Plant Guide to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon National Park

Mile	S	#	id?	(*)Common Name	Scientific Name	#Pls
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		two-needle pinyon pine	Pinus edulis	50 / 9
0.00	l	2		pinyon pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium divaricatum	2 / 2
0.00	b	3		desert gooseberry	Ribes velutinum	99 / 9
0.00	b	4		whisky currant	Ribes cereum var. pedicellare	99 / 9
0.00	b	5		hoary-aster	Dieteria canescens	50 / 9
0.00	b	6		Wright's thelypody	Thelypodium wrightii	10 / 3
0.00	r	7		*common mallow	Malva neglecta	10 / 2
0.00	b	8		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9
0.00	r	9		Gambel oak	Quercus gambelii	50 / 9
0.00	b	10		smooth spreading four o'clock	Mirabilis oxybaphoides	50 / 9
0.00	r	11		*knotweed	Polygonum arenastrum	5 / 2
0.00	r	12		*herb sophia	Descurainia sophia	99 / 9
0.00	r	13		*crossflower	Chorispora tenella	99 / 9
0.00	r	14		common pepper-grass	Lepidium densiflorum	5 / 1
0.00	b	15		threadleaf common rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila	50 / 9
0.00	r	16		snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius	99 / 9
0.00	r	17		perennial rock-cress	Boechera perennans	40 / 9
0.00	r	18		*curveseed butterwort	Ceratocephala testiculata	99 / 9
0.00	b	19		Powell's amaranth	Amaranthus powellii	20 / 2
0.00	r	20		Utah service-berry	Amelanchier utahensis	99 / 9
0.00	l	21		Utah juniper	Juniperus osteosperma	20 / 9
0.01	r			Sign: "Mesozoic Rock Formations / Kaibab Limestone"
0.01	l	22		*Russian thistle	Salsola tragus	20 / 3
0.02	b	23		*tumbling oracle	Atriplex rosea	40 / 2
0.02	l	24		*tumble pigweed	Amaranthus albus	5 / 2
0.02	b	25		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	5 / 2
0.02	r	26		littleleaf globe mallow	Sphaeralcea parvifolia	30 / 9
0.02	l	27	~	prairie sunflower	Helianthus petiolaris	1 / 1
0.02	l	28		*horehound	Marrubium vulgare	20 / 5
0.03	l	29		fern bush	Chamaebatiaria millefolium	20 / 9
0.03	r			(California brickellbush, Brickellia californica)
0.03	b	30		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum	99 / 9
0.04	r	31		*Klamath pepper-grass	Lepidium perfoliatum	99 / 9
0.04	b	32		California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	99 / 9
0.04	r			Jct. path from Kolb Studio
0.05	r	33		slender wheatgrass	Elymus trachycaulus	50 / 9
0.05	r	34		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	30 / 9
0.05	r	35		*catnip	Nepeta cataria	20 / 3
0.05	r	36		Palmer's penstemon	Penstemon palmeri	10 / 2
0.05	r	37		silver wormwood	Artemisia ludoviciana	99 / 9
0.05	r	38		Virginia creeper	Parthenocissus inserta	1 / 1
0.05	r			Sign: "Bright Angel Trail and Grand Canyon Information"
0.05	r	39		Arizona thistle	Cirsium arizonicum	30 / 9
0.05				Switchback left
0.06	r	40		*London rocket	Sisymbrium irio	10 / 3
0.08	r			Sign: "When mules pass"
0.08	r	41		Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	20 / 5
0.08	r			(mutton grass, Poa fendleriana)
0.09	l	42		beautiful aster	Eurybia glauca pulchra	99 / 9
0.09	l	43		Grand Canyon rock-daisy	Perityle congesta	50 / 9
0.09	r	44		mutton grass	Poa fendleriana	99 / 9
0.10	l	45		creeping barberry	Berberis repens	20 / 5
0.12	l	46		Grand Canyon Goldenweed	Ericameria arizonica	20 / 8
0.13				(View ahead of bonsai Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa, and two-needle pinyon pine, Pinus edulis, on top of ridge with tunnel)
