|  | 
| |||
 |
Grand Canyon National Park | 
| |||
|  
|
Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
The Plant Guide
Key to Plant Guide Information
Introduction To The Linked Species Pages
Introduction
This is a very preliminary plant trail guide to the Bright Angel Trail to mile 3.7, resulting from just two days of field work on 5-6 September 2007 in a drought year. It is therefore undoubtedly incomplete, especially for annuals and perennials, missing a number of such species that are seen only in wetter years or earlier in the year. However, it should be fairly complete for the larger shrubs and trees on the trail.
A plant trail guide gives the location of the first occurrence of every taxon (species and subspecies) found on the trail, as well as an estimate of the abundance of each taxon. It enables a botanist to know exactly where to find a given species, and gives the identification for species seen as one hikes along a trail. It is much more useful in the field than a traditional plant list by family, since the plants are seen in the trail in the order of the plant trail guide, and one doesn't have to figure out the determination from a large plant list by family.
In this plant trail guide, the common name of nearly every species is linked to a separate webpage that shows photographs taken on 5-6 September 2007. For most taxa, these photographs serve as vouchers for my determinations, allowing botanists to confirm or question my determinations. ☺
The photographs also enable armchair botanists to take a virtual tour through all the species seen those days on the trail.
Since most species were not in bloom then, the photographs in general don't look anything like the pretty pictures of flowers shown in most field guides. However, this more nearly reflects what the plants look like most of the year, and hence may actually be more beneficial for most botanists trying to identify the species on the trail.
Since I am a botanist, the photographs were taken with identification of the species in mind. Almost every species has at least one picture with an object in it that can be used as a scale to make good measurements of the lengths of the parts needed for identification. Objects used for scale are: my fingers (widths ~ 18 mm = 0.7 inches) or my thumb (width ~23 mm = 0.9 inches; thumbnail width ~16 mm = 0.6 inches); my GPS receiver (11.0 cm long x 5.2 cm wide = 4.3 x 2.0 inches); or my backpack (15 inches tall x 16.5 inches wide x ~10 inches deep = 38 x 42 x 25 cm).
As far as possible (I'd only seen fewer than half the species before), I used my knowledge of what characteristics are usually used to distinguish each species, and targeted those with my photographs. The discriminating characteristics vary tremendously between genera and families, and can range from the branching habit at the base of the plant, the characteristics of the underneath or shape or hairs of the leaf, to properties of the twigs. Sometimes, botanists even use the characteristics of the flowers, even though it often doesn't seem like it when photographers send pictures to botanists to be identified! ☺
Of course, some species do not have their identifying characteristics on display in September, so not all species will have those characteristics photographed.
Important Caveats:
- I make no guarantees at all that all the determinations (=identifications) here are correct. Although the vast majority of the determinations are probably correct, I would be surprised if there are not at least one or two misdeterminations here. It takes a number of days of fieldwork spread throughout the year, and review of the determinations by an expert, to catch some errors.
- You must pay attention to the id? column in the guide below. That column tells you how confident I am in each determination. If I indicate that a given determination has 95% confidence, as many as 5% of those determinations could be wrong.
- I am not an expert in the plants of Arizona. My expertise is in the plants of southern California; over half of the species here are entirely new to me.
Many of the determinations were based on a reasonable guess as to the correct species, or by my keying of the plants among species unfamiliar to me, or by my assuming that, if the Grand Canyon flora only lists one possible determination, then that determination is the correct one. I note that the latter approach would have resulted in an erroneous determination for Polygonum arenastrum if I had not been able to explicitly key out that species, and interested in doing so.
A key is a horrible way to identify species outside the hands of someone very familiar with a given flora. For example, only through the use of a key could an elephant be keyed as a "mouse", since keys often depend on subtle features in order to reliably discriminate species. But a key is the best means we have for discriminating species, and they work well if one is familiar with most of the species in the key. An expert in the plants of Arizona would be far less likely to make a bonehead mistake in keying out plants than an Arizona novice like me.
The reader may be amused to know that most botanists do not identify plants in the field when they are working on the flora of an area except possibly for the most common or unique species. Instead, they collect specimens, which are then pressed and dried. The specimens are then taken to a herbarium that has similar samples of all the possible identifications that have been determined by experts in those taxa. The specimens are directly compared, with the aid of a key and a microscope, to the labeled herbarium specimens to get the determination. (By the way, botanical keys are almost always made from, and for, pressed and dried specimens, which is definitely a problem at times in keying live plants.)
I collected no specimens; all my determinations have been made from my photographs and field observations. (Note that taking anything from Grand Canyon National Park is prohibited unless you have a permit to do so in your possession.) Hence the likelihood of a misdetermination is much higher than determinations made from specimens.
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone who spots a mistake, or even questions a determination, would contact me so mistakes can be corrected. Additions to the guide are welcome as well, especially if documented by photographs and good locations.
