Hike to Phantom Ranch is a must-see in the Grand Canyon for anyone who wants an unforgettable trip. It was built in the 1920s and is in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. If you can get a pass or make an appointment, stay overnight in one of the Grand Canyon’s cozy cabins. The nights are very dark, and you can watch the stars. You can also visit the Grand Canyon and enjoy the dark sky.
That’s where you can buy gifts, eat snacks, and try the famous beef stew or steak dinners at Phantom Ranch. The Grand Canyon below the rim will be quiet the following day if you stay overnight. Most of the other tourists will have already left. You can see animals, relax by the Colorado River, and enjoy a stunning sunset. Some bright stars are in the sky, but the best part is lying under the Milky Way and seeing them.
How much time does it take to hike to Phantom Ranch?
Which Grand Canyon trail you take affects how long it takes to hike to Phantom Ranch:
- It’s ten miles from the south rim of Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch.
- On the South Kaibab Trail (south rim), Phantom Ranch is 7.5 miles away.
- On the North Kaibab Trail (north rim), Phantom Ranch is 13.6 miles away.
- We started on the south edge of the canyon and walked down the South Kaibab trail for 7.5 miles to get to Phantom Ranch. There was a 45-minute lunch break at Tip-Off Point on the way to Phantom Ranch. We kept a pretty steady pace. It took us 5 hours to walk along the South Kaibab trail.
- It was hard to walk to Phantom Ranch but even more challenging to walk back! Getting out of the Grand Canyon will be more complex and take longer because you have to climb many stairs. We left Phantom Ranch and returned to the south rim on the 10-mile Bright Angel road. We were done in seven hours.
How challenging is the Phantom Ranch hike?
No matter which road you take, the walk to Phantom Ranch will be challenging because the canyon goes up and down very steeply. Get your mind and body ready for the walk, especially the part where you leave Phantom Ranch and go up and down the canyon. Phantom Ranch is at the very bottom of the Grand Canyon. You can walk there, but only if you stroll along at your own pace.
Without a guide, is it possible to walk to Phantom Ranch?
Phantom Ranch is simple to reach on your own! We didn’t need a guide because the paths to and from Phantom Ranch are well-signed and full of people.
Getting a ticket to stay the night at Phantom Ranch alone is complex and requires a lot of luck. But if you walk to Phantom Ranch with a guide from an adventure or tour company, you’ll surely get one.
How to Make a Reservation for Your Stay at Phantom Ranch
Phantom Ranch is at the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park, and you need to buy a ticket ahead of time to get there. People pay a lot of attention to “advanced reservations” because you must plan your trip to Phantom Ranch at least 15 months ago!
Getting a ticket to Phantom Ranch is challenging because many people want to go there on their adventure trip lists. You must wait and be lucky to get a spot at Phantom Ranch.
To book a room at Phantom Ranch, follow these steps:
You can enter the Phantom Ranch draw 15 months before the month you want to stay.
A month after you enter the lottery and your reservation at Phantom Ranch is guaranteed, you will be told if you won.
Anyone can book any spots that haven’t been sold or claimed yet.
What time of year is best for hiking in the Grand Canyon?
Now, you can plan your trip from Bright Angel to South Kaibab! Picking the suitable months to walk will make the whole thing different. These are the months.
May – September
The Grand Canyon becomes heated in these months. High temperatures average 71–85 degrees. Working outside in the sun can make you sick. Much is at stake in the Grand Canyon, which is far distant and harsh.
The Grand Canyon bottom may be 10–20 degrees warmer than the top. The descent and rise will warm you up even more.
Don’t let these months deter park visitation. This problematic trek shouldn’t be necessary, but the view is worth it.
October – April
I think these months are the best times to plan this walk! The highs are usually 45 to 65 degrees. It will get freezing in the morning, but if you wear clothes, you’ll be fine. You’ll still remove your clothes as you descend the slope when the sun rises.
It might snow on the South Rim and at the tops of the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails. Always check the temperature beforehand, and bring microspikes to stay safe.
Do you want to see what the Phantom Ranch homes look like?