0.14	r			(pallid hoptree, Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida)
0.14	r	47		pungent rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. graveolens	1 / 1
0.15	r	48		big sagebrush	Artemisia tridentata	30 / 9
0.15				First Tunnel; Indian pictographs on rim far above trail can be seen after the tunnel
0.15	l			(Mojave prickly-pear, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea)
0.15	r			(green ephedra, Ephedra viridis; Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis; desert prickly-pear, Opuntia phaeacantha; far off-trail: rock spiraea, Petrophytum caespitosum)
0.16	b	49		beaked penstemon	Penstemon rostriflorus	10 / 5
0.16	l	50		Fendler's meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri	55 / 9
0.16	r	51		flatspine stickseed	Lappula occidentalis var. occidentalis	30 / 9
0.17	l	52		Wright's bedstraw	Galium wrightii	2 / 2
0.20	l	53		fragrant snakeroot	Ageratina herbacea	30 / 5
0.20	r			(shrubby cream bush, Holodiscus dumosus )
0.21	r	54		pallid hoptree	Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida	50 / 9
0.22	l	55		alfalfa	Medicago sativa	1 / 1
0.23	r			Sign: "Do not attempt to hike to the bottom and back in one day…"
0.23				Switchback left at ridge, then S curve in trail
0.23	r	56		shepherd's purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris	10 / 3
0.23	r	57		black sagebrush	Artemisia nova	x / 1
0.25	l			(banana yucca, Yucca baccata; Cooper’s rubberweed, Hymenoxys cooperi; southern mountain phlox, Phlox austromontana)
0.25	l	58		rock whitefeather	Ivesia arizonica arizonica	40 / 2
0.25	r	59		Utah fendlerbush	Fendlerella utahensis	1 / 1
0.26	l	60		wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. purshii	5 / 3
0.26	l	61		*annual blue grass	Poa annua	1 / 1
0.27	l	62		Cooper’s rubberweed	Hymenoxys cooperi	5 / 2
0.28	r			(Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa)
0.29				Cross Bright Angel Fault onto Toroweap Redbeds, thickness 250 feet here
0.29	l			(Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca)
0.30	l	63		Munz's bedstraw	Galium munzii ssp. ambivalens	40 / 9
0.30	l	64		coral bells	Heuchera rubescens	7 / 4
0.30	l	65		Drummond's false pennyroyal	Hedeoma drummondii	1 / 1
0.30	l	66	~	Aspen onion	Allium bisceptrum var. palmeri	5 / 1
0.33	b	67		Simpson's buckwheat	Eriogonum microthecum var. simpsonii	50 / 9
0.33	r	68		Indian ricegrass	Eriocoma hymenoides	40 / 9
0.34	r	69		green ephedra	Ephedra viridis	50 / 9
0.36	l	70		cliffrose	Purshia stansburyana	20 / 9
0.36	l	71		Basin butterweed	Packera multilobata	3 / 2
0.36	l	72		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	5 / 1
0.36	r	73		yellow spiny daisy	Xanthisma gracile	x / 1
0.37	b	74	~	slender cryptantha	Cryptantha gracilis	20 / 3
0.38	r	75		Rocky Mountain Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca	10 / 3
0.39	l	76		sticky snakeweed	Gutierrezia microcephala	30 / 9
0.39	r	77		freckled milk-vetch	Astragalus lentiginosus var. diphysus	1 / 1
0.39	l	78		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja chromosa	3 / 1
0.39	b	79		Fremont barberry	Berberis fremontii	10 / 9
0.40				Switchback right; CP #1, elevation 6630 feet (2021 m). In a short distance on the side trail is narrow phacelia, Phacelia filiformis; spiny greasebush, Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum; and a different Castilleja sp.