In fact, if you are familiar with the species on this trail, I'd appreciate you taking a look at two species that I wasn't able to identify in their September forms. These two species seemed distinctive enough that I should have been able to get their determination, but I couldn't. They are: unk herb resembling Epilobium in CA, similar to Comandra umbellata ssp. pallida but with clasping leaves at mile 2.20; and unk tall shrub with terminal infl, similar in appearance to Lonicera but with alternate shallowly-toothed leaves at mile 3.28. There are a few other unknowns that someone who is very familiar with the Grand Canyon flora might be able to recognize, but most of them will have to await springtime observations.
My determinations would not have been possible without the excellent resources available that I consulted. Many people have worked on the Grand Canyon Flora, collecting specimens, curating the specimens in herbaria, reviewing the determinations of those specimens, making the information from specimens available online, taking photographs and identifying the plants in those photographs, writing books, and synthesizing the available information in keys and floras. I am deeply grateful to all those people. I especially thank Lori Makarick, who provided the latest Grand Canyon Park Plant Checklist as well as a list of 35 species known to occur on the Bright Angel Trail. That list was helpful in quickly getting the proper determination for several species.
A reference page gives the taxa found on this trail in traditional family order. For each taxon, that page links to online references and gives detailed references to printed reference material.
Highlights of This Trail
Nearly everything was pretty exciting to me, since this was the first time I've seriously botanized anyplace outside of southern California. The following describes only a small number of the highlights of this trail.
- Most of the species were new to me. In southern California, I've seen only 32 out of the 82 identified taxa on this trail, 39% of the identified taxa. In fact, I was surprised to find so many familiar species so far away from southern California. I had thought the distance from California, combined with the very different rainfall regime, would produce a very dissimilar flora. At the Grand Canyon, half the rainfall occurs in summer, whereas in southern California essentially no rainfall occurs in summer.
- It was even more surprising to analyze the geographic distribution of the 82 identified taxa on this trail, and find 63 of them, 77%, are also found someplace in California. However, about half of those 63 are either fairly rare in California, or are found in areas of southern California that I have not botanized extensively, such as the Mojave Desert and the Desert Mountains.
The following table gives the number of the 66 taxa native to Arizona that are found in other states (i.e., the 16 non-native taxa are now excluded from this analysis):
State # taxa % taxa UT 61 92% NV 56 85% NM 56 85% CO 49 74% CA 47 71% TX 45 68% OK 32 48% OR 28 42% It makes perfect sense that the closest neighboring states are at the top of this list, but it is still surprising to see that so many of the taxa are also found in California and Texas. Just a bit less than half of the Arizona-native taxa are found even in far-away Oregon!
- The native species on this trail with the most restricted distribution are:
- Argemone arizonica, Roaring Springs prickly-poppy. This is not only a Grand Canyon endemic, it is endemic to the area of the North Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail!
- Encelia resinifera ssp. resinifera, resin brittlebush, has a very narrow distribution only in Arizona and Utah.
- Perityle congesta, Grand Canyon rock-daisy, known only from northern Arizona and possibly Nevada. (USDA Plants says it also occurs in Nevada, but the Flora of North America only gives it in Arizona.)
- Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis, Kaibab century plant, is only found in northern Arizona and possibly Utah. (USDA Plants says it also occurs in Utah, but the Flora of North America only gives it in Arizona.)
- It was amazing to see the abundance of blooms from Symphyotrichum falcatum, white prairie daisy, that line the trail in September. We don't have anything like that in southern California, probably due to our lack of summer rainfall. But we do have similar nice displays of Machaeranthera canescens, hoary-aster, in the fall in some areas.
In southern California we also have good fall displays of Epilobium canum, California fuchsia, and Solidago californica, goldenrod; displays similar to those taxa are missing here. It appears that the niche of these two southern California species is abundantly filled by Symphyotrichum falcatum on the Bright Angel Trail.
- Two taxa on this trail that I had never seen before had me shaking my head in disbelief in seeing them, until I later puzzled out the correct determination:
- Fendlera rupicola, false mockorange, looks very similar in many respects to Philadelphus microphyllus, mockorange, and I at first took it to be that determination. But Fendlera rupicola is a taller and more upright bush, growing away from the rockpiles that Philadelphus microphyllus prefers, so I could hardly believe that this could be the same species. Fortunately, it wasn't. ☺
- Brickellia longifolia, longleaf brickellbush, looks very similar to an Artemisia dracunculus, wild tarragon, on steroids, in appearance when it is not in bloom. The first plants I saw had no buds, and Artemisia dracunculus was the only possible name I could come up. But when I saw specimens growing out of rocks, I knew this has to be a different species, since no self-respecting Artemisia dracunculus would ever be caught dead growing in such dry conditions. ☺
Soon afterward, I saw some buds, that clearly revealed the Brickellia persuasion of these plants. I'm very surprised the common name for this species isn't honking brickellbush!
