Phantom Ranch

4.5 (67 reviews)

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Open • 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

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Mikey J.

It's a great place that is very hard to get a reservation for (up to a year in advance and even then not guaranteed). We did a Rim to rim hike (which is amazing but strenuous) and the Phantom Ranch provided much appreciated respite. We had a cabin that was comfortable but cozy (has a sink and toilet), and there are public showers which are AMAZING after a long hike. The food was tasty (all to-go during COVID), though they close down the service line fairly quickly preventing second servings (which were more accessible when there was in-person dining). Food portions were also on the medium to smaller size I felt for the price (particularly as they shut down so soon before seconds). We had the stew which is great. Also at times they may give extra sides (i.e. salad dressing) that they can not take back (i.e. we were given 5 salad dressings for 4 people, and told to just toss out the extras in the garbage). I wish there was a way to reduce the waste. You can mail postcards from the Phantom Ranch which is also cool. Overall, definitely worth a stay... if you can get a reservation!

Emily L.

If you are hiking to the bottom of the canyon you need to swing by for a glass of lemonade. I have been lucky enough to stay here three times and each time has been a little slice of heaven. The cabins are rustic and sturdy and have AC or heat depending on the season. They all have a sink and bathroom and communal showers are on grounds. Only one or two of the cabins have a queen bed all others have bunks. They do have a communal bunkhouse but I don't know if it's open d/t Covid. I do know they will be closing for much needed water upgrades soon and I haven't heard of the opening dates. Booking is done on either a lucky day of request or 13 months in advance lottery system. Then the only way down is on foot or muleback. The food is delicious and served up family style. You get to meet hikers and riders from all over. It's a beautiful way to explore a shared world. The dining room just opened and we got to celebrate Christmas with the people there, it was actually their 100th Christmas so it was very special. I have never left the dining room not stuffed to gills. The steak dinner and stew are wonderful and the cornbread is a treat. Huge kudos to the cooks down there, they know how to cook. There is water available, games and books at the exchange on the bench in front of the canteen. They have some sundries and cold drinks you can purchase at the window. It used to be you could go into the canteen anytime to buy things but due to Covid it's a walk up system. You can mail a postcard there and it will be hauled up by mule. The staff are all wonderful and truly make things as special there. They will help you with hike ideas, dehydration, a joke or anything they can. This is a true gem in the NPS, get there if you can.

Heidi A.

Are you arriving from Kaibab? Bright Angel? By mule? Raft? Which ever way you choose, take the extra mile to Phantom Ranch. I did a Rim to River in the brutal heat of Memorial Day Weekend 2021, and enjoyed a cool glass of the renowned Phantom Ranch Lemonade. I said, that was great, but never again! Then, I received a notification that I had won the lottery for a reservation at Phantom Ranch. I was immediately in. December 23rd, 2022 I was fortunate to stay at the ranch, where I enjoyed the rustic cabin. ( Apparently, Teddy Roosevelt slept in my bunk in Cabin 5? ) The dinner I chose to purchase was the Vegetarian Stew. I and my partner loved it! I thought it had enough spice and tasted fresh. I had brought packets of seasoning that went unused, as a result of reading reviews that said it was bland. I think those reviews came from a "hot sauce tough guy" type (iykyk). Flavor was fantastic, and hit the spot after a long hike to the Colorado. The cornbread was a perfect accent. I also ordered the breakfast, which was pretty standard, but so appreciated! The folks working at the Ranch really are professional and have everything running like clockwork!

The dorms with running water and a toilet in each.

Joee L.

I snagged a two night reservation in December a year prior in a female dorm. A male friend of mine wanted to join a month prior. We checked the cancellations everyday and finally got a male and female dorm spot a day prior to my reservation so we grabbed it. We hiked down the south Kaibab trail and up bright angel. The ranch was amazing for the location. The meals were also amazing. The dorms have a bathroom and shower with soap. My friend was able to get a cancellation for the next two nights. If you are already at the bottom you have first dibs on a cancellation but have to wait till the next morning to see if you got a spot. It appeared your chances are better if you are a female to get a cancellation. Staying at phantom ranch takes you back in time to the days of no cell phones and board game playing. After dinner each night I played cards. I learned how to play Rummy and was addicted. If you can do this...do it!!

Van D.

An iconic stay for any Grand Canyon hiker! It's great to end the long trek down with a rest in the cabins here. Accommodations include a room with AC, bed, and toilet closet, with shower facilities in a separate building. The nearby canteen offers hearty meals by reservation and snacks and beverages via window service from dedicated, enthusiastic staff members. The ranch as a whole could use some maintenance, including general cleanup of overgrown walkways and towering dead trees near main buildings (one split in half and landed on the canteen pathway while we were there), and the communication between the ranch and the Bright Angel transportation desk could be improved as well. (The day before our hike down, the BATD told us that the PR cabins were still operating by bucket flush, but down at PR, they told us they'd been off that process for three weeks.) Overall it's an interesting place to stay and holds a special place in the history of GCNP.

Bob R.

The best rustic experience you can get. We did the mule ride down from the south rim, and the lady who greeted us was friendly, helpful, and refreshed us with the best lemonade! Our cabin had a comfortable queen bed, sink, and toilet, and an AC unit (thankfully!) They were having water pressure issues so the toilet had to be flushed by bucket, which we refilled at a trough by the canteen. Showers are in a separate building and worked just fine. With cement floors and bucket-flushing toilets, why 5 stars? Because it's the only place on earth where you can stay in a cabin at the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Staff were super friendly! Our steak dinner was fantastic! Breakfast was great too - the sausages were so tasty! We strolled the camp, sat in Bright Angel creek to cool off, and walked the half-mile down to the Colorado River to dip our toes in its cold waters after dinner. If you want to stay in the Grand Canyon, this is the way to do it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Christy K.

