Plant Guide to Bright Angel Trail

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		GRO	desert gooseberry	Ribes velutinum	99 / 9
0.00	b	3		GRO	whisky currant	Ribes cereum var. pedicellare	99 / 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	2 / 2
0.00	r	11		BRA	smooth western tansy-mustard	Descurainia pinnata ssp. glabra	99 / 9
0.00	r	12		BRA	*crossflower	Chorispora tenella	99 / 9
0.00	r	13		BRA	common pepper-grass	Lepidium densiflorum	5 / 1
0.00	r			(AST silver wormwood?, Artemisia ludoviciana?, with entire leaves)
0.00	l			(AST threadleaf common rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila)
0.00	r	14	~	CAP	snowberry	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	99 / 9
0.00	r	15		BRA	perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans	40 / 9
0.00	r	16		RAN	*curveseed butterwort	Ceratocephala testiculata	99 / 9
0.00	b	17		AMA	Powell's amaranth	Amaranthus powellii	20 / 2
0.00	r	18		ROS	Utah service-berry	Amelanchier utahensis	99 / 9
0.00	l	19		CUP	Utah juniper	Juniperus osteosperma	20 / 9
0.01	r			Sign: "Mesozoic Rock Formations / Kaibab Limestone"
0.02	b	20		AST	threadleaf common rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila	50 / 9
0.02	b	21		CHE	*tumbling oracle	Atriplex rosea	40 / 2
0.02	l	22		LAM	*horehound	Marrubium vulgare	20 / 5
0.03	l	23		ROS	fern bush	Chamaebatiaria millefolium	10 / 9
0.03	r			(MAL littleleaf globe mallow, Sphaeralcea parvifolia)
0.03	r	24		POA	*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum	99 / 9
0.04	r	25		BRA	*Klamath pepper-grass	Lepidium perfoliatum	2 / 2
0.04	r			Jct. path from Kolb Studio
0.04	l	26		AST	California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	99 / 9
0.05	l	27	~	AMA	*tumble pigweed	Amaranthus albus	5 / 2
0.05	r	28		POA	slender wheatgrass	Elymus trachycaulus	50 / 9
0.05	r	29		POA	squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	30 / 9
0.05	r	30		LAM	*catnip	Nepeta cataria	20 / 3
0.05	r	31		SCR	Palmer's penstemon	Penstemon palmeri	10 / 2
0.05	r	32		AST	silver wormwood	Artemisia ludoviciana	99 / 9
0.05	r	33		VIT	Virginia creeper	Parthenocissus vitacea	1 / 1
0.05	r			Sign: "Bright Angel Trail and Grand Canyon Information"
0.05	r	34		AST	Arizona thistle	Cirsium arizonicum var. nidulum	30 / 9
0.05				Switchback left
0.06	r	35		BRA	*London rocket	Sisymbrium irio	10 / 3
0.08	r			Sign: "When mules pass"
0.08	r	36		CHE	Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	20 / 5
0.08	r			(POA mutton grass, Poa fendleriana)
0.09	l	37		AST	Grand Canyon rock-daisy	Perityle congesta	50 / 9
0.12	l	38		AST	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			(RUT pallid hoptree, Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida var. pallida)
0.15	r	39		AST	big sagebrush	Artemisia tridentata	30 / 9
0.15	r			(BER creeping barberry, Mahonia repens)
0.15				First Tunnel
0.15	r			(EPH green ephedra, Ephedra viridis; AGA Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis				0.16	l	40		SCR	beardtongue	Penstemon barbatus	10 / 5
0.16	b	41		AST	beautiful aster	Eurybia pulchra	99 / 9
0.16	l	42		POA	mutton grass	Poa fendleriana	99 / 9
0.16	l	43		RAN	Fendler's meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri	10 / 9
0.16	r	44		BOR	flatspine stickseed	Lappula occidentalis var. occidentalis	30 / 9
0.17	l	45		RUB	Wright's bedstraw	Galium wrightii	1 / 1
0.17	r	46		CHE	*Russian thistle	Salsola tragus	20 / 2
0.20	l	47		AST	fragrant snakeroot	Ageratina herbacea	30 / 5
0.21	r			(CAC Mojave prickly-pear, Opuntia erinacea)
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	48		BRA	shepherd's purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris	10 / 3
0.25	l			(banana yucca, Yucca baccata)
0.26	r	49		BER	creeping barberry	Mahonia repens	10 / 5
0.28	r			(ROS Apache plume, Fallugia paradoxa)
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	r			(BRA wallflower, Erysimum capitatum var. purshii)
0.29	b			(check for different grass species)
0.29				Cross Bright Angel Fault onto Toroweap Redbeds, thickness 250 feet here
0.29	l			(Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca)
0.29	l	50		AST	Cooper's rubberweed	Hymenoxys cooperi	5 / 2
				Look for earliest Gutierrezia microcephala in next 0.1 mile
0.30	l	51		RUB	Munz's bedstraw	Galium munzii ssp. ambivalens	40 / 9
0.30	l	52		SAX	coral bells	Heuchera rubescens var. versicolor	4 / 4
0.30	l	53		LAM	Drummond's false pennyroyal	Hedeoma drummondii	1 / 1