- It was very exciting to come across two species I had long wanted to see: Gutierrezia microcephala, sticky snakeweed, and Quercus turbinella, {grey oak, Sonoran scrub oak, shrub live oak}.
I have long looked for Gutierrezia microcephala, which is in nine floras I've digitized in southern California. I'd never seen it since it is rare outside the Mojave Desert. I couldn't believe my great good fortune to come across this species near mile 2.0. I was the hottest I'd been yet that day on the trail, in 87° heat in blazing noon-time sun, but I was incredibly happy. ☺ The blossoms checked out perfectly, with just a single ligule or two on each head, and just 1-2 disk flowers. Such tiny flowers!
That made my day right there. ☺
Quercus turbinella was of interest because two southern California species of scrub oaks (Q. cornelius-mulleri, Q. john-tuckeri) had been confused with it until about 1980. I knew Quercus turbinella was present at the Grand Canyon, but no reference gave any locations on or near the Bright Angel Trail. I found the first specimens just a quarter-mile past the Gutierrezia microcephala. They did indeed look somewhat similar to our two southern California scrub oak species in habit and leaves, but the leaves weren't nearly as hairy underneath. The main difference is on the peduncle length, with Q. turbinella having a much-longer peduncle.
- It is just as interesting sometimes to note what is not on a trail, as to note what is on a trail. For this trail, ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, is present on the South Rim just feet away from the trailhead, but no specimens of this species are found on the trail.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.
| Visit Date | Visit # | # taxa | # "?" | # "sp" | # "~" | # "ssp" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/5/2007 | 1 | 67 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 3 |
| 9/6/2007 | 2 | 93 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 3 |
The fieldwork on 9/5/07 was to the 1.5 mile resthouse at mile 1.58; the fieldwork on 9/6/07 was to mile 3.73.
The Plant Guide
Key to Plant Guide Information
Mile: It is like a car odometer. Mile 0.00 includes all mileages from 0.000 to 0.009; 0.01 includes all mileages from 0.010 to 0.019, etc. 0.01 mile is 18 yards = 53 feet, about 18-20 normal-size paces.
Note that species separated by a difference of 0.01 mile in the guide could actually be fairly close together, with the odometer "rolling over" between them. Example: one species is at 1.599 miles, reported as 1.59 miles in the guide, and the next species is at 1.601 miles, reported as 1.60 miles in the guide. The species are actually just 0.002 miles = 10 feet apart. They could also be almost 0.02 miles apart. Example: one species is at 1.601 miles and the next is at 1.619 miles.
The mileage is incredibly accurate in this guide. The Bright Angel Trail is, as far as I know, the most-accurately surveyed trail in the world. See Pedometer Accuracy. In the plant guide here, I have tied all my pedometer readings to the Control Points (CP in the guide below) from the Bradford Washburn et al publication referenced in that webpage. All the reported elevations also come from that publication.
Since most people walk without a pedometer or a GPS to give them their rough mileage, enough landmarks are included in the guide that it is not necessary to pay much attention to the mileage. It is mainly useful in telling the reader when there are long intervals without new species, or when new species come fast and furious.
Note that GPS receivers are almost useless in some parts of the trail, due to satellite signals reflected from the abundant rocks (multipath problem) and/or low sky visibility. Be very wary about believing the trip mileage given by a GPS receiver.
S: Side of trail on which the first occurrence is found: left, right, both, or center
#: On-trail species are numbered in order of first occurrence on trail (easily touchable from the trail). Off-trail species are in parentheses.
id?: Species without an entry in this column are quite confidently identified. "?" means I am just guessing the identification; "sp" means the genera is probably known, but the species name is uncertain even when a potential species name is given in the guide; "~" means I have roughly 95% confidence that this is the determination, but have not yet positively identified it; "ssp" means the subspecies or variety needs to be determined.
FAM: The family for each taxon is given as the first three letters of the full scientific family name, with all letters capitalized. See the key to the three letter abbreviations.
(*)Common Name: An asterisk before the common name indicates a species that is non-native to the Grand Canyon, and hence should not be here. The Common Name is linked to a separate page for each species giving photographs and further information about some species. The Common Name in many cases has been taken from my southern California database for expediency. If you know of a better common name used at the Grand Canyon, please let me know.
Note that common names are not standardized, and more than one taxa can have the same common name.
Scientific Name: This is the name used to uniquely identify a species by botanists, which enables one to confidently look up more information about each species. All names are as given in the latest Grand Canyon flora online. Synonyms (older, newer, or alternate Scientific Names) are given in the page linked to the common name, usually via the USDA Plants link.
