Bright Angel Trail

The most popular of the corridor trails, the Bright Angel is wide, well graded and easy to follow. It's equally attractive to first-time canyon hikers and seasoned pros, as well as mule trains, making it a heavily trafficked route. But the din doesn't lessen the sheer beauty of it all.

The steep and scenic 12.5km (7.8mi) descent to the Colorado River is punctuated with four logical turnaround spots, including two well-appointed resthouses for opportunities to seek shade and hydrate: Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse and Three-Mile Resthouse. Even if you're wary of crowds, you won't regret taking a jaunt of some length on the Bright Angel.