0.31	l	54		MAL	littleleaf globe mallow	Sphaeralcea parvifolia	30 / 9
0.33	r			(POA, Indian ricegrass, Achnatherum hymenoides)
0.33	b	55		POL	Simpson's buckwheat	Eriogonum microthecum var. simpsonii	50 / 9
0.34	r	56		EPH	green ephedra	Ephedra viridis	50 / 9
0.36	l	57		ROS	cliffrose	Purshia stansburiana	20 / 9
0.36	l	58		AST	Basin butterweed	Packera multilobata	3 / 2
0.36	l	59		POA	*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	5 / 1
0.37	b	60	~	BOR	slender cryptantha	Cryptantha gracilis	20 / 3
0.39	r	61		POA	Indian ricegrass	Achnatherum hymenoides	40 / 9
0.39	l	62		AST	sticky snakeweed	Gutierrezia microcephala	10 / 3
0.39	r	63	ssp	FAB	Crescent milkvetch	Astragalus amphioxys	1 / 1
0.39	l	64		SCR	Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	3 / 1
0.40				Switchback right; CP #1, elevation 6630 feet (2021 m). In a short distance on the side trail is narrow phacelia, Phacelia filiformis
0.41	l	65	~	POA	*smooth brome	Bromus inermis	50 / 9
0.41	r	66		BER	Fremont barberry	Mahonia fremontii	10 / 9
0.43	l			Check for Elymus glaucus
0.43	l	67		AGA	banana yucca	Yucca baccata	10 / 9
0.43	r		ssp	(SCR Eaton's penstemon, Penstemon eatonii)
0.44	r	68	sp	CAC	prickly-pear	Opuntia sp.	5 / 5
0.44	r	69	~	AST	rose heath	Chaetopappa ericoides	1 / 1
	r	70		AST	matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	2 / 1
0.50				Cross Bright Angel Fault back onto Kaibab Limestone
0.51	r	71		HYD	Fendler bush	Fendlera rupicola	40 / 9
0.54	r	72		ROS	shrubby cream bush	Holodiscus dumosus	5 / 1
0.55	r			Contact between the Kaibab and Toroweap Formations
0.59	r			(BRA wild candytuft, Thlaspi montanum var. fendleri)
0.60	l	73	~	CAP	blueberry elder	Sambucus glauca	1 / 1
0.62	r	74		PIN	Rocky Mountain Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca	10 / 3
0.63	l			(SCR common mullein, Verbascum thapsus)
0.63	r	75		FUM	scrambled eggs	Corydalis aurea	5 / 2
0.64	r	76		POL	southern mountain phlox	Phlox austromontana	2 / 2
0.70	l			Jct. use path
0.71	l			Jct. use path
0.71	l	77		VIS	pinyon pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium divaricatum	1 / 1
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	78		RUT	pallid hoptree	Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida var. pallida	50 / 9
0.80	l	79		ROS	rock whitefeather	Ivesia arizonica	5 / 1
0.86	l	80		BET	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)
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; OLE birchleaf buckthorn, Frangula betulifolia ssp. obovata, in distance)
0.96				Switchback left
0.98	l	81		RHA	birchleaf buckthorn	Frangula betulifolia ssp. obovata	2 / 2
0.98				Switchback right; CP #4, elevation 6153 feet (1875 m)
0.98	l			(AGA Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis)
1.01				Trail curves right 90°.
1.01	l	82	~	AST	pungent rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. graveolens	1 / 1
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	83		GRO	trumpet gooseberry	Ribes leptanthum	50 / 9
1.12				Switchback left
1.16				Switchback right; CP #6, elevation 6007 feet (1831 m)
1.17	r	84		ANA	skunkbush with nearly entire leaf	Rhus trilobata	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 and R. velutinum side by side.
1.27	r	85		POR	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	86		RAN	barestem larkspur	Delphinium scaposum	10 / 4
1.35	r			Jct. use path
1.35	r	87		RAN	virgin's bower	Clematis ligusticifolia	2 / 1
1.42	l	88	?	POA	western wheatgrass?	Pascopyrum smithii?	3 / 1
1.47	r	89		OLE	fragrant ash	Fraxinus cuspidata	30 / 9
1.48				Trail bends right 90°; CP #9, elevation 5780 feet (1762 m)
1.51	r	90		MAL	gooseberryleaf globemallow	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	50 / 9
1.53	l			(AGA closest Kaibab century plant, Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis)
1.54	r			(SEL spike-moss, Selaginella mutica)
1.55				Trail curves right at ridge
1.56	r	91		SCR	Eaton's penstemon	Penstemon eatonii	20 / 9
1.57	r	92		AST	tidy fleabane	Erigeron concinnus	50 / 9
1.58	r	93		BRA	wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. purshii	5 / 3
				Check for Argemone arizonica "above and below trail here"
1.58	r			1.5 mile Resthouse; CP "(1.5 mile) resthouse", elevation 5714 feet (1742 m)
1.58	r	94			western redbud	Cercis orbiculata	1 / 1
1.59				Cross drainage
1.60	r	95		CAC	Mojave prickly-pear	Opuntia 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	l			Check id of this plant; Fendleriella?