The dorms at Phantom Ranch are comfortable, warm in the winter stocked with clean sheets and towels and shampoo, conditioner, and soap. This is no 4-star resort... we had to flush toilets using large buckets of water. With 10 older women in the room, this was FAR from ideal! Dinner, served family-style, was quite nice. It was warm, healthy, and filling. My veggie chili was delicious, but some of my roommates said the stew was too spicy. Be sure to take home a stamp for your National Park Passport and to mail home a mule-carried postcard.

Channon H.

My husband and I spent one night, our 25th anniversary. The cabin has a sink & toilet. There's a small dining table & two chairs. Perfect for the to go meals provided by Phantom Ranch. There's also a picnic table right outside the cabin. Perfect for looking up at the stars. We were glad the heater in the cabin worked well since it was freezing outside.

Ashley B.

I've been fortunate enough to hike down to Phantom Ranch three times: 2011, 2014, 2017 Phantom Ranch is all about the experience. It's only accessible by foot, mule or rafting. Even the employees have to hike in! When you come down one of the trails and see the canteen, man what a great feeling that is! They sell much deserved beer ranging from $4.50-5.75. CASH only! The canteen sells a lot of stuff: rain gear, head lamps, snacks, sack lunch, shirts, post cards They offer camp sites, 10-person gender specific dorms, and private cabins ranging from 2 person to 10 person. All have a private bathroom room. The private cabins utilize a shared shower building. There is no cell service down here, no wifi. But there is a payphone that is credit card operated. You need to make reservations in advance. Meals are pricey, but what can you expect, all food is carried in by mule, which is pretty cool! Breakfast: 5am and 6:30am. Scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and peaches. Water, hot water, coffee and OJ Lunch: they only offer sacked lunch which we've never gotten. Dinner: 5pm: steak dinner. A steak, potato, green beans, corn bread, chocolate cake. Tea, water, coffee 6:30pm: stew dinner: stew, corn bread, chocolate cake. Tea, water, coffee I heard someone order a veggie stew but I didn't partake. Ranger station will help you pop and heal any blisters, give you updated weather reports and are more than happy to talk to you about the area and day hikes around. The canteen is open from 8:30-4pm and 8pm-10pm. Such a fun place to gather and meet fellow Trekkers, have a beer and snacks, write posts cards, play card games.

Jason C.

We enjoyed our stay at Phantom Ranch. My wife took the mule while I hiked from the rim. The cabin was rustic but there was a toilet, sink and AC/heating. The bedside tables also had power plugs and usb chargers. Cabins were not luxurious by any means, but if you stayed in any of the National Park's more rustic accommodations such as a tent cabin, this is a step above. If you look closely, you can see out the cracks of some of the logs. Hey, what do you expect for some near 100 year old cabins? Showers also had excellent pressure and were fairly clean. Too bad when we came, it was during the federal shut down, so there was some water issues with some of the toilets that couldnt be addressed due to the shutdown. Food wise, it looks like the canteen reduced their offerings, but it offers the basics. Drinks (no soda), beer, candy, snacks, electrolytes, and last minute hiking gear. Since we stayed at Phantom Ranch, we had a steak dinner. It was a grilled NY Strip with potatoes, corn bread and salad. Steak tasted great, cooked to medium. Cornbread was moist and to die for. For breakfast, we had pancakes, eggs, sausage, and thick cut bacon. I also ordered a pack lunch that included a fruit item, a few bars, carrots, jerky and electrolytes. The lunch was not the most amazing, but it was light and compact with enough nutrients for your hike back to the rim. The views were amazing around the Ranch, so take a look around. I just sat there during the late afternoon after my hike down to soak in some of the majestic walls. Also dont forget to check out the mules if you didnt ride one down.

Tzarina W.

When you reach Phantom Ranch there is a little store with plenty of wooden tables and chairs inside and cool AC to quickly dry off. The one must-do is to send at least one post card to your family or friends, domestic/international because they are specially carried by the mules up the 7 miles that you just hiked. Plus, it's always fun for someone to receive a snail mail once in a blue moon. The mail is carried in a leather mail bag hung on the wall. This store had a few souvenir items, such as the square packet bundled so tight that after opening, you dip it water and it expands to a shirt. Perfect gift to pack in your bag. Take your time here to refill on water, take a bathroom break, purchase any hiking necessities, sit at the picnic tables outside to tend to your feet and snack on your food for some much needed energy, should you choose to hike to the North Rim. If you're not going to the North Rim, there is another trail called Bright Angel Trail where you can hike up another 9.5 miles. You can also call ahead to stay at the Bright Angel Campground.

Leigh G.