#Plants: This gives the minimum number of on-trail plants of this species on this trail, with the number of locations on this trail following the /, using maximum values of 99/9. A value of 1/1 means I only found a single plant in a single location in the entire trail; 10/9 means 10 plants occurring in at least 9 locations, etc. Very common taxa are generally given as 50/9 or 99/9, with the 99/9 species being significantly more abundant than the 50/9 species.
Introduction To The Linked Species Pages
Note: the species pages are in the process of being added. As of 2 October 2007, 32 taxa have full species pages online, #1-18, 27-28, 31, 56, 75-76, 78-79, 83, 87-88, 90 and the non-numbered Selaginella mutica and (unk species similar to penstemon but with leaves almost entirely basal).
Beginning on 29 September 2007, due to the amount of time it took me to make a full species page, I stopped doing full species pages, and just put the pictures and reference information on the species pages, in order of species number.
As of 7 October 2007, partial species pages have been done for the rest of the species up to #37, with additional partial species pages for #41, 45, 51, 58, 63, 77, and the off-trail Fallugia and penstemon like P. barbatus.
A total of 54 species, out of the 93 numbered (on-trail) taxa plus 3 more unnumbered off-trail taxa, now have a full or partial species page online.
I had to divert my attention to other work on 7 October 2007, and have temporarily stopped creating new species pages. I will resume creating more species pages later in 2007.
Nearly every species in the plant trail guide has additional information given on a separate page that is linked from the Common Name field below. The additional information includes:
Characteristics: This section begins with Identification status, which gives a discussion of how confident I am in the determination. The identification and other characteristics of each species are discussed. The explicit keying is given in some cases.
Some species have additional discussion about the species in the Grand Canyon and/or elsewhere.
Voucher information is given, including the number of vouchers in the entire Grand Canyon and the closest voucher to the Bright Angel Trail. Voucher information was obtained from the Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet).
The information given in the guide below about the location and number of plants is repeated on each species page.
Pictures: Pictures of each species taken on the Bright Angel Trail are presented, often with the identification characteristics explicitly pointed out.
References: References are given to 13 sources, including links to online references and page numbers for printed references.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (8 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
| Mile | S | # | id? | FAM | (*)Common Name | Scientific Name | #Plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Begin guide at signed Trailhead north of West Rim Drive bus stop, north of the mule corral; CP "S. Rim", elevation 6845 feet (2086 m), in Kaibab Limestone, thickness 350 feet here | ||||||
| 0.00 | b | 1 | PIN | two-needle pinyon pine | Pinus edulis | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.00 | b | 2 | sp | GRO | trumpet or desert gooseberry | Ribes leptanthum (berries black) or R. velutinum (berries yellow) | 99 / 9 |
| 0.00 | b | 3 | ssp | GRO | wax currant | Ribes cereum var. cereum | 40 / 9 |
| 0.00 | b | 4 | AST | hoary-aster | Machaeranthera canescens | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.00 | b | 5 | BRA | Wright's thelypody | Thelypodium wrightii | 10 / 3 | |
| 0.00 | r | 6 | MAL | *common mallow | Malva neglecta | 10 / 2 | |
| 0.00 | r | 7 | ~ | POA | *downy brome | Bromus tectorum | 99 / 9 |
| 0.00 | r | 8 | FAG | Gambel oak | Quercus gambelii | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.00 | r | 9 | NYC | smooth spreading four o'clock | Mirabilis oxybaphoides | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.00 | r | 10 | POL | *knotweed | Polygonum arenastrum | 1 / 1 | |