0.41	l	80		sand dropseed	Sporobolus cryptandrus	10 / 1
0.41	r	81		*smooth brome	Bromus inermis	99 / 9
0.43	l	82		banana yucca	Yucca baccata	45 / 9
0.43	r			(Eaton's penstemon, Penstemon eatonii ssp. undosus)
0.44	r	83		desert prickly-pear	Opuntia phaeacantha	5 / 5
0.44	r	84		rose heath	Chaetopappa ericoides	20 / 6
0.50				Cross Bright Angel Fault back onto Kaibab Limestone
0.51	r	85		Fendler bush	Fendlera rupicola	40 / 9
0.54	r	86		shrubby cream bush	Holodiscus dumosus	10 / 3
0.54	l			(claret cup, Echinocereus triglochidiatus)
0.55	l			(blue elderberry, Sambucus cerulea)
0.55	r			(Richardson's brome, Bromus richardsonii)
0.55	r			Contact between the Kaibab and Toroweap Formations
0.58	r	87		wild candytuft	Noccaea fendleri	8 / 3
0.58	r	88		trailing fleabane	Erigeron flagellaris	30 / 9
0.59	r	89		Eaton's penstemon	Penstemon eatonii ssp. undosus	20 / 9
0.59	r			(*common mullein, Verbascum thapsus)
0.60	l	90	~	blue elderberry	Sambucus cerulea	1 / 1
0.61	l	91	~	narrow-leaf four o'clock	Mirabilis linearis	2 / 1
0.63	r	92		scrambled eggs	Corydalis aurea	5 / 2
0.64	r	93		southern mountain phlox	Phlox austromontana	10 / 5
0.66	r		~	(spike-moss, Selaginella mutica)
0.70	l			Jct. use path
0.71	l			Jct. use path
0.72	r			Kolb Seep Springs
0.72	r	94	~	curly dock	Rumex crispus	1 / 1
0.73				Switchback left; CP #2, elevation 6364 feet (1940 m)
0.80		95		*wild alyssum	Alyssum simplex	iN / 1
0.80	l	96		spiny greasebush	Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum	20 / 9
0.86	l	97		Knowlton hop hornbeam	Ostrya knowltonii	30 / 9
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)
		98		velvety goldenrod	Solidago velutina	5 / 2
0.90				Switchback right; CP #3, elevation 6218 feet (1895 m). Begin series of short switchbacks
0.90	l			(virgin's bower, Clematis ligusticifolia; birchleaf buckthorn, Frangula obovata, in distance)
0.96				Switchback left
0.98	l	99		birchleaf buckthorn	Frangula obovata	2 / 2
0.98	l	100		virgin's bower	Clematis ligusticifolia	5 / 2
0.98				Switchback right; CP #4, elevation 6153 feet (1875 m)
0.98	l			(Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis)
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	b	101		trumpet gooseberry	Ribes leptanthum	50 / 9
1.12				Switchback left
1.16				Switchback right; CP #6, elevation 6007 feet (1831 m)
1.17	r	102		skunkbush	Rhus aromatica	20 / 6
1.17	r			Check for Thelypodium integrifolium (sepals erect in bloom, not spreading)
1.20				Switchback left.
1.24				Switchback right; CP #7, elevation 5946 feet (1812 m)
1.27				Cross drainage
1.27	r			Ribes leptanthum (on left, white flowers) and R. velutinum (on right, yellow flowers) side by side.
1.27	r	103		narrow-leaved miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. utahensis	99 / 9
1.30				Switchback left; CP #8, elevation 5900 feet (1798 m)
1.30	r			Jct. use path
1.31				Switchback right.
1.33	r	104		barestem larkspur	Delphinium scaposum	10 / 5
1.35	r			Jct. two use paths
1.42	l	105	?	western wheatgrass	Elymus smithii	3 / 1
1.46		106		Arizona prickly poppy	Argemone arizonica	6 / 2
1.47	r	107		fragrant ash	Fraxinus cuspidata	30 / 9
1.48				Trail bends right 90°; CP #9, elevation 5780 feet (1762 m)
1.51	r	108		gooseberryleaf globemallow	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	50 / 9
1.53	l			(closest Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis)
1.54	r			(spike-moss, Selaginella mutica)
1.55				Trail curves right at ridge
1.57	r	109		tidy fleabane	Erigeron concinnus	50 / 9
1.58		110		squirreltail barley	Hordeum jubatum	iN / 1
1.58	r			1.5 mile Resthouse; CP "(1.5 mile) resthouse", elevation 5714 feet (1742 m)
1.58	r	111		western redbud	Cercis orbiculata	3 / 3
1.59				Cross drainage
1.60	r	112		Mojave prickly-pear	Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea	3 / 3
1.62	r			Jct. short trail to the 1.5 mile restrooms; switchback left; CP #10, elevation 5692 feet (1735 m)
1.64				Cross drainage again; Indian pictographs above the trail somewhere before 2 mile corner
1.64	l	113		common mullein	Verbascum thapsus	2 / 1
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	b	114		longleaf brickellbush	Brickellia longifolia	99 / 9
1.77				"Shade View" - overhanging boulders giving shade with a great view.