Some of Phantom Ranch’s houses are big enough for groups of two to ten people who want to spend the night at the base of the Grand Canyon and have a great time. At the Phantom Ranch Cabins at the bottom of the Grand Canyon,
The Phantom Ranch Cabins in the middle of the Grand Canyon feel like a magical place. Every house has a bathroom with a sink and comfy bunk beds. It also has an air conditioner and heater that can be used yearly.
There are these things in every bedroom:
- A nice bed has soft sheets, warm blankets, and a pillow you can sink into.
- Everyone will get a hand towel and a bathroom towel.
- There is cold water in the sink.
- The liquid form of hand sanitizer
- Mice won’t be able to get to your food if you put it in an ammo can.
- If you want to spend the night at Phantom Ranch, you don’t need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, or clothes.
- There is a lovely house in Phantom Ranch with two sets of bunk beds, a good stove, and an air conditioner for your comfort.
At Phantom Ranch, each house has comfy bunk beds and all the furniture and linens you need.
A cute sink is hidden in a cozy house at Phantom Ranch
Each house at Phantom Ranch has its bathroom and sink so you can feel at ease.
Should I plan to stay at Phantom Ranch?
How to Walk to Phantom Ranch
Getting to Phantom Ranch is hard, but the walk-up is worth it! You can start your hike to Phantom Ranch from the Grand Canyon’s north or south rim. People brave enough to walk from the north rim to the south rim or the other way around often spend the night at Phantom Ranch. What if you can’t get a room at Phantom Ranch for the night? You can still go for a walk during the day!
How long should I stay at Phantom Ranch?
On the way out, it takes 6–10 hours, and on the way back, it takes 4–5 hours. That’s not enough time for one night at Phantom Ranch. To fully understand how people live below the Grand Canyon rim and its magic, you must stay at Phantom Ranch for at least two nights. People who like to hike can stay at Phantom Ranch for up to 4 nights.
Do at Phantom: On your second day at Phantom Ranch, you can relax at Boat Beach, watch people eat lunch next to the restaurant, or go hiking on one of the trails nearby!
A man strolls along the Colorado River near the Grand Canyon’s base. A black bridge is in the background.
One of my favorite things at Phantom Ranch is relaxing at Black Beach’s neighbor, Boat Beach.
In the afternoon, people walk into the canyon and raft down the Colorado River.
Phantom Ranch packing suggestions
- It’s hard to know what to bring because the weather on the rim and the floor of Phantom Ranch can be very different. For a winter walk, you’ll need clothes worn in hot and cold weather. This is what we pack and have used for years:
- iPad: I bring my iPad with me every time I go for a long walk. After a long walk, it’s nice to read a book. An e-reader is not as heavy as a book. How much does a Kindle cost? You can find out on Amazon.
- Instant Kindle is giving away two months for free on Amazon. This service allows you to read many books.
- You can also try Audible for free. With this service, you can get a huge number of podcasts. To learn more, click here.
- There isn’t much shade along this road, and the sun scorches all year. Both Amazon and REI sell sunscreen.
- The Osprey Talon 22 has been our day pack for a long time. Osprey, Amazon, and REI are all excellent places to look.
- The Merrell Moab climbing boots are made for both men and women. These have worked great for us for over three years. You can get them at REI or Amazon.
- With a one-time-use water bottle, you don’t need to use plastic that will only be used once. You can get them at REI or Amazon.
- The Yak Trax allows you to walk differently in the snow. You can get them at REI or Amazon.
- We always wear this when it is cold outside because it keeps us warm. Go to the page on REI or Amazon.
How to spend the night before going camping in Phantom Ranch
We slept on the south rim and then walked down to Phantom Ranch. In November, when it was almost cold at night, my four friends and I chose to stay at Maswik Lodge on the south rim for $185/night, which covered all taxes and fees. This is where I usually sleep.
Going to the Grand Canyon costs money.
The $80 America The Beautiful Annual Pass is a great deal if you want to visit more than three US National Parks in a year.
If not, a car and its people can get in for $35 for seven days. It takes $30 to come on a motorcycle.