Phantom Ranch was designed by Colter, the lady architect who worked with Harvey to design many of the wonderful buildings along the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Everything in it was brought down by mule or hiker. I marvel over that now when thinking about not only how much is there, but what an amazing presence it has. I have never experienced anything like Phantom Ranch. I'm not a hiker who is yet of the caliber to handle the Grand Canyon, so I got there by mule, and stayed one wonderful night with my husband. I don't think I've ever experienced a place as peaceful as the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and I don't think I've ever met travelers as friendly as the hikers and fellow mule riders at the bottom. It is an awesome experience in and of itself, but the food and accommodations are not bad either! They have two dinner options which you have to reserve in advance. We did the steak dinner, which is served family-style, and enjoyed every bit of the steak, cornbread, salad, baked potato, peas, and corn. When your table is done with the main course, they bring out a plate with thick slices of chocolate cake, and you each get one. Everything tasted great, the host was very attentive, and all around us conversation flowed. There is nothing like it. (Vegetarians, don't despair - they do have a vegetarian option in the other meal service.) We had a private cabin (which she jokingly called the honeymoon suite), and the cabin had a full bed, toilet, and sink. (Showers are a separate cabin.) It had a wall-mounted heater/air conditioning unit, and since we were there in December I can attest that the heater was incredibly efficient and kept us toasty. The bed was a bit stiff, but so were we, and I would challenge a hiker or mule rider to find ANY bed that feels comfortable with those sore muscles. As my husband pointed out, the bed sure beat sleeping on the ground! I understand that hikers get dorms, but those seemed acceptable enough, too. After the dinners are served, they reopen the dining room as the canteen and serve beer and people gather and talk. The phone, which I thought was "broken" during dinner, worked again afterward, so I made a few calls. The phone takes calling cards/collect/credit calls only, so no need for change, and the surcharges charged from the phone were minimal. Breakfast the next morning was scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, and fruit and was very tasty and filling. It seemed that conversation was a bit more stifled in the morning; no doubt people's adrenaline has died down and their focused on their hike ahead or are just sore and tired from hiking down the night before! Hikers can pre-order a sack lunch, which you pick up at breakfast. While at Phantom, make sure to buy a couple postcards from the canteen and mail them from the bottom - they're carried by mule back up the trail, and are stamped that they were delivered by mule. (I can attest to this - my mule was the mailman on our ride!) They have a few other "exclusive" Phantom Ranch designs too, so if you want some more Phantom swag be sure to check it out. (Don't worry, they take credit cards.) Out of the millions of people who gaze at the Grand Canyon every year, only a few ever see Phantom. It is worth the planning and the hike/ride to get down there, if only to experience the serenity we felt walking around amid the yellow leaved trees in mid-December and feeling in wonder of it all. If you go, you will never regret it. I really hope to return one day, next time as a hiker.

Hiker cabins at Phantom Ranch (Grand Canyon, AZ, USA)

Steve L.

The best lodging and dining at the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Of course, it's the ONLY lodging and dining at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, but that makes it a truly special place; it's an unbelievable experience to hike six hours down the South Kaibab trail and find a meal and bed waiting for you. The logistics: There are only three ways to get to Phantom Ranch. You can hike in - the shortest trail but steepest trial is seven miles, so most hikers take the slightly longer but less steep Bright Angel Trail, which is about nine miles from the rim to the river. You can take the mule ride, which takes about four or five hours. Or you can get dropped off here on a rafting trip. All supplies come in via mule train from the rim, and so the selection of food and beverages is limited and supplies are limited to necessities. The lodge itself is very rustic. The cabins are historic cabins built in the 1930's. You'll get clean sheets and indoor plumbing, which is very good, considering the alternative is to camp out. The meals are great. There are two dinner seatings, the early seating serves steak and the later beef stew. The beef stew is about the best I've ever had (they start it in the morning let it simmer all day for the 7PM meal). Breakfast is scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon. The ranger talks are very interesting, and I recommend you go to those; there's usually one in the afternoon and one in the evening. The main attraction is the hiking. Definitely go around the short Colorado River loop. The short but steep hike up to Phantom Overlook has great views of the area from 800' above the ranch. A long but not steep hike is the six mile (one way) hike to Ribbon Falls, a beautiful little waterfall in an alcove of red rocks. I've stayed at Phantom Ranch twice, and I can't wait to do it again.

Cabin 2, with queen bed and air conditioner. Indoor sink and toilet, no hot water.

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William B.

Elite 21

170

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269

12 years ago

Phantom Ranch is a little slice of heaven at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Just when one thinks it can't get any better, you will find a tiny little oasis here open to weary hikers, campers and volunteers and workers. Phantom Ranch was designed by Mary Colter (look her up if you don't know her amazing architecture) and with this beautiful trees and rampant deer, this is just an amazing destination. Great camp sites, a gurgling creek flowing to the nearby Colorado, a ranger station, wonderful ranger talks, bunk style places to rent for the night, plenty of cold water, and a little cafe with beer/food/snacks and dinners and more. Phantom Ranch is its own little world and it is perfect. read more

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Landon S.

14 years ago

*This review is for the meals. My group stayed at the nearby campground, but were able to reserve meals at the ranch. Phamtom Ranch is in the middle of the grand canyon. The nearest road is 7.1 miles away via the grueling South Kaibab trail. It is the only dining option inside the canyon and good luck if you don't have reservations! Although, you could buy candy bars and such if you were really desperate. The food is hearty and filling, even for the famished hiker. For dinner, they served stew and vegetarian chili, along with cornbread, chocolate cake, vegetables, tea and coffee, all in ample supply. They also had a steak option. The lunches, were just as fulling. I ate my lunch on the hike out and could not finish it. The sweetest thing (beside the chocolate cake) was that I did not have carry the meal in on my back, saving my knees and blistered feet. Getting the reservations was a bit tricky. They were all filled up the first time we called. However, we were persistent and found a number of spots actually opening up in the two weeks immediately before our embankment into the canyon. Our trip was in September. read more

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Alex R.

111

15 years ago

If you're man (or woman) enough to hike whatever it is, 12 miles I guess each way down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, a place called Phantom Ranch awaits you. It is a nice place with cabins and full-service campground in a place where less than 1% of the canyon visitors get to see. This makes it one of the only places in the world where you can enjoy some true peace and quiet, and KNOW that you won't look to your right and see a big dualie truck blaze by or something. I mean literally you have to be a good backpacker to get down here in one piece (or ride a mule like a rich snob), and then you have to hike your butt back up to the top (that's about an 8,000 foot elevation gain) after your stay at camp is over. I've done this hike a couple times with two different groups of people. Go with people who know what they're doing (preferably people who have done this particular hike before -- Bright Angel Trail if you're coming from the main South Rim entrance) so you don't end up a statistic. PS the ranger talks are awesome. Be sure to check one out when you get down here. Just ask around and people will tell you what time it is (usually around 6-7). Also they have beer lol. It's packed down by Mule so show respect when they don't give you CVS-like selection. Last time I was there I think it was either Bud or Tecate. read more

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Lynn M.

113

13 years ago

After hiking into the Canyon for around six hours, Phantom Ranch is a welcome sight. The lemonade is good, the employees are friendly, and the Ranger programs are wonderful. If you are spending the night, attend the scorpion ranger talk! Very cool. read more

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Paige H.