| 0.00 | r | 11 | sp | BRA | peppergrass | Lepidium sp. | 5 / 1 |
| 0.00 | r | 12 | ~ | CAP | snowberry | Symphoricarpos oreophilus | 99 / 9 |
| 0.00 | b | 13 | AMA | Powell's amaranth | Amaranthus powellii | 20 / 2 | |
| 0.00 | r | 14 | ROS | Utah service-berry | Amelanchier utahensis | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.00 | l | 15 | CUP | Utah juniper | Juniperus osteosperma | 20 / 9 | |
| 0.01 | r | Sign: "Mesozoic Rock Formation / Kaibab Limestone" | |||||
| 0.01 | r | 16 | BRA | smooth western tansy-mustard | Descurainia pinnata ssp. glabra | 20 / 3 | |
| 0.02 | b | 17 | AST | threadleaf common rabbitbrush | Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.02 | b | 18 | CHE | *tumbling oracle | Atriplex rosea | / | |
| 0.02 | l | 19 | LAM | *horehound | Marrubium vulgare | 20 / 5 | |
| 0.03 | l | 20 | ROS | fern bush | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | 10 / 9 | |
| 0.04 | r | Jct. path from Kolb Studio | |||||
| 0.04 | l | 21 | AST | California brickellbush | Brickellia californica | 99 / 9 | |
| 0.05 | l | 22 | ~ | AMA | *tumble pigweed | Amaranthus albus | 5 / 2 |
| 0.05 | r | 23 | LAM | *catnip | Nepeta cataria | 20 / 3 | |
| 0.05 | r | 24 | ? | unk rosette like wallflower, Erysimum capitatum | |||
| 0.05 | r | 25 | ssp | AST | silver wormwood | Artemisia ludoviciana (ssp. albula?) | 30 / 5 |
| 0.05 | r | 26 | VIT | Virginia creeper | Parthenocissus vitacea | 1 / 1 | |
| 0.05 | r | Sign: "Bright Angel Trail and Grand Canyon Information" | |||||
| 0.05 | Switchback left | ||||||
| 0.06 | r | 27 | BRA | *London rocket | Sisymbrium irio | 10 / 3 | |
| 0.08 | r | Sign: "When mules pass" | |||||
| 0.09 | l | 28 | AST | Grand Canyon rock-daisy | Perityle congesta | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.12 | l | 29 | AST | matchweed | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.12 | l | (AST Arizona thistle, Cirsium arizonicum var. nidulum) | |||||
| 0.15 | First Tunnel | ||||||
| 0.16 | r | 30 | AST | big sagebrush | Artemisia tridentata | 30 / 9 | |
| 0.16 | b | 31 | AST | white prairie daisy | Symphyotrichum falcatum (=Virgulus falcatus) | 99 / 9 | |
| 0.16 | l | 32 | POA | *foxtail barley | Hordeum murinum | 20 / 2 | |
| 0.16 | l | 33 | RAN | Fendler's meadow-rue | Thalictrum fendleri | 10 / 9 | |
| 0.18 | r | (RUT pallid hoptree, Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida var. pallida) | |||||
| 0.20 | l | 34 | AST | fragrant snakeroot | Ageratina herbacea | 30 / 5 | |
| 0.21 | r | (CAC prickly pear, Opuntia sp.) | |||||
| 0.23 | r | Sign: "Do not attempt to hike to the bottom and back in one day..." | |||||
| 0.23 | Switchback left at ridge | ||||||
| 0.28 | r | (ROS Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa) | |||||
| 0.28 | r | 35 | ~ | POA | slender wheatgrass | Elymus trachycaulus | 50 / 9 |
| 0.29 | l | (Check if this grass with longer awns is still Hordeum murinum, or if this was a young flower of Elymus elymoides) | |||||
| 0.29 | b | sp | (SCR penstemon with orange/red flowers, Penstemon sp.; Penstemon barbatus?; check for different grass species) | ||||
| 0.29 | Cross Bright Angel Fault onto Toroweap Redbeds, thickness 250 feet here | ||||||
| 0.33 | r | ~ | (POA, Indian ricegrass, Achnatherum hymenoides) | ||||
| 0.33 | l | 36 | MAL | littleleaf globe mallow | Sphaeralcea parvifolia | 10 / 3 | |
| 0.33 | r | 37 | POL | Simpson's buckwheat | Eriogonum microthecum var. simpsonii | 50 / 9 | |
| 0.34 | r | ~ | (banana yucca, Yucca baccata) | ||||
| 0.34 | r | 38 | EPH | green ephedra | Ephedra viridis | 30 / 9 | |
| 0.36 | l | 39 | ROS | cliffrose | Purshia stansburiana | 1 / 1 | |
| 0.36 | l | 40 | POA | *Bermuda grass | Cynodon dactylon | 5 / 1 | |
| 0.39 | r | 41 | ~ | POA | Indian ricegrass | Achnatherum hymenoides | 5 / 1 |
| 0.40 | Switchback right; CP #1, elevation 6630 feet (2021 m) | ||||||
| 0.40 | b | 42 | CHE | *Russian thistle | Salsola tragus | 10 / 1 | |