1.77		115		Bigelow sagebrush	Artemisia bigelovii	iN / 2
1.80				Trail curves left 90°; CP #12, elevation 5582 feet (1701 m)
1.81	l	116		spike-moss	Selaginella mutica	1 / 1
1.91				Long switchback right at main drainage; CP #13, elevation 5518 feet (1682 m)
1.91	l			(Check for bush peavine, Lathyrus brachycalyx ssp. zionis)
1.93	l	117		single-leaf ash	Fraxinus anomala	10 / 5
1.95	l	118		greenstem paperflower	Psilostrophe sparsiflora	5 / 2
1.95	l	119		narrow phacelia	Phacelia filiformis	20 / 3
1.95	l	120		eyed gilia	Gilia ophthalmoides	2 / 2
1.95	l	121		Utah penstemon	Penstemon utahensis	20 / 7
1.95	r	122		James' galleta	Hilaria jamesii	1 / 1
1.97		123		Utah fleabane	Erigeron utahensis	iN / 1
1.99	r	124	~	Mormon needlegrass	Eriocoma arida	20 / 5
2.00	l	125		*red brome	Bromus rubens	10 / 1
2.01				Switchback right at 2 mile corner; CP #14, elevation 5443 feet (1659 m)
2.03	l	126		giant four o'clock	Mirabilis multiflora	20 / 5
2.04	r	127		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	30 / 9
2.05	r	128		bush muhly	Muhlenbergia porteri	10 / 2
2.10				Long switchback left at red amphitheater in main drainage; CP #15, elevation 5407 feet (1648 m)
2.18	r	129	~	Parish needlegrass	Eriocoma parishii	20 / 9
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
2.33				Switchback right; CP #17, elevation 5244 feet (1598 m)
2.39				Switchback left; CP #18, elevation 5197 feet (1584 m)
2.42	r	130		whitetop (removed by GC)	Lepidium draba	20 / 1
2.42	r	131		Kaibab century plant	Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis	1 / 1
2.43	l	132		black brush	Coleogyne ramosissima	50 / 3
2.43				Switchback right; CP #19, elevation 5165 feet (1574 m)
2.45		133		desert needlegrass	Pappostipa speciosa	iN / 1
2.48				Switchback left; CP #20, elevation 5133 feet (1565 m)
2.50	r	134		hairy-podded pepper-grass	Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum	20 / 5
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)
2.58	r			(bush peavine, Lathyrus brachycalyx ssp. zionis)
2.64	l	135		shrub live oak	Quercus turbinella	10 / 2
2.68				Switchback left, CP #23, elevation 4978 feet (1517 m)
2.68				Confirmed location of Bigelow sagebrush, Artemisia bigelovii
2.69		136		Engelmann prickly-pear	Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii	iN / 4
2.71				Switchback right; CP #24, elevation 4955 feet (1510 m)
2.74		137		sacred datura	Datura wrightii	iN / 2
2.75				Curve left 90°.
2.77	l	138		Mojave woodyaster	Xylorhiza tortifolia	20 / 9
2.77				Curve right 90°.
2.78				Switchback left, CP #25, elevation 4897 feet (1493 m)
2.84				Switchback right at drainage; CP #26, elevation 4855 feet (1480 m)
2.90				Curve right 90°.
2.90	r	139		Torrey's milkvetch	Astragalus calycosus	10 / 1
2.91	r	140		bush peavine	Lathyrus brachycalyx ssp. zionis	2 / 1
2.95				Curve left 90°.
3.01				Jct. short path to 3 mile Resthouse; CP "(3 mile) Resthouse", elevation 4733 feet (1443 m). The following four species are found in the area just beyond the Resthouse:
-	-	141		slender lipfern	Myriopteris gracilis	2 / 1
-	-	142		mountain pepper-grass	Lepidium montanum	7 / 2
-	-	143		western bernardia	Bernardia incana	4 / 3
-	-			Many plants of black brush, Coleogyne ramosissima, found here
3.01	r	144		needle & thread grass	Hesperostipa comata	10 / 2
3.03				Switchback left.
3.07	l	145		netleaf hackberry	Celtis reticulata	1 / 1
3.10				Switchback right; CP #27, elevation 4663 feet (1422 m); enter Redwall Limestone, thickness 450 feet here
3.12	r	146		rose bladderpod	Physaria purpurea	30 / 7
3.12	r			Only location of mountain pepper-grass, Lepidium montanum, on trail proper