11 years ago

This joint gets 5 stars and I even had to use a bucket of water to flush the toilet!! There was a major pipe that broke so there wasn't water for luxury things like showers and toilets. There was water to refill your canteens :) Soooo you hike down and your exhausted, the hike took a little longer than you thought and you arrive in the dark. That's ok, because the friendly people that greet you make you feel like the rock star you are! We shared a dorm room with a total of 10 women. I feared I wouldn't sleep at all-- oh I did! The family style seating for dinner/breakfast is fantastic because you get to talk to others that share the love of hiking. One can order a sack lunch -- it was ok, but it was such a luxury not to have to worry about packing extra food and water. It was so beautiful and so spiritual -- if you can do it. DO IT! read more

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Victoria C.

228

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10 years ago

Husband & I visited February 2016..through REI Adventures. We stayed in the dorms the 1st night. I had a top bunk & it was hard figuring how I was gonna get down each time. I'm not so young..lol. Fortunately hubby felt the same way & we were able to get a cabin the next night. Cabin had 2 of the same bunks but we each slept at the bottom. The cabins have a toilet and sink. Showers are in a separate facility. It's not glam but it was a great trip! read more

Phantom Ranch - Chatting with our friends outside the cabin. - Hotels Near Me

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Ami T.

Elite 23

186

374

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10 years ago

I did the Rim to Rim hike with a group of friends 3rd weekend of May. At my friends' recommendation, we ate dinner and breakfast at Phantom Ranch Canteen. Dinner: I chose Vegetarian Chili since I do not like to eat heavy meals when I'm hiking. The chili was actually quite good, exactly what I wanted at the end of a long, hot day of hiking. Salad was SO fresh (I probably enjoyed eating this the most. When do you get to eat fresh salad on a backpacking trip?!). Corn bread was delicious. Beer tasted extra good! Breakfast: We chose the 5am seating. Pancakes, Scrambled eggs, Bacon, Coffee and OJ. Everything was tasty! It totally gave me the energy to continue our journey. We camped at the nearby Bright Angel Campground, so I can't comment on the lodging at Phantom Ranch. A few tips: 1) Make sure you confirm your reservation at the reservation desk inside Bright Angel Lodge in South Rim (I'm sure there are other places you can do this, but it seemed like confirming it in advance was necessary). 2) Steak dinner is at 5pm, Beef Stew/Veg Chili dinner is served at 6:30pm. 3) You can choose what time you want to eat breakfast: 5am or 6:30am. If you're trying to beat the heat (i.e. start the hike early), I'd recommend 5am seating. All in all, I would definitely eat at the Canteen again, if I do Rim to Rim hike again! read more

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Matt C.

Elite 26

128

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11 years ago

Stayed here back in 2006. Solid meal of steak and potatoes for dinner, along with a soak in the stream before bed, and the 120 degree desert starts to seem like a resort. Too bad you have to climb out of the canyon eventually. read more

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Amanda C.

8 years ago

I loved Phantom Ranch. It was the perfect place to stay after hiking down South Kaibab trail. The food was so so good and I loved eating family style. We had the vegetarian chili and it was so nice to not have to bring it down the canyon. It was hot out but our cabin was so nice. Showers are great and so is the staff there. There is also a nice store that has a little bit of each thing you may need for your stay or your hike out. Beer and wine too! We got our reservation from someone else's cancellation. If you are flexible in your schedule and didn't plan to stay down there, I would highly recommended staying at Phantom Ranch. It was an incredible experience and I can't wait to be back again! read more

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M C.

117

8 years ago

Stayed here two nights in January during a trek with Four Season Guides. My party of 3 had a private cabin (2 bunk beds, sink & separate bathroom, no shower). The cabins are basic but the bunks were comfy and the heater worked well. A nearby building had showers with private stalls, and towels and soap are provided - as well as plenty of hot water! We had breakfast one morning in the canteen (dining hall) and it was delicious and plentiful. Also had dinner two nights at the canteen - as others mentioned, the early seating is a steak dinner and the late seating is stew. Both meals were fantastic. My daughter is vegetarian and they provided her a very yummy vegetarian stew each night (although on steak night she barely ate any of it as the baked potato, corn bread and HUGE salad loaded with fresh veggies made her completely happy!). The canteen is run in a VERY orderly fashion. It is only open at specific times for specific things - for example, you can't buy t-shirts during dinner. This helps the small staff focus on the task at hand. Also, they have a pre-determined seating chart for meals and will direct to your seat when you arrive - that was nice since we didn't have to stress about making sure our group got to sit together. You have plenty of time to eat but they do tell you in advance when they need you to leave so they can get the room cleaned up and ready for the next opening. They are NOT rude about this at all and it really did make the whole experience run smoothly. Things to not pass up in the canteen: 1) be sure to try their local IPA (and note, the label peels off so you can easily take it home in your pack!) 2) send yourself & friends postcards from the canteen - they are stamped with "transported by mule from Phantom Ranch" (or something like that) which makes for a fun souvenir. When we were there, credit card purchases were possible, however, they mentioned that occasionally they have connectivity issues so be sure to take some cash with you. 3) get the lemonade. It's GREAT after a long hike! 4) if you are a tshirt person, they have Phantom Ranch shirts that can only be bought "at the bottom." 5) come back after 8pm - they open back up for drinks and have a ton of board games, packs of cards, etc. A great way to meet some fellow hikers or just spend some leisure time with your family. Even though you will probably be exhausted by the time it gets dark - be sure to walk out to one of the bridges (or other open areas), stop, and look UP. The stars are amazing! Possibly the best part of the whole experience (aside from the cornbread, lemonade, hot shower, IPA, friendly staff, ....). read more

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Stevie W.

