A must visit for any newcomer to the state of Arizona, the Bright Angel Point derives its name from the effervescent creek that flows through the canyon. The name Bright Angel was derived by Major John Wesley Powell on his pioneering exploration of Colorado in 1869. On viewing the crystal clear waters of the creek, he named it Bright Angel after a character in Milton's Paradise Lost and the name has stuck on ever since.
You can visit the Bright Angel Point on an easy 30 minute hike which leads from the base to the tip of the point. From here, you can partake of a spectacular view of the canyon, the walls of which are not mere rock but years of multicolored rock layers. You may even find shells and fossils in the Kaibab limestone as you climb to the point which is located at 8,418 feet above sea level. You can hear the deafening waters of the Roaring Spring which is also a major tributary to the Bright Angel Creek. The water emerges spectacularly from cave like openings in the Canyon wall.
One of the most significant features of the hike to Bright Angel Point is the sudden and tremendous change in the conditions. From the refreshing green forests of the plateau, you will suddenly find yourself in arid land interspersed with stunted juniper and pinion vegetation. A few minutes ahead, the sparse vegetation gives way to barren rock, on account of the warm air that rises from the canyon.
The Transept Canyon joins the Bright Angel Canyon further ahead. You can even avail of a North Rim guide at the entrance to the canyon.
For further information, you can call the Grand Canyon National Park at 928 638 7888.
The Bright Angel Point
North Rim Dr., AZ State Route 67,
Grand Canyon National Park,
AZ 86022
