It is very silly to write a Yelp review of a place that's nearly impossible to get a reservation at. But I do compulsively write Yelp reviews of everywhere I eat, so here goes. Location aside, the "hiker's stew" is genuinely an excellent stew. Good quality big chunks of beef and a really savory broth that lets you know just how long it was cooked. Some vegetables (corn) are likely canned, but that was both a minor issue and to be expected given the location. Overall it's genuinely very tasty. Salad was fresh but unremarkable. Cornbread was excellent. Cake was average. I do wish they had ice cream, but I understand the logistical difficulties there... read more

Phantom Ranch is a unique experience in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. From the south rim, it is about 7.5 miles down the South Kaibab trail or 10 miles via the Bright Angel trail. There's cabins and bunk houses that require a lottery 15 months in advance, which adds to the exclusivity of the experience. Steak dinner is offered by reservations only for $70pp U.S. From 8am- 8pm, there's a cantina open selling all the things you'd want while backpacking, including cold lemonade, beer, wine, snacks, and first aid items. This week, the canyon was bursting with color from all the flowers and vegetation growing after the heavy snow season. This was truly a special experience! The trail to Ribbon Falls/North Rim was closed at one of the bridges and the creek running too high to attempt a safe crossing, so we enjoyed a rest day and cooled off on the banks of the stunning Colorado River. We took pictures of the current ranch as big changes are underway with a new water system getting installed, which will impact access to the ranch for a while. Special mention to the staff, particularly Zach, who went above and beyond to show us hospitality. Also, best of luck to new hire Tyler as he settles into his new role at the ranch! The ranch is currently short-handed, and some of the staff are really feeling the stress, which is starting to show in their interactions with guests. Remember to be patient and kind. The bottom of the Grand Canyon can't be an easy place to live and work. read more

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We've been here about a dozen times but haven't been in 6 years and I was hoping it hadn't changed; I wasn't too disappointed. We hiked down Kaibab and spent 2 nights at the Ranch in July - with a day hike to Ribbon Falls, then back up Bright Angel. I've never seen it so empty. Mules weren't running and the dorms were closed. They were advertising 115 - 120 degree days at the bottom. Although we only measured 107 outside the canteen on a day they reported 115; nobody could tell me where they take their measurements. We hiked the 15 miles to the Falls and back and didn't see anyone else. We had breakfast and dinner in the canteen with just a few other people but I was disappointed that it didn't open outside of those hours and they kicked us out real quick after our meal was over - Connor told me it was easier that way. Easier for them maybe but we'd previously enjoyed playing games, writing post cards, drinking beers and meeting people from all over the world in here during the day. This was my kids' first time down and it was too bad they didn't get to experience that because they'd heard some great stories about people we'd met, and still keep in touch with, hanging out here outside of meal times. We were able to purchase beers, lemonades and ice through the canteen window and we spent a lot of time relaxing in the creek with a small handful of other hikers who were passing through. The showers were open but the bathrooms within them were not. The bathroom in the cabin was spotty so we mostly used the outhouses which were a short walk past the canteen. Sounds like they're having some plumbing issues which will need to be addressed over the next few years which is, I think, why they are limiting the number of people down here even further than it's always been. read more

Phantom Ranch - Hotels Near Me

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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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!! read more

Phantom Ranch - The dorms with running water and a toilet in each. - Hotels Near Me

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Phantom Ranch - Dorm 15 - Hotels Near Me

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Did a rim to river to rim day hike and I stopped at the Phantom Ranch for a lunch break. Due to COVID the inside is closed but they are doing window service. The lemonade is the most famous thing here and it is indeed refreshing ($5 with $1 refills). There are other food items, souvenirs and other hiking/camping supplies. The coolest thing was getting some postcards to mail that will get delivered to the top via mules! Hopefully I'll win a lottery one day to stay overnight at this place. In the meantime, I would only give it 4 stars but just because in the grand scheme of things with doing a day hike, I would have rather spent more time hanging out at the river and didn't think the Phantom Ranch was necessary as a slight detour off the route. read more

