Lees Ferry

All white-water rafting trips through Grand Canyon put in at Lees Ferry, outside Grand Canyon National Park in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, 15 river miles below Glen Canyon Dam. Lees Ferry is the last developed area river runners will see until Phantom Ranch, nearly 90 river miles away. It has a campground, parking, public phones, a ranger station, toilets, and water.

Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground

At the confluence of the Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek, accessible by North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail, and Bright Angel Trail, Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground offer the widest range of services inside the canyon, including pay phones, emergency phone, ranger station, toilets, water, showers, and mail service. The Phantom Ranch Canteen sells snacks and a few sundries.

Cottonwood Campground

Situated along North Kaibab Trail, halfway between the river and the rim, Cottonwood Campground has an emergency phone and toilets. Though the campground is open year-round, the ranger station is staffed only seasonally, and drinking water is available from May to mid-October.

Indian Garden

Located midway down Bright Angel Trail, Indian Garden has year-round services, including a campground, emergency phone, ranger station, toilets, and water.

Resthouses

Many of the wood or stone resthouses along the canyon’s corridor trails were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The CCC was a Depression-era program that provided jobs for young men at parks and forests throughout the U.S., including firefighting, tree planting, trail and road building, and other construction projects. Several CCC companies created much needed infrastructure at Grand Canyon.

On the Bright Angel Trail, Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse has toilets, an emergency phone, and seasonal drinking water (May–Sept.). Three-Mile Resthouse has an emergency phone and seasonal drinking water (May–Sept.). River Resthouse, at mile 7.7, where Pipe Creek joins the Colorado River, has an emergency phone.

On the South Kaibab Trail, Cedar Ridge Resthouse, 1.5 miles below the rim, has toilet facilities. At 4.4 miles, the Tonto Trail Junction Resthouse has an emergency phone. The Tip-Off, a few steps further along, has toilet facilities. No water is available along the South Kaibab Trail.

On the North Kaibab Trail, there are toilet facilities and occasional seasonal water at Supai Tunnel, two miles from the rim. Roaring Springs, at 4.7 miles, has toilet facilities and seasonal drinking water (May–Sept.).

Emergencies

It’s highly unlikely that your cell phone will pick up a signal inside the canyon. Consider leaving the phone at home or at the rim; electronic devices can be downright irritating to backpackers and river runners who cherish natural quiet.

The emergency phones available at some resthouses and campgrounds are connected to a 24-hour dispatch center and do not require coins. Rangers patrol the trails and river, and ranger stations are located at Indian Garden, Bright Angel Campground, and Cottonwood Campground (seasonal staff). River guides carry satellite phones and can also assist with emergencies.

Stay on established trails: Hikers have been rescued several times only yards away from a trail. The Park Service rescues about 400 visitors each year, and most are first-time canyon hikers. If you require rescue, you will be responsible for the cost. Exhaustion doesn’t constitute an emergency.

You can leave the park administration telephone number (928/638-2477) with someone who is aware of your itinerary. If you’ve told your contact you will call after hiking out of the canyon, be sure to do so to avoid unnecessary search-and-rescue efforts on your behalf.

© Kathleen Bryant from Moon Grand Canyon, 4th Edition