11 years ago

Beyond our expectations. We took the mules down and the whole setup is just a fantasy. SO relaxing and calm. Everyone enjoyed this including the fantastic steak dinner. Nice bar with great people and conversation. Worth every penny. Also remember to send a post card from the Ranch. Took 3 days to make it to East Coast and 4 to Europe with "Delivery by Mule" stamped at bottom. read more

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Paul J.

Elite 24

114

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2375

10 years ago

They could charge double for cold beer at the cantina and I would still buy them. Order ahead for dinners if you are hiking down. The also have AC on the cantina. read more

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HR H.

9 years ago

I really enjoyed the Bright Angel trail hike with my kids. It was more scenic than expected. Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Canyon was an unexpected surprise. A rustic Ranch with a treasure of amenities. The staff was super friendly, but it was the ice cream that really stood out. The French vanilla was my favorite & well worth the 10 mile hike. Enjoy! read more

Phantom Ranch - Phantom Ranch Cantina - Hotels Near Me

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Lisa R.

Elite 22

140

11 years ago

Love, love, love it here! The food is amazing considering the remote location! We enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner while staying two nights in the dorm accommodations. The salads are crisp and fresh, steak, stew and chili are all delicious all served family style with sides and dessert. Breakfast is also delicious and satisfying even when you have to get up for it at 5:00am on your day to relax. The bag lunch is a fun mix of non perishable items that hit the spot during your hike when your first choice might not normally be a bagel with cream cheese and sausage slices. Be careful with the tang-like powder (that you add to your drinking water) in the sack lunch getting on your clothing because it stains. PS I'm truly sorry to any Ladies having to listen to my snoring in dorm 12 during the nights of May 25&26th, 2015, I couldn't stay awake any longer, and I'm sorry that the earplugs didn't help. read more

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Cheryl P.

10 years ago

Our family was lucky enough to get reservations here in 2012 and it was amazing! So amazing that we are trying to get reservations for 2017. We have gotten up on the 1st of every month, ready to hit re-dial as many times as it takes. We have managed to get through a few times but once we hit the #1 prompt that should take us the PR reservations, we get hung up on! This has happened on numerous occasions. It's extremely frustrating, hence the 1 star review. read more

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Rod D.

121

13 years ago

I can't comment on the food because I didn't here but they have the best ice tea in the world! And staff is very friendly. I have been here are couple of time and it is an oasis on my journey. read more

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Mary R.

8 years ago

Breakfast was better than the hotel we stayed at in Flagstaff! A wonderful location at the bottom of the grand canyon. Make reservations in advance. I've eaten here several times. Hope to be back soon. I would recommend it to a friend. read more

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D J.

11 years ago

Do you want to feel like a real cowboy? At least here you get a feel of what it feels like to travel the amazing trails, working up an appetite, finding great food and rest half way through your journey. read more

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Caitlin H.

12 years ago

Prefect place to stay after the hikes! Amazing steak dinner and lodging! The only downfall is the horrible lunches...don't buy the sack lunches unless you want some seriously unhealthy food (or junk food). They don't even have a sandwich in the sacks. :( it's just not the type of food I'd feed your body before an intense hike. Stick to good carbs like brown rice (dried snacks) and yams.... a pure source of protein without all the nitrates...nuts and seeds are great to pack too. Other than that, the place is perfect! read more

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Christine S.

107

16 years ago

First you need to book a year in advance. Then you need to get in shape for one damn good hike. But when you reach the bottom of the grand canyon, and you see the trees, hear the bubbling water, and smell the mist rising off of the Colorado river you will feel like you have arrived in Eden. Phantom Lodge has dorms and cabins. We lucked out and got a cabin. A little piece of Heaven after hiking 7 miles down the side of the canyon! If you can't get housing you can go for a back country pass and camp in the same area. The lodge offers meals which are served family style and we had a wonderful time meeting our fellow hikers (or those who came down by mule). Lots of happy people. They even have a mail drop with a stamp since all of the mail is delivered by mule! The cabins are small, wonderfully rustic and so cozy on a cool December night. Thumbs up for the maintenance and service of the staff!! read more

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Jen V.

15 years ago

I just hiked down the S. Kaibab ,spent the night at Phantom Ranch, then up the Bright Angel trail. I am not a big camper so staying at Phantom was the perfect solution. Most people say if you want to stay here you should to book your reservation one year in advance. I believe this is true during the fall and spring times, but during the summer there are beds available. One of the staffer said they operate at 80% capacity during the summer. The 2 "honeymoon" suites with a queen size beds were occupied, so are single rooms with 2 bunk beds. The beds only available were in the male and female dorms, which is perfectly adequate if all you are looking for in a clean facility to shower and sleep. The rooms are very clean, the shower and toilet were clean. The beds are not very comfortable but most people were so exhausted from hiking all day that it did not bother them. It beats camping outside! There are laundry lines outside the cabins were you can hang your self-washed clothes to dry. Dinner was great, you can choose from steak or stew. Breakfast was light (coffee, eggs, bacon, pancakes, and peach halves) but filling enough so I was not starving while hiking up. I do regret buying the snack lunch because I did not eat any of it. I hiked up the Bright Angle trail from 6am - 9:30am so by the time I reached the top I was just barely hungry. If you bring your own snacks that would suffice. Also, the canteen sells beer ($4.50) which many traveling hikers seem to enjoy, especially during the warm summer day. read more

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Dave A.

7 years ago

My wife and I stayed at the Phantom Ranch mid August 2019. After a hot, strenuous descent down the South Kaibab trail it was a welcome sight when we finally arrived. We stayed at the dormitories (separate for men and women) which were surprisingly nice. They were clean, the beds were comfortable and each dorm had a shared shower, sink and toilet. They were air conditioned as well which was nice with 110 degree temperatures in August! I can't give the staff here enough praise. They were incredibly hospitable to everyone and go out of their way to help anyway they can. The food here was also very good, especially the steak dinner. Breakfast was great too! Be aware that meals must be ordered in advance before arrival. Also, soaking your sore leg muscles in the Bright Angel Creek next to the Ranch is a must. Lastly, I would highly recommend a two night stay, if possible, to rest up for the grueling hike back up. Love you Phantom Ranch, never change! read more

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Taylor S.