Two years, people. We have been trying to get a reservation for two years! Finally, the stars aligned and there was a cancellation on a night we randomly checked, so we booked that in a red hot second. We knew that if we were going to hike rim to rim, we also wanted Phantom Ranch cred! The place is definitely a ranch. It's larger than I expected and quite a few cabins all surrounding the one room that has it all -- breakfast, dinner, gift shop, check-in, games. There's no central room to hang out except in this place. They only sell souvenirs at certain times, so be aware. They won't sell them during meal service. I wish there was a central room, as we arrived from the North Rim at 10:30am with nothing to do until our 6:30 dinner! Our legs were tired, so we didn't want to hike anymore, but the only option was to separate into our gendered dorms, sit in the creek, or sit in the central room on the hard wooden chairs. We had 8 hours to kill and we're kind of busy bodies... so that was my biggest gripe--would've been eliminated if we had a cabin to chill in together. We did enjoy the ranger talk at 4pm! The meals were the best part-- family style! I'm a vegetarian, and that veggie stew was where it's at! To think our entire meal came down via donkey is truly astounding and makes you really enjoy it even more. We stayed in the dorms, though we wanted a cabin-- sold out, like I said. The dorms were clean and there was a shower, toilet, and sink within. There were 10 beds in our #15 dorm. All was good and I slept well. The swamp cooler is what cools down the place and it emits some moisture, so my socks were a bit damp in the morning. Glad a I had a spare. The beer is Tecate or two others labeled by Lumberyard in Flag-- I bet it's their IPA and Red and they just make some labels exclusive for Phantom. Still pretty cool. Pack in, pack out! They don't have trashes for you. Take it out yourself. Remember, those mules haul everything out, so be a kind person and just put it back in your pack. Glad to check it off the bucket list. read more

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. read more

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this place is a lifesaver. I recently ran rim to rim to rim, and the lemonade and snickers bars made my day. It was great to hang out in the lodge for a few minutes and watch all these different groups interact with each other. This part of the valley floor is amazing and I would recommend if you hike down to at least stop by phantom ranch. If you have made it down to the river from the south side then cross the river and stop by. It wont be too much hiking as its relatively flat when you've come that far. read more

NO LONGER CASH ONLY!!! Just so you know you can now buy those $7 beers on your credit card. I stayed here from 2/25 to 2/26 2019. Happy 100th GCNP! Obviously Phantom Ranch is an amazing place, even if the Canteen is very basic, it's the joy of having arrived there - only accessible by raft, mule or hiking. The family style dinner/breakfast we had was really tasty (another diner said it was the best steak of his 3 visits). Accommodations in the dorm are more than adequate. Warm in the winter, running water and a flushing toilet - what more could you ask for? read more

The location is great, but the steak dinner for my wife and I was disappointing. The steak was overcooked, tough and not flavorful, while the rest of the meal was meh. The fresh salad was the highlight, but the packaged dressing was underwhelming. They do not offer or allow seconds on anything. Someone asked for an extra brownie (pretty sure it was a brownie from a mix)-they said "no". Then they had the balls to push us out after we had only been seated for 40 minutes in order to prepare for the next round of diners! Rather a disappointment for $140 for the 2 of us. Next time we will just prefer eating a freeze-dried meal at our camp, which is pretty nice in a place like Bright Angel Campground. read more

This is like no other place. The fact that there is a place to stay at the floor of the Grand Canyon with air conditioning, sewage and air conditioning is a feat. The cabins and facilities are rustic but it's what I expected. The staff person we interacted with was excellent. She was friendly, helpful and kept the trains running on time. The cabins and shower were clean, more so than I expected. The food was expensive but probably appropriate given what it takes to get it down there. They have the best lemonade you've ever had after the hike it takes to get down there. We were absolutely exhausted after our hike down from the north rim, plus I had terrible blisters. Thank goodness for the mule service that takes your bags up to the south rim. It made day 2 up the south rim so much better. This place is unique and amazing. read more

