Although 264 highway miles separate the developed areas on the North Rim from the ones on the South Rim, the distance is as little as 22 miles for people on foot. Three well-maintained corridor trails link the two sides: The South Kaibab and the Bright Angel both descend from the South Rim to the Colorado River. Two footbridges help link these trails to the North Kaibab, which climbs to the North Rim. Near these bridges, a stone's throw from the North Kaibab Trail, lie the cabins and corrals of historic Phantom Ranch, the only lodging in the canyon inside the National Park. At roughly 2,450 feet, this ranch is over a vertical mile lower than the North Kaibab Trailhead.
The corridor area is the most crowded inside the canyon. River trips often stop to pick up and drop off passengers at Phantom Ranch. Mule trips use the three corridor trails. So do the vast majority of hikers and backpackers descending into the canyon. At Cottonwood, Bright Angel or Indian Garden campgrounds, thousands of backpackers each year enjoy luxuries such as running water (seasonal), toilets and smooth campsites. By resting at the campgrounds and staying on these clearly defined trails, these travelers make rim-to-river backpacking trips less dangerous than in other, more rugged areas of the park.
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