The Question and Answer section for The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Expect little shade on the South Kaibab portion and no shade on the Tonto. The list covers many of the trails in the Grand Canyon. Begin down the Bright Angel Trail until you reach Indian Garden, 4.5 miles from the rim. Starting elevation at South Kaibab trail head 7260 ft. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Questions and Answers. Classified as a South Rim trail, the Tonto Trail actually begins at the south bank of the Colorado River and ends at the eastern end of the Red Canyon. This trip is done as a loop with help from the NPS shuttle buses. This information is for the hike on the South Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Campground to the Bright Angel Trail. It is a good day hike for those in proper condition. This Tonto Trail section is primarily used as a loop from South Kaibab trailhead to Bright Angel trailhead. Two trails cross or join the Bright Angel Trail, the first being an intersection with the Tonto Trail at Indian Garden, leading toward the Monument Use Area to the west, and to the South Kaibab Trail 4.7 miles (7.6 km) to the east. These guides discuss distances, trail conditions, steepness, water sources, getting to the trailhead and other useful information for that particular trail. The Tonto Trail is a long, albeit easygoing trail that doesn’t actually start on either rim of the Grand Canyon. Distance: 16.5 miles Elevation Change: 4780 feet loss (to the Colorado River) and 4380 elevation gain (Bright Angel Campground to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail). This 13-mile section of the Tonto Trail is bookended by Bright Angel Trail to the east and Hermit Trail to the west, and is a recommended backpack trip. Looking across the drainage's mouth from the Tonto Trail, the distance seems short, but plan on at least 2-3 hours of steady hiking to cross. The trail was formally built by the Santa Fe Railroad for the Fred Harvey Company to access the Hermit Camp, situated on the Tonto formation. However, it is a demanding hike because of the lack of shade from the South Kaibab trailhead to Indian Gardens. Continue west on the Tonto for … The small unnamed drainages between Grapevine and Boulder and Boulder and Lone Tree will slow progress, and a little confusion on the west side of Lone Tree is typical. Ease of access and dramatic views account for the popularity of this three-to-four … Summary: Included below is a selection of useful trail guides in PDF format (Free Adobe Reader required) published by the National Park Service. Hike the South Kaibab trail down to “Tip Off,” which is the junction with Tonto Trail (4.4 miles, down 3260 ft). Here on this last flat section before the drop to the Tonto Plateau, the ridge offers another round of stirring views, including a dropoff-overlook to the north. The camp was built in the 1910s and included a tramway into the canyon, a fully functioning automobile, and high-end canvas cabins for wealthy patrons. Much of the trail follows the Tapeats sandstone rim of the inner gorge, offering exciting river views from the points between the six major side canyons it traverses. But the Tonto Trail is one of the few that traverses the canyon lengthwise, snaking in and out of drainages for 95 miles on a mostly level bench called the Tonto Platform. I stop to scout my return route. A point-to-point backpack of three to five days, following the most popular and well-defined segment of the Tonto Trail. Take the Tonto trail to Indian Garden (4.6 miles, net down 200 ft) Return to the South Rim via the Bright Angel trail (4.9 miles, up 3060 ft). At Indian Garden, you will follow signs for the Tonto Trail. In the distance I can just make out the thin line of the trail to Plateau Point, an overlook near the Bright Angel Trail.