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. read more

Phantom Ranch - Inside of Phantom cabin - Hotels Near Me

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. read more

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We opted for the mule ride to PR, overnight accommodations, and the mule ride out. Booking over a year in advance we were fortunate to receive cabin 2, a queen bed with an a/c. Other cabins have 4 bunk beds or the dorms have 10 bunk beds. Dorms are segregated. Two evening meals, steak at first seating, stew at second seating. See price photo for cost. Reservations are required, I think. Tables are assigned and I'm not sure why. I would have liked to mingle with the hikers but I dutifully sat at my assigned table. Steaks were excellent and there was more than enough food during both dinner and breakfast. Meals are served family style. For the early risers, coffee is available around the side of the kitchen. Towels provided for the showers along with bulk soap and shampoo. You will need to bring your own washcloth and specialty soap/shampoo. Don't forget your swimsuit. Bright Angel Creek was a wonderful treat on a hot July afternoon. Let me mention the mules. The mule riders pay close to a thousand dollars a piece for the two day trip. These fees maintain the trail for the hikers. These fees also subsidize the maintenance of PR so the hikers can enjoy it free of charge (with park admission of course). Please listen to the mule wranglers. Rarely, but it does happen, hikers are injured and the mule might be destroyed. read more

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Our non-equestrian family of 6 rode the mules to Phantom Ranch. Beautiful stream just behind our cabin. That cabin was perfect: decent AC, no WiFi (4 teenagers--this was really nice), indoor plumbing. Not exactly roughing it, but not too soft either. Maybe it was the death defying mule ride down, but the steak dinner was the best I've ever had. Anywhere. Seriously. Really appreciated our meal after that ride. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly prepared. Early breakfast, which we also loved, then back on the mules. Ok, we loved the mules and trusted them fully. Amazing animals. More nervous about the non-equestrian riders (us). I hope to return to Phantom Ranch. Truly special place. read more

Phantom Ranch - Our cabin at Phantom Ranch - Hotels Near Me

Bottom of the Grand Canyon. If you're going here I assume you know what you're getting into. I have however heard stories where folks show up at the El Tovar around 430 asking, "Where's the PR, we have a 5:00 dinner resi", "Oh, it's right down that trail, can't miss it"...of course this is a 10 mile hike descending 5,500 feet. I rate places for the overall experience...so if you take the PR out of the canyon and put it anywhere else in the world it's NOT 5 stars. But you can't. Fewer than 1% of GCNP visitors go to the river. Be a 1%'er! Staying at and eating at the PR will be one of the greatest experiences of your life. And I'm NOT exaggerating here. A couple of call outs... For dinner you have 2 choices, Steak or stew. Stew is served at 5 and steak is served at 7. You MUST order in advance as the food is packed in on mules. The stew and fixins were great, the breakfasts were great. The steak was soso. To recap, be a 1%'er and go to the PR. Don't just go to the GCNP South Rim and pull a Chevy Chase. Strap on a pack, or get on a mule or Raft and REALLY visit the GCNP and the PR. read more

Phantom Ranch - Annual Father/son hiking trip, this one to the Phantom Ranch in the GCNP. - Hotels Near Me

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Staff was very rude upon arrival and after a brutal 10 mile hike. They were not helpful or polite and treated guests as an inconvenience. The guests were wonderful and assisted us better than the workers. read more

One of the most magical places I've ever been to. We hiked down the north kaibab and what a relief it was to finally see the sign for phantom ranch after what felt like ages being trapped in the canyon. Since we came in to phantom around dusk we really didn't get to see much of the landscape. What we did see, however, were the stars. Breathtaking! It's so dark and so quiet that it feels like the billions and billions of stars have come to life. It's hard to fathom that this is what our night sky is supposed to look like every night! We stayed in the dorms. The bed was fine. I was so tired, I could've literally slept on the floor and I wouldn't know the difference. My only thing about the being in the dorms is that everyone went to sleep so early. I mean, by 9pm, this place was snore city. Fortunately I did bring some ear plugs and that helped a great deal. The meals at this place is far better than I had imagined. It's expensive but considering that literally everything in the place is brought in and taken out by mules, I'd say the price is well justified. My absolute favorite place here is the beach. After breakfast one morning, while the sun was starting to peek over the canyon, we walked down to the beach. Wow! One of the prettiest places I've ever seen! It was like being in a dream world. Just amazing! This place is just amazing! No pictures, reviews or stories can ever fully describe the beauty of this place. This place is some place you have to experience on your own. read more