10 years ago

Location: Superb and serene. Staff: Unfriendly and unprofessional. Food: Mediocre and repetitive. Accommodations: Neglected ***Mold from ceiling to floor in Dorm 15 shower. How did this place pass health inspection?!? read more

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LaQuisha H.

11 years ago

While recently in the Grand Canyon I visited Phantom Ranch after several hours hiking down to the Colorado I was very disappointed to find that the Ranch had no running water. The showers didn't work the toilets didn't work. In order to use the restroom we had to first fill a bucket with water and use it to flush. That same needed to even done to wash our hands. They did provide towels but didn't close face towels. The food was good. I didn't like that you couldn't request how your meat was cooked. I prefer well done instead of rare or medium rare. I recommend adding for then one server during meals. They tried their best to keep up with requests but with so many people at one time eating and one server it became a challenge. The stamp used to mail postcards that says "Mailed by mule " was Brocken which was disappointing. Overall I enjoyed the stay, the bunk house was clean and the people there were nice and helpful. read more

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Robert P.

12 years ago

I would definitely recommend staying two night. After hiking down S. Kaibab trail Phantom ranch was a godsend. Its a lot of down and my knees/legs were dead. by the end of it. Bunk house was clean and the AC felt great even though it seemed to be barely keeping up. Only real negative is people arriving at night kept waking me up. Next time I think I will get a cabin. Only tried the steak dinner which is what I needed to re-fuel.Woke up at 2 am to start to hike back up. read more

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Carol G.

10 years ago

This is my first Yelp review, but I had to post something after reading some of the others. We just returned from Phantom Ranch this weekend. The entire trip was an awesome experience, but I was so!! impressed by the set up and staff at Phantom Ranch!! I wasn't thrilled that I had a top bunk the first night, but that's my only negative comment (and I was able to move bunks the second night).. Of course, there were the noises that you 'd expect when bunking with 10 women, but my expectations were realistic. The electric toothbrush that one person brought along and used at 4:45AM was not the fault of Phantom Ranch! Everything was clean and comfortable, the people we met were amazing, and the wake up call at 4:30 AM saved me from setting an alarm. The food was comfort food, exactly what you need after and before a 6 hour hike! I'm not a fan of steak or beef stew, but the vegetarian chili, the potatoes, fresh salad, vegetables, cornbread, chocolate cake were exactly what I needed! I was so impressed by the system where one person prepared, served and cleaned up the meal! What an operation! The breakfasts were equally as delicious--scrambled eggs, pancakes, peaches, coffee, coffee, coffee, orange juice, (bacon), heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's camp food!! (we ate our gourmet dinners in Sedona and Flagstaff). The staff was so friendly and efficient and even offered a tidbit of history with each meal. Impressive!! And of course, the beer was really cold! If you had a wonderful REI guide, you'd already know that they kick you out of the dining room between meals, but there's plenty of cold beer when they reopen at 8pm. It was an experience that I'll never forget!! And I'm so thankful to the staff of Phantom Ranch for being cool people and excellent cooks!! Do you think I had a good time? We hiked in on South Kaibab and out on Bright Angel. And I'm old! It was a great experience--and we heard the 1% statistic at least 50 times when we were there--that's still 50000 people per year, so you can do it! Yeah Phantom Ranch Staff!! read more

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Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
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(928) 638-2631
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https://www.grandcanyonlodges.com

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“I would suggest you bring your own water bottle as there is a ample water available in and outside the Canteen.”

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El Tovar Hotel

(259 reviews)

$$$

We didn't actually stay at the El Tovar Hotel overnight, but spent the whole day there when we…read morevisited the Grand Canyon Village. Our tour guide took us to El Tovar Hotel to the restaurant where we had lunch after the tour. This hotel is a bit older, but on a great location, right on the Grand Canyon South Rim, in Grand Canyon Village. We walked back and forth to use the restroom when needed. It located in the lower level in the hotel. The gift shop is beautiful! They have plenty of merchandise, including amazing, handmade jewelry from the local tribes. This hotel has a huge parking lot! Easy access to the Rim to enjoy the views. Nearby is another gift shop, called the Hopi House, and also another building right across from the hotel, the Verkamp's Visitor Center. Definitely a great place to visit and stay if you decide to spend the night or two!

A top notch, amazing hotel, nestled on the edge of the south rim of the Grand Canyon located within…read morethe Indian village! Make sure you visit this beautiful place even if you're not planning to spend a night here. That's what I did. This is where President Theodore Roosevelt used to come and stay when visiting the Grand Canyon. When you walk inside, it's simply majestic! If I were to stay here, I could see myself spending the afternoon sitting on a porch, reading a book looking out at the Grand Canyon! The restaurant in here is fantastic, all of the gift shops are fun to shop also. Make sure you don't miss this little gem when visiting the Indian village at the Grand Canyon.

Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins

(187 reviews)

My husband and I stayed in a little cabin here in February of 2025. I'm just now getting caught up…read moreon my reviews from traveling a year and a half later.. oops! We really enjoyed our quick stay here. We landed late at night in Phoenix and drove all the way to the cabin, so we didn't get in till well after midnight. The front desk associate was kind and had been waiting on us. He gave good directions on how to find our cabin so we weren't driving all over the place and stumbling through the dark. I loved being surrounded by the canyon. We didn't have a view from the cabin itself, but it was a very short walk to the lodge where you had amazing views like the one I shared here. The cabin was tiny, but we were out exploring as much as we could, so it served our needs perfectly. It was just enough for two people without being too small. The only real downside is parking was a consistent struggle. You often couldn't park near your cabin and had to drive around for a while trying to find somewhere else close by. I would definitely stay here again on another trip. I loved the restaurant in the lodge and being surrounded by nature. It can't get much better than this for a National Park trip!

