Grand Canyon, North Kaibab Trail

The parking lot is full by midmorning, at the North Kaibab Trailhead. This is the only trail off the north rim, into the canyon and it's very popular, in the summer. Bright Angel Canyon is where the North Kaibab Trail travels through once it gets past Roaring Springs. This section of the trail decends hard and fast.(Roaring Springs is the water supply for the North Rim.) If you are in good shape, Roaring Springs is a good place to stop, have a light lunch and start back up again. If you applied to the backcountry office and how are the proud owner of a permit to camp down in the canyon, Cottonwood Camp is seven miles from the trail head. With a four or five day pack, Cottonwood Camp is a full days work. Usually, I'll stay a couple of nights at Cottonwood before moving on to Bright Angel and Phantom Ranch. Rainbow Falls is south of Cottonwood Camp, close to a mile, and I spend one whole day there just enjoying the sight and sounds of falling water.
It's another seven easy, fairly flat, miles to the next camp, which is Bright Angel. Bright Angel Canyon and creek is a relaxing experience. I like to just stroll through this unique area.
Once Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel camp is reached, so is the commercial area of the inner canyon. This is the freeway of the Grand Canyon. There is call out phone and flush towlets. Wild turkeys and deer visit camp sites looking for handouts. Ring tail cats just help themselves to what ever inexperienced backpackers leave out. Phantom Ranch serves beer and juice drinks and has chocolate bars. Mules carry everything in and out so the selection is limited.
Here is an option if you don't want to backpack into the canyon. Get reservations for Phantom Ranch for both a bunk and meals, hike the 14 miles from the Kaibab Trailhead to the ranch with just a day pack. Spend a couple of nights down by the Colorado River and then hike out the South Kaibab or Bright Angel trails. You still have to be in excellent shape to hike 25 miles with an elevation change of 7,000 feel both down and then up. A mule can carry down your pack from the south rim. All this can be arranged through the reservation office at Bright Angel Lodge.