How much does it cost to stay at Phantom Ranch?
Still, the weekend trip to Phantom Ranch cost more than anything I’ve done outside. It was worth it, so I’d do it again!
Our group of four paid $1,013.46 ($253.37 each) to walk to Phantom Ranch and stay there for three days and two nights in November 2023. Here are the prices we paid for Phantom Ranch, including the fees:
Phantom Ranch charges $266.18 a night for a house that can fit four people.
Dinner of steak on the first night: $70.19 per person
Dinner of beef stew (Night 2) costs $50.09 per person.
Phantom Ranch prices in Grand Canyon National Park are below.
A place to eat with tables made of wood. People on hikes sit down and prepare for dinner at Phantom Ranch.
Phantom Ranch has food for sale. Dinner will be served in the Phantom Ranch Canteen, a cute room set up like a family.
How much do Phantom Ranch meals cost?
The Phantom Ranch Canteen serves warm breakfasts, sack lunches, and family-style dinners that hikers and tourists can order. Even though the food is expensive, you should have dinner at Phantom Ranch at least once.
Phantom Ranch serves steak and beef stew for dinner. They both tasted great, and I’m not even a steak girl. There was cake, cookies, and salad with every dinner. Those cookies were EVERYTHING every night, but I have no idea what was used to make them.
This is how much Phantom Ranch meals cost.
- For breakfast, everyone has to pay $29.50.
- Each person pays $24.43 for lunch in a bag.
- Dinner with steak costs $58.23 per person.
- Stew dinner costs $41.55 for everyone.
- Dinner with sides for $39.05 each
It might look like the Phantom Ranch Canteen’s food, snacks, and drinks are pricey, but they are all brought in by mule from the top of the Grand Canyon.
Don’t forget to book your breakfast and dinner at Phantom Ranch beforehand. You can book your meals at Phantom Ranch while you book your room for the night. You can choose which food you want each day of your stay.
You can get a steak, potatoes, and buns at the Phantom Ranch Lodge. Phantom Ranch’s steak for dinner is worth it. After a long day of climbing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, that’s just what you need. The food tastes good and makes you complete.
Cost to enter Grand Canyon National Park
Everyone who comes to Phantom Ranch will have to pay to get into the Grand Canyon:
$35 for personal cars
$30 for a bike and $20 for each person
You can use this America the Beautiful park pass at Grand Canyon National Park!
Phantom Lookout and Clear Creek
You can also walk on the Clear Creek Trail, which is nearby. To get to the trail, go north on the North Kaibab Trail for about 0.25 miles and turn right at a trail crossing.
The Clear Creek Trail sign isn’t right there, so keep your eyes open for the turn.
The trail starts to climb here. At first, the road climbs slowly, but as it approaches the Tonto Platform, it becomes much steeper. This path’s ability to lead to significant “destinations” makes it great for day hikes.
A lovely spot about 3/4 mile from the junction is excellent for people who want a short walk with great views. Its name comes from the fact that it has a view of Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Creek valley.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the trail in the 1930s. They used pieces of the nearby Vishnu Schist to make a bench. The bench is unique and a great place to photograph the whole family.
You’ll see a narrow path to your right that runs along the edge of a rock after a few more steps up the trail past the CCC bench. Don’t believe what you see. The few steps might not be worth it. It’s only ten steps from the main road to a lovely canyon view.
You can see the South Kaibab Trail’s turns, the Colorado River, and the canyon floor from this spot.
Follow the Clear Creek Trail until you reach another viewpoint. You can see the Inner Gorge, the Colorado River, the Black Bridge of the South Kaibab Trail, and the Bright Angel Trail Silver Bridge from this spot. You should take shots here!
Conclusion
Hiking to and staying at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one of the most significant ways to explore one of the most visited national parks in the US. One of my favorite and most unique trips is staying at this Grand Canyon oasis, where I can hike below the rim and stargaze under the darkest skies! The Phantom Ranch climb and overnight reservation are challenging but worth it. This Phantom Ranch lodging guide can help you plan the Grand Canyon trip of a lifetime!
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