| 0.41 | b | 43 | sp | POA | Achnatherum sp.? | grass like needlegrass | / |
| 0.43 | l | 44 | sp | POA | unk grass | ? | 3 / 1 |
| 0.43 | l | 45 | ~ | AGA | banana yucca | Yucca baccata | 10 / 9 |
| 0.43 | r | 46 | BER | Fremont barberry | Mahonia fremontii | 5 / 5 | |
| 0.43 | l | 47 | CHE | Fremont's goosefoot | Chenopodium fremontii | 10 / 2 | |
| 0.50 | Cross Bright Angel Fault back onto Kaibab Limestone | ||||||
| 0.53 | l | (AST Colorado rubberweed, Hymenoxys richardsonii var. floribunda) | |||||
| 0.54 | r | 48 | ROS | shrubby cream bush | Holodiscus dumosus | 5 / 1 | |
| 0.55 | r | Contact between the Kaibab and Toroweap Formations | |||||
| 0.58 | r | 49 | SAX | coral bells | Heuchera rubescens var. versicolor | 3 / 3 | |
| 0.59 | (RHA birchleaf buckthorn, Frangula betulifolia (=Rhamnus b.) ssp. obovata) | ||||||
| 0.59 | r | 50 | sp | RUB | bedstraw | Galium sp. | 1 / 1 |
| 0.63 | r | 51 | ~ | AST | Arizona thistle | Cirsium arizonicum var. nidulum | 10 / 9 |
| 0.64 | r | 52 | ~ | SCR | Palmer's penstemon | Penstemon palmeri | 10 / 2 |
| 0.64 | r | 53 | ~ | POL | southern mountain phlox | Phlox austromontana ssp. austromontana | 2 / 2 |
| 0.68 | b | 54 | PIN | Rocky Mountain Douglas fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca | 10 / 3 | |
| 0.69 | l | Jct. use path | |||||
| 0.70 | l | 55 | HYD SAX | Fendler bush | Fendlera rupicola | 40 / 9 | |
| 0.70 | r | 56 | POA | *smooth brome | Bromus inermis | 30 / 5 | |
| 0.71 | l | Jct. use path | |||||
| 0.72 | r | 57 | POA | squirreltail | Elymus elymoides | 30 / 9 | |
| 0.72 | r | Kolb Seep Springs | |||||
| 0.72 | r | sp | (CAR sedge, Carex sp.) | ||||
| 0.73 | Switchback left; CP #2, elevation 6364 feet (1940 m) | ||||||
| 0.76 | r | 58 | RUT | pallid hoptree | Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida var. pallida | 40 / 9 | |
| 0.79 | l | Check to make sure this is the same orange/red penstemon as earlier | |||||
| 0.87 | Second Tunnel, through hardened Bright Angel Fault, CP "Tunnel (#2)", elevation 6248 feet (1904 m). Cross into Coconino Sandstone, thickness 350 feet here | ||||||
| 0.89 | l | Grand Canyon rock-daisy, Perityle congesta, with ovate leaves (earlier plants had narrowly-elliptic leaves) | |||||
| 0.90 | Switchback right; CP #3, elevation 6218 feet (1895 m). Begin series of short switchbacks | ||||||
| 0.90 | l | ~ | (RAN virgin's bower, Clematis ligusticifolia) | ||||
| 0.94 | l | 59 | ~ | BET | Knowlton hop hornbeam | Ostrya knowltonii | 30 / 9 |
| 0.96 | Switchback left | ||||||
| 0.98 | Switchback right; CP #4, elevation 6153 feet (1875 m) | ||||||
| 0.98 | l | (AGA Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis) | |||||
| r | 60 | BRA | shepherd's purse | Capsella bursa-pastoris | 1 / 1 | ||
| 1.01 | Trail curves right 90°. | ||||||
| 1.05 | Switchback left | ||||||
| 1.08 | Switchback right; CP #5, elevation 6073 feet (1851 m); cross into Hermit Shale, thickness 300 feet here, just below this point | ||||||
| 1.12 | Switchback left | ||||||
| 1.16 | Switchback right; CP #6, elevation 6007 feet (1831 m) | ||||||
| 1.20 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 1.20 | l | 61 | ~ | BER | creeping barberry | Mahonia repens | 10 / 2 |
| 1.24 | Switchback right; CP #7, elevation 5946 feet (1812 m) | ||||||
| 1.27 | Cross drainage | ||||||
| 1.30 | Switchback left; CP #8, elevation 5900 feet (1798 m) | ||||||
| 1.30 | r | Jct. use path | |||||
| 1.31 | Switchback right. | ||||||
| 1.35 | r | Jct. use path | |||||
| 1.35 | r | 62 | RAN | virgin's bower | Clematis ligusticifolia | 2 / 1 | |
| 1.35 | r | 63 | ssp | AST | silver wormwood | Artemisia ludoviciana (ssp. mexicana?) | 5 / 1 |
| 1.36 | r | 64 | ~ | RUB | desert bedstraw | Galium stellatum ssp. eremicum | 5 / 5 |
| 1.45 | r | 65 | OLE | fragrant ash | Fraxinus cuspidata | 20 / 5 | |
| 1.48 | Trail bends right 90°; CP #9, elevation 5780 feet (1762 m) | ||||||
| 1.49 | r | 66 | ~ | POA | mutton grass | Poa fendleriana | 30 / 9 |
| 1.51 | r | 67 | ~ | MAL | gooseberryleaf globemallow | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia | 10 / 3 |
