Stage 2 of the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim covers 11.1 km from Cottonwood Campground to Phantom Ranch, with 254 m of ascent and 714 m of descent. The highest point is 1,238 m. Allow about 4 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Designated backcountry campground on Bright Angel Creek near the Colorado River, 22.5 km from the North Rim and 15.3 km from the South Rim, with about 31 small sites and 2 group sites, food cans, toilets, a ranger station and an emergency phone. Permit required (Recreation.gov); closed until further notice after the 29 August 2026 flood.
Historic lodge at the bottom of the canyon, 0.6 km north of Bright Angel Campground, with cabins for 2–10 people and separate men's and women's hiker dorms (reopened September 2026, $90 a bed). Space is allocated by an online lottery long in advance; closed through at least 19 November 2026 after the flood.
Canteen at Phantom Ranch: breakfast, sack lunches and steak, stew or vegetarian dinners for guests who booked meals in advance, and a side window selling snacks and drinks to all hikers (8 am–8 pm). Closed with Phantom Ranch after the August 2026 flood.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. Every night below the rim needs an NPS backcountry permit for a named campground, won in the Recreation.gov lottery months ahead. In autumn 2026 the North Kaibab Trail, Cottonwood, Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch are closed after the August flood: check the NPS Key Hiking Messages page before you go.
Emergency: call 911. No signal below the rim: use trail emergency phones or a satellite device. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.