If you happen to get a reservation to stay at Phantom Ranch consider yourself lucky. It's nestled at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and you're in for an experience of a lifetime. It's truly that amazing! Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the canyon rim and it can be reached by mule, on foot or rafting the Colorado River. Space is extremely limited (99 guests per night) so it's difficult to go without making a reservation in advance. Accommodations consist of cabins and dormitories. My group stayed for 2 nights in a lovely little cabin just a short distance from the Colorado River. Cabin #8! The cabins vary in size. Ours had 8 bunk beds and all are equipped with bedding, a hand sink and toilet. Nothing fancy but very adequate. Oh, but don't forget your earplugs as you'll be needing those at night when you're trying to fall asleep. There is sure to be someone in your group that snores. Dormitories have their own showers but if you're staying in a cabin showers and additional bathrooms are provided in a centralized location. Did I forget to mention there is hot water and clean towels too. What's there to do at Phantom Ranch? Well you're surrounded by beauty so that by itself is breathtaking. We loved putting our feet in the stream leading to the Colorado River. There's plenty of boulders to sit on there but others in our group brought their own chairs. You can always go on an excursion and hike up the North Kaibab trail to Cottonwood and make a stop at Ribbon Falls. Meet people from all over the world or hike the loop over the bridges with great views. Just soak in the beauty, read or play some cards. You can always mingle with the mules too. The stars at night are like no other. Just sit and gaze and you'll be in awe. The dining experience for me exceeded my expectations. All the meals are served in the Canteen. Advance reservations are required as there are specific seating times for breakfast and dinner. They offered hearty breakfast options. Dinner choices included hikers stew with cornbread and steak dinners with fresh veggies, potato and salad. Food was seriously delicious. Box lunches were provided every day too. I would suggest you bring your own water bottle as there is a ample water available in and outside the Canteen. Starting with stays for January 2019 and beyond at Phantom Ranch, reservations are being converted to an online lottery reservation system for random selection. If you decide to go maybe you'll be fortunate enough to be picked at random. It's such an awesome experience. read more

This is a great experience. After reading other reviews I was not sure what I was getting into. Great food, comfortable clean cabin with very modern flushing toilet. (I thought I was going to be going into an outhouse. )Not at all! Air conditioned. Clean showers. Ride down on mules was two hours longer than planned. Ride back was great. read more