| 1.53 | l | (AGA closest Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis) | |||||
| 1.55 | Trail curves right at ridge | ||||||
| r | Check for small Asteraceae plant with scabrous stems | ||||||
| Check for Argemone arizonica "above and below trail here" | |||||||
| 1.58 | 1.5 mile Resthouse; CP "(1.5 mile) resthouse", elevation 5714 feet (1742 m) | ||||||
| 1.59 | r | (SCR common mullein, Verbascum thapsus) | |||||
| 1.62 | r | Jct. short trail to the 1.5 mile restrooms; switchback left; CP #10, elevation 5692 feet (1735 m) | |||||
| 1.64 | l | 68 | SCR | common mullein | Verbascum thapsus | 2 / 1 | |
| 1.67 | l | ~ | (CRO spiny greasebush, Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum) | ||||
| 1.68 | Cross into Supai Group, thickness 950 feet here | ||||||
| 1.70 | Trail curves left 90°; CP #11, elevation 5644 feet (1720 m) | ||||||
| 1.71 | r | 69 | AST | longleaf brickellbush | Brickellia longifolia | 99 / 9 | |
| 1.75 | l | ? | (unk species similar to penstemon but with leaves almost entirely basal) | ||||
| 1.75 | r | Check for different prickly-pear | |||||
| 1.77 | "Shade View" - overhanging boulders giving shade with a great view. | ||||||
| 1.80 | Trail curves left 90°; CP #12, elevation 5582 feet (1701 m) | ||||||
| 1.91 | Long switchback right at main drainage; CP #13, elevation 5518 feet (1682 m) | ||||||
| 1.95 | l | 70 | AST | greenstem paperflower | Psilostrophe sparsiflora | 5 / 2 | |
| 1.98 | l | 71 | AST | sticky snakeweed | Gutierrezia microcephala | 5 / 2 | |
| 2.00 | l | 72 | POA | *red brome | Bromus rubens | 10 / 1 | |
| 2.01 | Switchback right at 2 mile corner; CP #14, elevation 5443 feet (1659 m) | ||||||
| 2.04 | r | 73 | ~ | OLE | single-leaf ash | Fraxinus anomala | 1 / 1 |
| 2.04 | r | 74 | POA | *ripgut brome | Bromus diandrus | 30 / 9 | |
| 2.10 | Long switchback left at red amphitheater in main drainage; CP #15, elevation 5407 feet (1648 m) | ||||||
| 2.13 | r | 75 | ? | unk species similar to penstemon but with leaves almost entirely basal (same as off-trail plants at mile 1.75) | ? | 5 / 1 | |
| 2.20 | r | 76 | ? | unk herb resembling Epilobium in CA, similar to Comandra umbellata ssp. pallida but with clasping leaves | ? | 10 / 1 | |
| 2.25 | Switchback left; CP #16, elevation 5305 feet (1617 m) | ||||||
| 2.25 | r | Jct. with what looks like a previous segment of the Bright Angel Trail | |||||
| 2.30 | r | 77 | CAC | prickly-pear | Opuntia sp. | / | |
| 2.33 | Switchback right; CP #17, elevation 5244 feet (1598 m) | ||||||
| 2.39 | Switchback left; CP #18, elevation 5197 feet (1584 m) | ||||||
| 2.42 | r | 78 | AGA | Kaibab century plant | Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis | 1 / 1 | |
| 2.43 | Switchback right; CP #19, elevation 5165 feet (1574 m) | ||||||
| 2.48 | Switchback left; CP #20, elevation 5133 feet (1565 m) | ||||||
| 2.52 | Switchback right; CP #21, 5097 feet (1554 m) | ||||||
| 2.58 | Trail curves left 90° at side drainage; CP #22, 5056 feet (1541 m) | ||||||
| 2.64 | l | 79 | FAG | shrub live oak | Quercus turbinella | 20 / 2 | |
| 2.68 | Switchback left, CP #23, elevation 4978 feet (1517 m) | ||||||
| 2.70 | r | 80 | AST | Colorado rubberweed | Hymenoxys richardsonii var. floribunda | 5 / 1 | |
| 2.71 | Switchback right; CP #24, elevation 4955 feet (1510 m) | ||||||
| 2.75 | Curve left 90°. | ||||||
| 2.77 | Curve right 90°. | ||||||
| 2.78 | Switchback left, CP #25, elevation 4897 feet (1493 m) | ||||||
| 2.84 | Switchback right; CP #26, elevation 4855 feet (1480 m) | ||||||
| Check for Argemone munita vouchered from "4800 feet" here | |||||||
| 2.90 | Curve left 90°. | ||||||
| 2.95 | Curve right 90°. | ||||||
| 3.01 | Jct. short path to 3 mile Resthouse; CP "(3 mile) Resthouse", elevation 4733 feet (1443 m) | ||||||
| 3.03 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 3.09 | l | (SEL spike-moss, Selaginella mutica) | |||||
| 3.09 | Switchback right; CP #27, elevation 4663 feet (1422 m); enter Redwall Limestone, thickness 450 feet here | ||||||
