The South Kaibab trail transitions into the North Kaibab trail at the Colorado River where Phantom Ranch is located. Just past Phantom Ranch is a narrow gorge known as The Box, which has some of the best scenery in the entire canyon.
1 I was really worried about getting stuck behind mule trails, but I only saw a few all day, and none of them caused more than a brief delay. This was the only tourist mule train I encountered, the others were all pack mules.
2 After traveling along the river for a short ways, the trail arrives at Bright Angel camp. I stopped here for at least 10-15 minutes, rested, and took advantage of the nice restroom facilities.
3 A look at Bright Angel creek from on top of of the small bridge that crosses over it in the camp.
4 Bright Angel campground. It's a skinny row of tightly packed campsites alongside the creek.
5 The cabins of Phantom Ranch are hidden among the trees.
6 The canteen at Phantom Ranch. It's supposed to have good food, but it was closed both times I passed by it.
7 Beach volleyball at the bottom of the Grand Canyon!
8 The trail leaving Phantom Ranch and heading towards The Box.
9 Only 13.4 miles to go to the North Rim!
10 Entering The Box, which is an extremely narrow canyon cut by Bright Angel creek. I'm not sure how much water is in the creek at other times of the year, but right now, it's roaring.
11 The Box is unquestionably one of my favorite spots on the entire trip, second only to the sunrise views on South Kaibab. The pictures definitely do not do it justice. The camera had a lot of problems with the dark interior canyon against the bright sunlit sky.
12 There are several foot bridges cutting back and forth across the creek. This picture is looking upstream from on top of one of those bridges.
13 The trail momentarily leaves the creek and takes a detour when the canyon becomes too narrow.
14 There are several places where the canyon is only as wide as the creek and the trail.
15 Occasionally the canyon widens making for some great vistas.
16 Another bridge spanning the canyon. They fit these bridges into some really tight spots.
17 In places where there isn't enough room on either side of the creek, the trail is literally blasted out of the canyon walls.
18 Another look at the trail blasted from the canyon wall.
19 A look back across one of the many bridges seemingly going from wall to wall.
20 Reaching the end of The Box. You can see one of the telephone poles at the bottom, which is part of the historic telephone line running to Roaring Springs. It runs the entire length of The Box. Historic or not, I wish they would remove them.
21 Leaving The Box. This area reminds of a red version of Yosemite Valley. From here, the North Kaibab trail continues to Cottonwood Camp and then Roaring Springs and the North Rim.