Phantom Ranch - Hotels Near Me

My family and I rented a cabin that could hold 10 people, even though there were only 6 of us they gave us the entire cabin. It turns out that the ranch will never rent out all of their vacancies as an insurance policy in case they suddenly need to house more people. One reason reservations are so hard to come by. We arrived to the ranch from the North Rim and were tired as I'm sure most people are upon arrival. The cabin was small but a welcomed sight. There were two rooms but one was separated by a door since it would remain vacant. Our part of the cabin had 3 wooden bunk beds that were pretty comfortable and creaky. The cabin was dimly lit and I have to mention the restroom because it will forever daunt my memories. It smelled 10x worse than a porta potty + outhouse. The urine smelled so bad that we all held our breath when someone needed to open the door to go in. I mastered holding toilet paper over my mouth and peeing at the same time. It was god awful. The tiny window had spider webs and none of us wanted to bother since you had to open it from the outside. The ranch does have a public restroom which I used for the most part except at late hours of the night when I cursed my body for needing to urinate. I will never ever forget how much this bathroom reeked. I've lived in China and have experienced living on farms in Ukraine with outhouses and this place was far worse. Yet, my rating for Phantom Ranch is five stars. And I'll tell you why. It's the experience. It's the experience of sleeping in bunk beds, hiking 25 miles through a beautiful canyon, eating semi-decent food in a communal setting, etc. It wasn't perfect but it was beautiful and I loved every ounce of it. Dinner is announced by the ringing of a bell. The server for the day will introduce you to the policy of eating which consists of sitting at your assigned table with your group, requesting whatever you want refilled, and finishing and leaving within 45 minutes of sitting down. The first dinner we had was the beef stew with corn bread. At $31 per person it was overpriced but it was all you can eat and the only option so I gobbled it up with a quickness. I didn't like a spice they used, which I was never able to identify, but I loved the mini potatoes and carrots. It was a hearty, savory, and hot meal so it was definitely a very welcomed meal after a long day of hiking. Breakfast is $21 and offers all you can eat eggs, pancakes, bacon, canned peaches, coffee and tiny glasses of OJ that you will likely request more of. The breakfast is decent and a nice start to the day. The other dinner option we had was the $51 per person steak. Not all you can eat but they will refill the corn, peas, and cornbread. You get a medium cooked sirloin steak (very fatty slab) with a large baked potato. This dinner was by far better than the stew. They end both stew and steak dinners with a rich slice of chocolate cake. Overall, I liked how the meals at Phantom Ranch were set up. You sit with your group at a picnic table and the server refills whatever you need. You have 45 minutes to eat your food then leave so they can clean up. The packed lunches consist of: apple, plain bagel, cream cheese, strawberry jam, delicious thing of salami sausage (my favorite!), two electrolyte packets, peanuts, packet of cranberries, and that's all I can remember. It was plenty for the hike back up the canyon. The canteen reopens after dinner from 8pm-10pm so you can buy whatever you want from lifesavers to "ease your muscles" salve (that doesn't work btw) to very crinkly t-shirts.They also have postcards that are mule delivered up the canyon that you can send to beloved family and friends who couldn't make the trip. The canteen also has some books to read and board/card games like Taboo, Cards Against Humanity and regular cards. They sell ice for $4 a bag or $1 a cup as well as beer and wine by the glass. The showers at Phantom Ranch were fine. They offer separate for women and men and three stalls in each.The towels are there for you to grab and they have a soap dispenser in each shower stall. The water knob is hard to navigate so you end up wasting a bit of water to get the temperature right, least in the leftmost stall. The door to the bathroom is tricky and you need to pull the key just right to get it to open. The showers felt clean enough but I still kept my flipflops on while showering. There's a full length cloudy mirror and some sinks as well. Can't recall if they had a blow dryer but I doubt anyone would use it seeing as it was August and the heat was towards the hundreds. The ranch itself was very well maintained, clean, and plenty of areas to sit and relax. Benches and seating surround a common area where they host guide talks about the canyon and celebrations (it was the National Parks 100th Birthday when we were there.) I would certainly recommend the Phantom Ranch to everyone. Bring earplugs and nose plugs. We didn't need bug spray in August. read more

The trip of a lifetime.. Phantom ranch is at the bottom of the grand canyon and has cabins for those people who like to hike but don't like to carry a heavy pack.. Everything you need is there.. Comfortable bed, shower , bathroom and the best food ever. I suggest hiking down from either trail early early early like 4am if hiking in the summer as we did .. Once you reach the ranch check in at the canteen ( open 8am-4pm) and head to your cabin, then go take a nice shower or head to the creek for a cool down soak.. If you want postcards or any gift items make sure to purchase between 8am -4pm or 8p-10pm otherwise they won't sell to you during meal hours. Need to know 1) DO NO SKIP the ranger talks...You may be tired and think (no big deal) but so worth it. You will learn things even silly things that you never new or probably need to know about the Grand Canyon but the rangers especially Mandy present it in a way that keeps you mesmerized and interested. 2) Whether you have steak dinner at 5 or stew dinner at 6:30 you only need to get there a few minutes early as you cant get in until they ring the very loud dinner bell then greet you with a speech before they seat you. You line up and they seat your party all together and dinner is served family style but don't worry they will refill anything you run out of. 3) Think twice about ordering the lunches. You end of with way to much food. Most people were returning theirs so it wouldn't go to waste. You can order each item that's in the lunch sack separately in the canteen so that you know your only purchasing what you will eat. 4) The greatest most friendly staff work at Phantom Ranch and go out of their way to make it the most amazing experience. They must realize and appreciate how much effort was put into your ability to get reservations at this unique place at the bottom of the canyon. If your lucky you will get Willie as your waiter for dinner. You can't help but smile and enjoy his question and answer session. 5) If you hike in the summer PLEASE SKIP BREAKFAST on the day of your hike back up. If you wait to leave until 5:30 or 6 am it is too late and you will be miserable hiking the box in the heat of the summer. read more