3.13				Switchback left.
3.15				Switchback right.
3.16				Switchback left.
3.19	l	147		rock spiraea	Petrophytum caespitosum	50 / 2
3.19	l	148		snapdragon vine	Maurandya antirrhiniflora	3 / 2
3.19	l			Check unk perennial with lobed leaves like Artemisia ludoviciana
3.21				Switchback right.
3.22				Curve right 90°.
3.23				Switchback left.
3.26				Curve left 90°.
3.28		149		resin brittlebush	Encelia resinifera	30 / 7
3.29				Switchback right at the closest part of the trail to the "Petrified Snow". CP #28, 4512 feet (1375 m)
3.30	l	150		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora	/
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
3.46	r	151		brownfoot	Acourtia wrightii	2 / 2
3.46	r	152		California hedge-parsley	Yabea microcarpa	2 / 1
3.46	r	153		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	1 / 1
3.50				Enter Temple Butte Limestone; thickness 35 feet here
3.51	r	154		turpentine broom	Thamnosma montana	13 / 3
3.51	l	155		longleaf phlox	Phlox longifolia	30 / 9
3.52	l	156		side-oats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	50 / 9
3.59		157		nodding scorpionflower	Phacelia laxiflora	iN / 1
3.61	r	158		rush rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. juncea	40 / 9
3.61	l	159		poison milkweed	Asclepias subverticillata	1 / 1
3.61	l	160		winding mariposa	Calochortus flexuosus	10 / 2
3.61	l	161		Patagonia plantain	Plantago patagonica	10 / 1
3.61	l	162		red three-awn	Aristida purpurea var. longiseta	10 / 2
3.62		163		Grand Canyon beavertail	Opuntia basilaris var. longiareolata	iN / 1
3.62				Switchback right; CP #30, elevation 4255 feet (1297 m)
3.65		164	?	unk spiny shrub	like Prunus fremontii	/
3.65	l			First location of western bernardia, Bernardia incana, on trail
3.65	l	165	?	?	Like a shrubby Artemisia ludoviciana with entire leaves	/
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			Second location for Roaring Springs prickly-poppy, Argemone arizonica
3.70	l			Check these plants to see if they are young fourwing saltbush
3.72	l	166		Apache plume	Fallugia paradoxa	5 / 2
3.72	b	167		desert trumpet	Eriogonum inflatum	10 / 1
3.73	r	168		fourwing saltbush	Atriplex canescens	5 / 1
3.74	r	169	sp	Buckwheat with terminal infl	Eriogonum sp.	x /
3.75	r	170		wing-nut cryptantha	Cryptantha pterocarya	x /
3.75	r	171		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	1 / 1
3.92				Cross creekbed, with high-pressure water pipe elevated on left; CP #32, elevation 4093 feet (1248 m)
4.02		172		catclaw	Senegalia greggii	50 / 3
4.09				Curve left 90°, cross streambed, then turn right 90°; CP #33, elevation 4029 feet (1228 m)
4.10		173		blue grama	Bouteloua gracilis	30 / 3
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".
4.56		174		sacahuista	Nolina microcarpa	3 / 1
4.59		175		common reed	Phragmites australis	iN /
4.59		176		Fremont cottonwood	Populus fremontii	iN /
4.59		177		Canyon wild grape	Vitis arizonica	iN /
4.60		178		broom baccharis	Baccharis sarothroides	iN / 1
4.62		179		silverleaf nightshade	Solanum elaeagnifolium	iN / 3
4.65	l			Indian Gardens Resthouse
4.66		180		narrowleaf willow	Salix exigua	iN /
4.66		181		water cress	Nasturtium officinale	iN /
4.68	l			Jct. Plateau Point Trail; end Plant Trail Guide
				Additional species in Indian Gardens area off-trail
IG		182		mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	iN / 1
IG		183		*Japanese chess	Bromus japonicus	iN / 1
IG		184		sturdy sedge	Carex alma	V /
IG		185		froststem suncup	Chylismia multijuga	V /
IG		186		bigleaf marsh-elder	Iva frutescens	V /
IG		187		*tall fescue	Lolium arundinaceum	V /
IG		188		American tule	Schoenoplectus americanus	iN / 1
				Species only present off-trail are listed again here
0.13		189		ponderosa pine	Pinus ponderosa	/
0.54	l	190		claret cup	Echinocereus triglochidiatus	/
0.55	r	191		fringed brome	Bromus richardsonii	/

http://tchester.org/gc/plants/guides/bright_angel_down.html
Updated 10 September 2022.