| 3.13 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 3.15 | Switchback right. | ||||||
| 3.16 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 3.21 | Switchback right. | ||||||
| 3.22 | Curve right 90°. | ||||||
| 3.23 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 3.26 | Curve left 90°. | ||||||
| 3.26 | l | 81 | RHA | birchleaf buckthorn | Frangula betulifolia (=Rhamnus b.) ssp. obovata | 1 / 1 | |
| 3.26 | l | 82 | AST | spiny brickellbush | Brickellia atractyloides | 20 / 9 | |
| 3.28 | l | 83 | ? | unk tall shrub with terminal infl, similar in appearance to lonicera but with alt shallowly-toothed leaves | ? | 5 / 2 | |
| 3.29 | Switchback right at the closest part of the trail to the "Petrified Snow" (caused by falling rocks chipping off the red coat on the Redwall Limestone due to the Supai Group above, exposing the natural gray/white color). CP #28, 4512 feet (1375 m) | ||||||
| 3.29 | 84 | sp | NYC | four o'clock | Allionia incarnata or Mirabilis sp. | 10 / 2 | |
| 3.32 | Curve right 90°. | ||||||
| 3.34 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 3.36 | Curve left 90°. | ||||||
| 3.38 | Switchback right. | ||||||
| 3.40 | Curve right 90°. | ||||||
| 3.41 | Switchback left. | ||||||
| 3.44 | Switchback right; CP #29, elevation 4396 feet (1340 m) | ||||||
| 3.45 | Trail curves left 90° and crosses small drainage | ||||||
| 3.50 | Enter Temple Butte Limestone; thickness 35 feet here | ||||||
| 3.52 | l | 85 | POA | side-oats grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | 50 / 9 | |
| 3.55 | r | 86 | ANA | simple-leaved basketbush | Rhus trilobata var. simplicifolia | 2 / 2 | |
| 3.62 | Switchback right; CP #30, elevation 4255 feet (1297 m) | ||||||
| 3.62 | r | 87 | ~ | AST | resin brittlebush | Encelia resinifera ssp. resinifera | 20 / 5 |
| 3.65 | r | 88 | ~ | AST | rush rabbitbrush | Ericameria nauseosa var. juncea | / |
| 3.65 | l | 89 | ~ | EUP | western bernardia | Bernardia incana | 3 / 2 |
| 3.69 | Long switchback left, cross good-sized side drainage; CP #31, elevation 4208 feet (1283 m); enter Muav Limestone, thickness 375 feet here. Below here, the trail is mostly on alluvial deposits, and the Muav Limestone and the Bright Angel Shale, thickness 350 feet, are not evident. | ||||||
| 3.69 | l | (Check for different needlegrass, Achnatherum sp.) | |||||
| 3.69 | l | 90 | PAP | Roaring Springs prickly-poppy | Argemone arizonica | 1 / 1 | |
| 3.70 | l | Check these plants to see if they are young fourwing saltbush, same as the next species | |||||
| 3.73 | r | 91 | CHE | fourwing saltbush | Atriplex canescens | 1 / 1 | |
| 3.73 | r | 92 | sp | POA | needlegrass? | Achnatherum (scribneri?) | 5 / 1 |
| 3.73 | r | 93 | POL | desert trumpet | Eriogonum inflatum | 3 / 1 | |
| End plant trail guide; following are just landmarks to Indian Gardens | |||||||
| 3.92 | Cross creekbed, with high-pressure water pipe elevated on left; CP #32, elevation 4093 feet (1248 m) | ||||||
| 4.09 | Curve left 90°, cross streambed, then turn right 90°; CP #33, elevation 4029 feet (1228 m) | ||||||
| 4.12 | Switchback right (only ~90°) | ||||||
| 4.36 | Cross creekbed; CP #34, elevation 3884 feet (1184 m) | ||||||
| 4.40 | Sign: "Indian Gardens" (arrow pointing downhill) | ||||||
| 4.41 | Sign: "The plants you see here are the living desert. They grow by the inch and die by the foot". | ||||||
| Additional species from a plant list for Upper Bright Angel Trail provided by Lori Makarick: | |||||||
| AST | tidy fleabane | Erigeron concinnus | / | ||||
| GRO | trumpet gooseberry | Ribes leptanthum | / | ||||
| GRO | desert gooseberry | Ribes velutinum | / | ||||
| NYC | giant four o'clock | Mirabilis multiflora | / | ||||
| PAP | prickly poppy | Argemone munita | / | ||||
| POL | Phlox longifolia | / | |||||
| RAN | barestem larkspur | Delphinium scaposum | / | ||||
| ROS | interior rose | Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana | / | ||||
| RUB | Munz's bedstraw | Galium munzii | / | ||||
| SCR | Eaton's penstemon | Penstemon eatonii | / | ||||