After hiking down the South Kaibab Trail, the Phantom Ranch was a welcomed site. I can see why it takes a year in advance to get reservations - it is awesome and the people who work there are THE BEST. Here's some advice from someone who has a LOT of opinions. 1. Stay in the dorms. It is fun to talk with people from all over the world with whom you are sharing this experience. People who hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon are generally very interesting people. 2. Stay two nights. There were 5 in our party and 10 beds in the dorm. We met some really cool people. 3. Play nice. There is only one outlet with two plugs. Don't hog the outlet charging your cell phone constantly. You don't get cell service, but you will use your cell phone as a flashlight, alarm clock, play games or read books you've downloaded while you lay in bed in pain from the hike you just did. If you have to call someone, there are two pay phones at the bottom. They take credit cards or you can call collect. 4. The air conditioning comes on when the cabin gets stuffy. Just deal with it. If it bothers you, make sure to get a bottom bunk and hang your towel up as a barrier. 5. You get a hook to hang your backpack on. Use your own hook and try not to spread your c**p all over. 6. The shower doesn't have much water pressure. Just deal with it. You're lucky to get a shower... you're at the bottom of the Grand Canyon for God's sake. They supply a towel and soap. Take your own shampoo. Please do NOT wear heavy perfume. 7. Use the courtesy flush technique. Please. The toilet has no window. It does have a fan. But be kind people. 8. If you are a light sleeper, wear ear plugs. I sleep like I am dead, so I had no problem. 9. Eat the meals at the canteen. They are hearty and all-you-can-eat. Breakfast is eggs, pancakes, bacon, apricots, orange juice and coffee. And people, when you take the last of anything... PASS THE PLATE TO THE END OF THE TABLE. One of the staff will refill it. Don't bogart anything. I don't think a lot of people understand family-style dining. It goes like this... take a normal portion AND PASS IT DOWN. Dinner was steak stew, cornbread and salad. They even had chocolate cake. The salad was so fresh, courtesy of the mules who bring down your food everyday. 10. Don't you dare be rude to or dismissive of the Phantom Ranch staff. They work their butts off. And they are such cool people. Much respect to anyone who hikes the Grand Canyon to work. 11. If you don't think you can do the hike back up... you can't. Or maybe you just want to be able to walk the next couple weeks when you get to the top. I am forever indebted to a wrangler named Andrea who arranged a mule ride to the top for me. It's called a drag out and it cost one of my fellow hikers and me $900 (all together) for two mules and a third to take our packs back to the top. Worth every penny. And thanks to Ed and Camille, the wranglers who led our mule party back to the top. They had to hoist my sore body on and off that mule. They were amazing. GIVE THEM A TIP WHEN YOU GET TO THE TOP. Seriously. They earn it. 12. There will be people at the bottom who tell you they hike rim-to-rim. We had a chubby dude tell us he does rim-to-rim-to-rim. Ha! Right! Some people get in pis***g contests during meals about their athletic feats. Ignore them. If you are one of these people, please talk about something else. Some of us could barely walk the next two days. 13. Did I mention be good to the Phantom Ranch staff? read more

