Indian Garden

Arizona
Grand Canyon
Bright Angel Trail
May 2001

Indian Garden marks the half way point, at least horizontally, along Bright Angel Trail. There are a few buildings used by the National Park Service and it is the first water stop on the way up from the river to the rim. There are two additional water stops between Indian Garden and the south rim.

We had packed a light lunch before departing, so Indian Garden became a social stop on the hike. By this time, there was a fair distance between each group or individual, yet it was kind of like a relay race, as each hiker entered the rest area of Indian Garden, we would sit, chat for a few minutes, then the lead group would be back on the trail.

When I arrived, to my surprise, I found that I had hiked the four and three-quarter miles in only 2 hours and 15 minutes. At this rate, I would be at the rim by 12:30, well ahead of my target time. What we didn't know, or appreciate, is that while it was the horizontal half way point, the toughest part of the vertical climb was still to come. By this time, it was 10:30 AM, the sun was high enough in the sky that shade would be minimal, and as I walked out of Indian Garden, there was the thermometer - 90 degrees, and rising.