In the earliest days of Grand Canyon tourism, visitors approached the South Rim by foot, horse,…read morewagon, or stage and camped in the wild for the length of their stay. By the early 1890s, tourists had options for a slightly more comfortable visit. Built in 1935 and designed by famed architect Mary E.J. Colter, Bright Angel Lodge has a natural, rustic character and is in the center of South Rim activity, serving as the check-in point for the renowned Grand Canyon mule rides. There are 90 rustic cabin units. Some locations are unbeatable--just steps from the rim. These cabins have no central air, but there's just a ceiling fan, and opening the windows at night brings in the breeze. They are one of the most sought-after accommodations because they are the most reasonable lodging option at the park. My partner and I stayed here for two nights in June. Check-in and out were quick. Our little cabin was cozy, clean, and well-kept. There was a small TV, a small refrigerator, and had WiFi. The only feature that caused us some difficulty was the lack of air conditioning. During the night, the temperature was quite high. Despite the presence of a fan, we suffered from the heat. We would suggest the establishment consider installing air conditioning systems or more efficient cooling solutions, which would make the experience truly satisfying. The staff was so nice, had great information, and was very accommodating. The ambiance captures the spirit and history of the Grand Canyon perfectly.

Yavapai Lodge

(13 reviews)

We had a nice stay here for one night while we explored the South Rim of the Grand Canyon…read more Check-in is a breeze - through a little iPad in the lobby. They have a nice coffee bar, gift shop, dining hall, and tavern with drinks and fire pits. Beds were super comfy - honestly better than the Five Star hotel we stayed at in Sedona, which was nice after a long day of hiking. Showers were hot, and it was easy to get around. Would stay here again!

This was a last minute reservation arriving the same day. I was arranged into a nice room with a…read moreview to the back of the lodge. I had full view of the wild life moving accross my view. I left the window open as to capture every deer or squirrels moving about. Did capture cool video and pics. Great accommodations and the burgers are great. Beds are comfy and room was big with cathedral ceilings. I slept like a king.

Yavapai Lodge

(396 reviews)

The lodge is inside the park. Very convenient, short distance to dining, market, library, post…read moreoffice, rim, hiking... etc. The lodge has multiple buildings, all rooms are on the ground floor and has its separate entrance, leading to the parking spot right in front of the room. Pet friendly, clean, has basic amenities, good internet reception, and quiet. Good heating, nice warm showers. Check in process was easy, interaction with staff was pleasant. Highly recommended!

We had a unique experience because we ate here as part of a tour. Our guide was amazing and he had…read moreus fill out our orders will riding in the car. Efficient and useful. When we got there he took our orders up and got it situated while we found a large table for our group of 11. There is plenty of room here for large groups. The food was decent and no frills. After being outside in the beautiful park it hit the spot. Again our guide was able to get a few items that was initially missed on our tables order so that was nice.

El Tovar

(74 reviews)

$$$

Made reservations with El Tovar while staying at the Grand Canyon…read more Overall, our whole experience was below neutral. Online reservation was difficult. I would say that I made a reservation for 2 a month earlier and had to book earlier (5:30pm) than my desired time. A couple weeks later, we had another couple join our trip and revising the reservation was not possible so I booked another reservation (5:00pm) for 2 for the couple. I showed up at the restaurant 30 minutes prior to the first reservation and asked if it was possible to get a table for 4 for either time slot and was told by the host that it could not be done because they expected to be full. Understandable. When it was 5pm, the party of 4 arrived and I asked again if we could eat together with a new host to which she said yes. The restaurants dining is a large room and 80% of the room was empty. My party, along with 2-3 couples and a single diner were placed at the side of the room that didn't have the Grand Canyon to view. It made no sense to me because the establishment wasn't even full.. Chris was our server and he was alright. Food was overpriced and underwhelming. Our party ordered the ribeye special, elk bolognese, cheese tortellini, and strip steak that came out to $200+. Tortellini was extremely salty because of the salami. The bolognese noodles were overcooked spaghetti. Both steaks were requested medium well but ribeye was medium rare and strip was well done and tough. Even the house bread was dry. I was already expecting that the food wasn't going to be amazing but with the disappointment of not even being able to see the sunset was just icing on the cake. If I had the choice, I'd have a packed meal outside in the cold and save the money.

Plan ahead and make reservations for the main Restaurant. Breakfast is wonderful and Dinner is…read moredelecious. If you don't have reservations, Harvey House is a 6 minute walk and offers a full menu. The lounge is available on a first come, first serve, but it's menu is basic and you are not allowed to order off the main menu. The server and server assistants all wear tuxedo shirts and black bow ties. The Dinning Room is very dated ( by design ) as an homage to the history of the building. There are chef specials every meal and the prices are what I would expect in a high end restaurant. We were lucky enough to have pancakes for breakfast and buffalo and elk for dinner.

Thunderbird Lodge

(71 reviews)

I had an absolutely fantastic overnight stay at the Thunderbird in mid November. The staff was…read morephenomenal! Professional, efficient, and extremely helpful, the interactions I had with each staff will cause me to return. The location is perfect! The room was spacious, clean and had all of the amenities one could need. But anain it was the staff that made this visit memorable.

