Made this our second stop during a 3-night/4-day hike into the Canyon. After spending the first night on the Tonto Plain we spent a very relaxed night at Bright Angel. We arrived on a very hot day and after spending about 30 minutes hydrating ourselves we found a great spot right next to the creek. We quickly set-up our gear and then hopped into the creek to cool off and do some cleaning. After being "counseled" by the ranger for our hanging of clothes and apparent inappropriate use of bio-degradable soap, we made it with a few minutes to spare for dinner. We had inquired at the south rim before hiking down and discovered some steak dinners were available for purchase. We loved it! After a long day of hiking and severe thirst, being able to sit in air conditioned (swamp cooler) comfort having steak, potato, salad, vegetables and LOTS of iced tea, hard to imagine anything better.

In addition to the food (we also did breakfast the next morning and purchased sack lunches for the hike out), we also enjoyed the clean and modern restrooms and I even made a call using the pay phone.

The only real issue with this kind of camping is the constant concern for your food (provided ammo cans are a must) and keeping your gear up off the ground away from the critters.

Highly recommend planning ahead (we made our reservations almost 6 months out) and taking advantage of this great gem.

The Bright Angel campground was the first stop on our trip which I really fell in love with. It runs right a long side a stream that flows into the Colorado River. People would wade in the water to cool off and relax after a day of hiking, rafting, or just lounging around. It also has a building with an actual flushing toilet (with tissue), sinks (with soap and electric hand dryer) and drinking water. Each section is semi private, with places to hang your packs and containers to store your food. Though there were squirrels and other animals around, they really didn’t bother you (that’s if you put your food away). The deer that were around, pretty much ignored you and minded their own business as if they had just hiked down as well.
If you take a five minute walk past the campground, you would run into Phantom Ranch. Here is where you can get snacks and things to drink but not soda. The lemonade there was so good but I don’t know if it was because I had the luxury of ice or if I just enjoyed be able to drink something other than water. You couldn’t get food there, only through reservations but they did have wine and beer for those that were interested. Around the ranch, it had a volleyball net set up for those that wanted to play. It even had a seating area with a mist of water being circulated around with a fan. That was pretty nice if you were not interested in getting in the cool stream. If you hung around, there is an area where the Ranger would talk about the park and unknown facts that common people were not aware of. The Ranger even took everyone on a scorpion hunt. I didn’t go but I heard that they found a lot of them.
When you go to the bottom of the canyon, you really gain a lot more than those that stay on the rim but one thing that you have to relinquish is the ability to watch the sunset. Because you are so far below, you don’t get that option, which is really ok with most. Once it got dark, people either sat in the stream or retired to their tent, which is what I did. I laid there looking at the stars and listening to the stream, slowing falling a sleep to prepare for the next day hike. It is definitely a different view from at the top of the rim and is a world away from everything.

Whether you are hiking down the South Kaibab, the North Kaibab or the Bright Angel trails your goal is the green delta created by the Bright Angel Creek as it enters the Colorado.

Tucked away in the back is the Phantom Ranch. Spread out along the creekside is the campground. You must have and display a permit to camp here, but otherwise chosing a site is first come first served. Each spot had a flat area for a tent and a table with brush separating them and giving some privacy. Water and toilets were located centrally.

I really don't know much else. I had just arrived, had a chance to clean up and the dinner bell rang. We had signed up for dinner at the Ranch and headed over there for the most delicious stew dinner. Had a great talk with other people, after dinner went to the campfire program with a ranger who scared us about scorpions and cougars. And then it was time to sleep. Since it was going to be hot we were up before dawn and on the trail at first light. So my experience there was brief but very welcome.