1.64				Cross drainage again
1.64	l	96		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)
1.70	l	97		CRO	spiny greasebush	Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum	20 / 9
1.71	r	98		AST	longleaf brickellbush	Brickellia longifolia	99 / 9
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)
1.81	l	99		SEL	spike-moss	Selaginella mutica	1 / 1
1.91				Long switchback right at main drainage; CP #13, elevation 5518 feet (1682 m)
1.93	l	100		OLE	single-leaf ash	Fraxinus anomala	10 / 5
1.95	l	101		AST	greenstem paperflower	Psilostrophe sparsiflora	5 / 2
1.95	l	102		HYD	narrow phacelia	Phacelia filiformis	20 / 3
1.95	l	103		POL	eyed gilia	Gilia ophthalmoides	2 / 2
1.95	l	104		SCR	Utah penstemon	Penstemon utahensis	20 / 7
1.95	r	105		POA	James' galleta	Pleuraphis jamesii	1 / 1
1.99	r	106	~	POA	Mormon needlegrass	Achnatherum aridum	20 / 5
2.00	l	107		POA	*red brome	Bromus rubens	10 / 1
2.01	l		?		Shrub with opposite leaves and square stems; check pix; Fraxinus?	?	1 / 1
2.01				Switchback right at 2 mile corner; CP #14, elevation 5443 feet (1659 m)
2.03	l	108		NYC	giant four o'clock	Mirabilis multiflora	20 / 5
2.04	r	109		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)
2.10	l		?	(Lupine? Or different Penstemon?)
2.18	r	110	~	POA	Parish needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii	20 / 9
2.20	r	111	?		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
2.33				Switchback right; CP #17, elevation 5244 feet (1598 m)
2.33	r			BRA	perennial rock-cress with galls	Arabis perennans	/
2.37	r				skunkbush with 3 lobed leaf	Rhus trilobata	/
2.39				Switchback left; CP #18, elevation 5197 feet (1584 m)
2.42	r	112		BRA	whitetop	Cardaria draba	20 / 1
2.42	r	113		AGA	Kaibab century plant	Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis	1 / 1
2.43	l		?		(Bush with 4 yellow petals)	?	/
2.43				Switchback right; CP #19, elevation 5165 feet (1574 m)
2.48				Switchback left; CP #20, elevation 5133 feet (1565 m)
2.50	r	114		BRA	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			(FAB bush peavine, Lathyrus brachycalyx ssp. zionis)
2.64	l	115		FAG	shrub live oak	Quercus turbinella	10 / 2
2.68				Switchback left, CP #23, elevation 4978 feet (1517 m)
2.71				Switchback right; CP #24, elevation 4955 feet (1510 m)
2.75				Curve left 90°.
2.77	l	116		AST	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)
				Check for Argemone munita vouchered from "4800 feet" here
2.90				Curve right 90°.
2.90	r	117		FAB	Torrey's milkvetch	Astragalus calycosus	10 / 1
2.91	r	118		FAB	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)
3.03				Switchback left.
3.07	r			(three-spine hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus triglochidiatus)
3.07	l	119		ULM	netleaf hackberry	Celtis laevigata var. reticulata	1 / 1
3.09				Switchback right; CP #27, elevation 4663 feet (1422 m); enter Redwall Limestone, thickness 450 feet here
3.12	r	120		BRA	rose bladderpod	Lesquerella purpurea	30 / 7
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°.
3.29				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)
3.30	l	121		AST	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
3.45				Rest of guide not yet updated from 5/6/08 fieldwork
3.50				Enter Temple Butte Limestone; thickness 35 feet here
3.52	l	122		POA	side-oats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	50 / 9
3.55	r			ANA	simple-leaved basketbush	Rhus trilobata var. simplicifolia	2 / 2
3.62				Switchback right; CP #30, elevation 4255 feet (1297 m)
3.62	r	123	~	AST	resin brittlebush	Encelia resinifera ssp. resinifera	20 / 5
3.65	r	124	~	AST	rush rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. juncea	/
3.65	l	125	~	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	126		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	127		CHE	fourwing saltbush	Atriplex canescens	1 / 1
3.73	r	128	sp	POA	needlegrass?	Achnatherum (scribneri?)	5 / 1
3.73	r	129		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:
				PAP	prickly poppy	Argemone munita	/
				POL	longleaf phlox	Phlox longifolia	/
				ROS	interior rose	Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana	/

http://tchester.org/gc/plants/guides/bright_angel_down.html
Updated 21 April 2009.