After a stay at the thunderbird lodge I can confidently say the ONLY good thing about this place is…read morethat it's on the edge of the canyon. Not sure why people feel that the ground this was built on automatically earns it a 5 star..? There is no place inside the lodge you can go besides your room as it is only made up of hallways and rooms. If your room is on the first floor don't even think about keeping your curtains open because from the outside you can see literally anyone and everything as clear as day, where hundreds if not thousands of people walk past everyday. If you wanted to shower the hottest water you will get is only early in morning, not sure if there's some limited daily supply of hot water?? (water was lukewarm at best at 2am so I'd imagine it's worse during the evening) The television they had in the room was a 2010s era 48 inch screen, I mean seriously? You cannot control the fan on the AC unit. You want it to be warmer- absolutely 0 indication/sound that the AC is doing anything. You want it to be colder- welcome to Antarctica for the next minute no matter what temperature you set it to. You want some background noise from the fan or just want the fan to run, you'll just have to wait every 2 hours for it to kick on for 1 minute unless you just continuously lower the temperature. To add on to that, the pillows and sheets make such obnoxiously loud noises if you move even 1 inch, which is also worsened by the dead silent room with no fan. It is an absolute nightmare trying to stay asleep in a room with other people. If you wanted to park within a mile of the lodge you genuinely have to drive in circles for an hour because 99% of the public who aren't staying at the lodge park there. Even in every place where there's a sign saying not to park, there will be someone. Also to add, if you are on the first floor you won't have an actual window view of the canyon, it just faces that direction. I probably would not recommend this place if someone asked what lodge to stay at, though to be fair I have no idea what the others are like. Another very important thing that I've noticed to be a common theme, if you plan to do remote work and your device contains sensitive information, DO NOT CONNECT to any public wifi provided from the lodge, it is extremely unsecured and is a hackers paradise.

Kachina Lodge

(56 reviews)

$$$

I swear I stayed here over forty years ago. Nothing much has changed except they have in room…read morecoffee makers. The restaurant on the property is absolutely some of the best food and service you will ever experience. Again, double beds in a small room is not my favorite, but somehow it worked!

Nice hotel. Nothing fancy, but you are staying inside the Grand canyon. Easy walk to dining options.read more

Maswik Lodge

(284 reviews)

This was my first trip to the Grand Canyon and I must say no photo can capture the splendor and…read moremajesty of this wonderful place. I'll never forget my first up-close view of the canyon. That aside, the Maswik Lodge is perfectly situated near everything in Grand Canyon Village. The room is nicely set up with a king bed and has a rustic but modern air to it. The staff has been nothing but friendly and helpful. As I'm writing this I'm relaxing on my back patio with a cocktail and some mushroom bisque I picked up at the food court. The ambiance is reminiscent of a mountain lodge with pine trees around. This is a must do at least once in your lifetime. Carpe Diem!!

Maswik Lodge is a 280 room lodging complex nestled within the Ponderosa pine forest. It is located…read morejust a short quarter-mile walk from the canyon's edge. Our standard guest room featured a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, air conditioning, safe, satellite TV, telephone, hair dryer and two queen sized beds. The room was clean, spacious and comfortable. Guests services delivered our luggage's to our room upon arrival from The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel via the train. The main lodging area consisted of the registration desk, gift shops, maswik food court, and pizza pub. The food was okay, nothing special. The hotel staff were great- showing genuine enjoyment in helping others, providing service with a contagious and positive attitude. Overall, our one night stay was very enjoyable! We will definitely be back for another stay!

El Tovar

(10 reviews)

$$$

This a bucket list place to stay in the U.S. - it was a Harvey House hotel, and right on the south…read morerim of the Grand Canyon. This fact is what insures they have three stars. I will be reviewing the Dining Room separately (which for us was 4 stars) Without the historical ambience and "right on the rim" location, I would probably have given it 2 stars... 1) Check in went horribly. Given when this was built, the only way to get from floor to floor is by stairs, and they are fairly steep. I knew this, and made sure to book a main floor room because my spouse has trouble negotiating stairs. When we got there, we were given a third floor room, and was told that we "did not book a main floor room".... I mentioned my wife's issue, and said I had called the hotel directly to make this known. When asked "who did you talk to?" and I told them I didn't know specifically (I had made it 2-3 months in advance), they "politely" told me I was making this all up. I asked how my spouse would get to the room and they basically shrugged - not their issue. I finally got someone who said they would get the luggage to the room, and help her negotiate the stairs (which of course still didn't solve the "ever leaving the room bit"). Luckily she still can climb stairs (what if she had been in a wheelchair?), and I walked with her each time we went upstairs or back down. 2) The rooms were about what I expected, small... of course you aren't going to stay there - it's the Grand Canyon! But it would have been nice to have enough hot water for a shower. 3) The front desk remembered us, and were reluctant to help us on where to go and what to do, with snide remarks of "but of course your wife can't do that" (when I'd made it clear it was just stairs, or large inclines that were a problem). Overall, the hotel was nice, but let's say not conducive to anyone with mobility issues. Still - bucket list item, and we did enjoy the stay overall. Just quite a few things brought the experience downward.

After an hour wait we were seated and ordered. It took 45 minutes to get our hamburgers. Food…read morewas just mediocre.

Mather Campground Showers and Laundry

(143 reviews)

Mather Campground is a great place to stay if you want to camp close to the Grand Canyon while…read morestill having access to basic conveniences. The campground is clean, well maintained, easy to navigate, and close enough to Grand Canyon Village, shuttle stops, viewpoints, hiking areas, stores, and other services. The campsites are nicely set up with picnic tables, parking areas, and fire rings, and the sites feel comfortable even though the campground is fairly large. The restrooms were clean and well maintained, and having access to running water, showers, and laundry nearby is a big plus, especially for families or anyone staying more than one night. One of the best parts of staying here is the wildlife. Seeing elk, mule deer, ravens, and other animals around the campground really adds to the Grand Canyon experience. The trees and natural setting make the campground feel peaceful and more secluded than expected, even with other campers nearby. Quiet hours are also appreciated, and the campground had a respectful, relaxed feel. It is a good option for both experienced campers and people who want a simpler camping experience with nearby amenities. Overall, Mather Campground is clean, convenient, scenic, and very well located. It is a great campground for visiting the South Rim, and I would definitely recommend it.

Camping with the family and there is so much to do. We couldn't even scratch the surface with 4…read moreday trip. Super clean and great hosts.