Can it get any better than this? No, the answer is no, it can't. My friends and I arrived from hiking down the South Kaibab trail to me met with a warm welcome, water misters, WATER MISTERS!, and a crew that just added to the amazing trip thus far. Oh, and beer. Sure, it's Tecate, but I have never tasted a beer half as good as that one after hiking on down. Make your reservations well in advance - I mean, as soon as that 13 month advance warning hits, pick up the phone. My friend called on the first day the line was open and got a cabin - I called one or two days later, and everything was booked up on the first days of our stay. In the end everything worked out and we all had space in the cabin but for a while it looked like I'd be staying at the rim a while longer and hiking down to meet the group mid-way. Other things you may need to know: Get your food at the cabin, too. It may look a bit on the expensive side, but the food is good and there's plenty of it. Meals are done on a schedule (be sure you're back in time!), and family style, which is a great way to meet your fellow hikers. If you're in a group it helps to book meals together to be sure you'll sit together, but if not they did a great job of getting us sat together for all but one of the meals. Use the mule service to carry some of the weight of your pack down and back. Your knees will thank you :-) It's a "carry out" trash facility. Any trash from things you buy at the bottom can be thrown out at the bottom, but anything else should be carried back out. Oh, watch for scorpions. We went scorpion hunting each night we were there as part of the sunset ranger program (and found plenty!), but thankfully didn't encounter any indoors this time around. Once you're on the bottom, consider a day trip up to Ribbon Falls (pack a ton of water if it's hot - I went through 6 or 7 quarts - and carry a water purification system). The Oak Creek trail is steep and has awesome views. Don't be shy to hike out during the night-time hours. Many of the rangers do this to avoid the heat of the sun, and you can see perfectly clearly by starlight on the well groomed trails. I marked the "private lot" for parking option. Oddly, yelp doesn't have a way to clarify that answer with "but it's a 10 mile hike away"... Congratulations on reading this review - such a tiny percentage of people who visit the Canyon even go below the edge of the Rim, and of those, a tiny percentage stay overnight at the base. Go, have fun, and remember to watch for scorpions. read more

Our 4 person cabin, with dual bunk beds and a toilet, was the best accommodations I have ever had. We stayed two nights, which is the way to go. We saw others that were booked for one night, and they were more on curfew and had no time to explore the area as we did our one full day down there. We hiked down the South Kaibab Trail, which was great. No water stations. One shaded area to have lunch. But by the time we got to Phantom, the canteen was a great place to get hydrated and oriented to society. And what a society! 40 people staying there every night, with staff added. They treated me aces, and have their rules, but all was delightful. The thing about being on the bottom of the Grand Canyon had me identifying and being with these people in a warmth and familiarity that takes longer in other places. The are two Ranger talks every day, and they are spectacular. One talk is about the people history of the Grand Canyon. The other is the animal and critters. These Rangers are top of the line. Kudos! And sexy in their smokey the bear hat. Be sure to hike North from Phantom your day off, and turn off a sub stream to a great ten foot waterfall. Lots of time and pictures spent there, with our picnic lunch being consumed there. The boxed lunches were good, and we were up and out early for the long hike up Bright Angel, a very different trail for Kaibab. read more

Meals here are awesome! It helps that you have to either take a mule in or a long, tough hike, wetting your appetite, and that it is set in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Even putting those superlatives aside, this would be a fabulous place to eat. Breakfast and dinner are served family style. You sit at a table with 10 or 12 new friends. Food is passed around on plates to share. Plenty to eat and more is just a ask away. I have had the steak dinners and breakfast numerous times over the years. They never disappoint. Just had my first stew dinner this last trip. Hearty and good. read more

This review is for both Phantom Ranch (meals specifically) and Bright Angel Campground. My group of 3 did rim to rim overnight and and stayed at one of the campsites at Bright Angel Campground which is right next to the ranch. If you are coming from the South Rim, the campground is just passed the ranch across a little bridge over a creek. Bright Angel Campground is first come first serve. Pick a site for your group and display your permit on your tent. There are tent sites to both sides of the trail. Some sites are between the creek and the trail, the other sites are between the trail and the rock face. All sites are surrounded by lush greenery. The tent sites are obvious -- man made flat dirt ground with picnic table, 2 animal proof food canisters, and a large T shaped pipe planted into the ground where you can hang your packs. There is a running water toilet at this campground with soap and running water at the sink. There is also one outlet by the sinks as well. Separate women and men restrooms. By the restrooms is a water station where you can fill your water bottles. Phantom Ranch is worth the money. Yes it is expensive, but for us, it was worth it not to carry the extra pounds that food and cookware would add to our packs. We ordered a beef stew dinner for the night we arrived, an early breakfast, and a sack lunch to go. The beef stew is ranch food; it's hearty and salty. Not what I would eat everyday, but definitely what you want after you've hiked in the heat. The stew dinner also comes with cornbread, fresh garden salad, ice tea and water -- plenty of seconds to go around. The breakfast consisted of bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes, coffee, orange juice, water, and if I remember correctly some type of fruit. The sack lunch to go was the only disappointing thing we have to say about the ranch. We originally imagined something along the lines of a delicious sandwich, but it turns out the sack lunch is a bunch of random items --- plain bagel, cream cheese, dried cranberries, peanuts, fresh apple, mini sausage, 2 electrolyte powder mixes, and some more things I'm forgetting. The powder mixes and the sausage were our favorite / most useful items. The rest of the items we ended up giving to people along the trail as we hiked out the next morning. There are some items for purchase at the ranch gift shop like shirts, hats, postcards that will be packed out by mule, and more. During your stay at Phantom Ranch be sure to do the river walk/loop across the Colorado River, it is a humbling experience. Also, find your way to the little clayish beach along the river and dip your toes in the freezing cold water. Other information: there is a mess hall bell that the staff rings for every meal. The ice tea is not as great as some people say...or maybe we just didn't get the glory batch. There are at least 2 AED's in the dining hall. read more

