Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail

Bright Angel Trail is probably the most travelled trail into and out of the canyon, mostly because it was built with switchbacks to be less steep than other trails and there are multiple water spigots along the way so you don't have to carry as much water with you.

This is the view from just beneath the rim.

Several of the rock layers in the Grand Canyon were previously sand dunes. You can see this in the so-called crossbedding, the angled individual depositional layers within the larger layers of rock.

I liked the texture and swirly effect of this particular section of rock.

This gives you a sense of just how steep the cliffs in the Grand Canyon are.

Another transition between rock layers, as well as evidence of rock falls.

A caravan of mules trekking upwards as we went down.

Looking up at the top of the ridge viewed from above in the first photo.

Fossilized tracks in a rock on the side of the trail.

We hiked to the 3-mile Resthouse (where the squirrel from the last post was oh so friendly), and back, dropping almost 2000 ft before climbing back out. It took several hours and the lighting changed constantly, both with the moving sun and the shadows of the canyon. This is a spot near the top of the trail that I took photos of in both directions, but I particularly enjoyed the slight glow on our way out.