. 11
    Return: Indian Garden Rest Refill water at Indian Garden before the ascent. The climb back to the rim gains 1,160 metres — equivalent to climbing a 350-storey building. Start early, drink constantly, and eat salty snacks.
12. 12
    Return: Bright Angel Trailhead The final switchbacks above the three-mile resthouse are the steepest sustained climb. Reaching the rim, the flat path to the trailhead feels like floating. You have walked through two billion years of Earth's autobiography.

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