Grand Canyon: No Potable Water in the Inner Canyon, Pack Your Own Supply
The inner-canyon water stops along the Bright Angel Trail are dry, so plan your hike accordingly.
By Jocelyn Pion,
Here's something to fold into your planning right now if you're headed for the bottom of the Grand Canyon: potable water is no longer being distributed in the inner canyon. The shutoff hits the famous Bright Angel Trail, the route most hikers take down from the South Rim.
In practical terms, the usual refill points are no longer running water: the 1.5 Mile Resthouse, the 3-Mile Resthouse, and the Havasupai Gardens area, whether for day use or the campground. Those are stops a lot of hikers count on to drink and cool off before pushing on.
The rule to remember is simple. You've got two options, and you pick just one based on your setup. Either you carry all the water you'll need for your outing, which gets heavy fast in the canyon heat, or you gear up with a filtration and treatment system to draw from the springs or the river, a lighter approach that takes a little know-how.
Either way, underestimating what you'll need down here can turn serious: temperatures at the bottom run well above the rim, and the climb back out always lands in the hardest hours of the day. Pack plenty.
This situation is in effect until further notice. Before you head out, lock down your route and stops with the Grand Canyon park guide, and if you're driving west over several days, take a look at our road trip itinerary that runs through this park to plan your resupplies ahead.