The Tonto Trail does not terminate at either rim of the Grand Canyon, but begins along the south bank of the Colorado River at Garnet Canyon (western end) and ends at Red Canyon (eastern end), also at the Colorado River. Through most of its 95-mile length, the trail runs along the Tonto Platform, the bench in the Grand Canyon that separates the inner gorge from the upper canyon. 95 miles (152.9 km): Garnet Canyon to Red Canyon
Approximate mileages between key points on the Tonto Trail:
11.6 miles (18.7 km): Garnet Creek to Bass Canyon
35.7 miles (57.5 km): Bass Canyon to Hermit Creek
12 miles (19.3 km): Hermit Creek to Bright Angel Trail (Indian Garden)
4.5 miles (7.2 km): Bright Angel Trail to South Kaibab Trail
21.3 miles (34.3 km): South Kaibab Trail to Grandview Trail (Horseshoe Mesa)
9.9 miles (15.9 km): Grandview Trail to New Hance Trail (Red Canyon)
Description
A view of the Tonto Trail between the South Bass Trail and Hermit Trail in the Grand Canyon.
At Garnet Canyon, the Tonto Trail officially ends, but a trail continues along the Colorado River to Elves Chasm. There is also a junction with the Royal Arch Route, which requires a short rappel to access the river trail. At Red Canyon, the eastern end of the Tonto Trail, the Escalante Route continues eastward, connecting to the Tanner Trail and Beamer Trail at Tanner Rapids.[1]
There is additional access to the Colorado River in Monument Canyon, Hermit Creek Canyon and Boucher Creek Canyon via approximately 1½ mile spur trails that lead to designated campsites at the river.[1]
Condition
The start of the west Tonto Trail.
Trail conditions vary based on the amount of traffic certain sections receive. The section between the Bright Angel Trail and the South Kaibab Trail (4.6 miles, 7.4 kilometres) is the most heavily travelled and the easiest to follow. Less traveled sections are subject to overgrowth by canyon flora early in the spring season, and may require route finding skills to traverse.[1]
Water availability
All water sources along this trail must be treated, filtered, or boiled before drinking, with the exception of water available at the junction with the Bright Angel Trail (at Indian Garden).[2]
Hermit Creek, Monument Creek, and Garden Creek flow year round and can be consumed after purification. Water from Horn Creek should be avoided except in emergency circumstances due to radioactive contamination from the Lost Orphan Uranium Mine (defunct) below Powell Point.
The park's Backcountry Information Center has current water conditions for all water sources along the Tonto Trail.
Camping
Camping is allowed along the Tonto Trail by permit only, issued by the Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Information Center. Use of these areas overnight are regulated by the National Park Service, and they call for a maximum number of groups (7 to 11 people) and parties (1 to 6 people), as well as a maximum total number of persons.[3]
The Tonto Trail passes through numerous backcountry use areas.[4][5] The three letter code indicates the park's use area designation (listed from east to west):
Use areas along Tonto Trail from east to west
Area
Name
Type
Group(s)
Parties
Max People
BD9
Red Canyon
At-large
1
and
2
23
BE9
Hance Creek
At-large
1
and
2
23
BG9
Cottonwood Creek
At-large
1
and
2
23
BH9
Grapevine
At-large
1
and
2
23
BJ9
Cremation
At-large
1
and
2
23
CIG
Indian Garden
Campground
1
and
15
50
BL4
Horn Creek
Campsite
0
1
6
BL5
Salt Creek
Campsite
0
1
6
BL6
Cedar Spring
Campsite
0
1
6
BL7
Monument Creek
Campsite
1
and
2
23
BL8
Granite Rapids
Campsite
1
and
2
23
BM7
Hermit Creek
Campsite
1
and
3
29
BM8
Hermit Rapids
Campsite
1
and
1
17
BN9
Boucher
At-large
1
and
2
23
BO9
Slate
At-large
1
and
2
23
BP9
Ruby
At-large
1
and
2
23
BQ9
South Bass
At-large
1
and
2
23
BR9
Garnet
At-large
1
and
2
23
Use permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the park's Backcountry Information Center. Requests are taken beginning on the 1st day of the month, up to four months before the requested first night of camping.[6]
Hazards
Hazards hikers can encounter along the Tonto Trail include dehydration, sudden rainstorms, flash flooding, loose footing, rockfall, encounters with wildlife, and extreme heat. At the Colorado River, additional hazards include hypothermia (due to the river's consistently cold temperatures), trauma (due to collisions with boulders in rapids), and drowning.[7]
Hikers who venture east of the South Kaibab Trail or west of the Hermit Trail are more likely to find solitude and isolation in addition to other hazards related to desert hiking.[1]