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So what could be better than after a 3-5 hour hike down into the Grand Canyon, depending on the trail selected and your speed, to find this oasis at the bottom ! After the hike down, go to the Canteen and get a refreshing glass of lemonade. Checked into one of the bunk houses, that sleeps 10. Was not sure what to expect, but was surprised with what I found. The bunkhouse and bedding was clean. Each is equipped with a shower and john. Later that night was signed up for the steak dinner and glad I did. Family style service with all you can eat sides. Wine and beer is available at reasonable prices. read more

Stayed at the Phantom Ranch last week after a long hike down Bright Angel Trail. The hike was absolutely beautiful, and something we will never forget. The Phantom Ranch is a unique experience that any serious hiker or outdoor adventurist will appreciate. I stayed in the dorm and as someone else stated, was so exhausted from my hike that I barely noticed or cared about the stiff mattress. Everything was clean, and the staff was incredibly friendly. It is recommended to call very far in advance to book your stay, however we called same day, and they happened to have openings...You can always try your luck, you never know! Most people there who stayed only one day said they wished they had booked 2 or more so to relax and hike some of the surrounding trails. There is a little creek that I enjoyed sitting by before we hiked out, and even filmed a deer casually walking within a few yards of me... One word of advice...We bought a packed lunch from the ranch for our hike back up to the South Rim. While the lunch was sufficient for most hikes, we definitely required more calories for the 9.8 mile hike straight up in heat. Pack anything extra that you can carry, and be sure to bring extra electrolyte replacement powder...YOU WILL NEED IT. The hike back up is no joke, and you burn through more calories than you can imagine. The air also gets thinner at the top, and takes a little adjusting of you aren't used to it. It took us 4.5 hours down from the South Rim, and 9.5 (with breaks) up the following day. The last hour and a half of our hike down was in the dark, and we spent it getting dive-bombed by bats and completely spooked as all the nightlife of the Grand Canyon seemed to start making noise at once... Absolutely hysterical in retrospect, but frightening at the time..Bring a headlamp! LOL Keep in mind you can also take a Mule or raft the Colorado down. I heard that you can pay to have some gear brought down by Mule for you too. Overall, it was an experience of a lifetime, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.. Do it!!! read more

Phantom Ranch, to the best of my knowledge, is the only place to stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, save from camping. We arrived after a long, long hike on the South Kaibab trail (see my Grand Canyon review here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-canyon-national-park-grand-canyon#hrid:GQyNxltGqo1T9JmNyodEMg/src:self). When we arrived, we were told that a water pipe had burst and we wouldn't be able to shower, which lead me to angrily ask my boyfriend what sort of hellhole he had dragged me into (it was also 115F). It was a pipe along the trail and didn't have anything to do with PR, but still - I was miserable. Fortunately, after dinner they let us know that the pipe had been fixed and I took a very, very long and satisfying shower. We went for a brief swim/sit in a creek alongside the cabins, where I cooled down enough to realize I was delerious with heat, and then I took a 4-hour nap in the cabins. There are two types of accomodations, and both book up over a year in advance. You can rent a cabin or stay in gender-specific dormitory-style accomodations. Since we only called a couple weeks prior and got in on a cancellation, we got dorm-style but it wasn't bad. I definitely suggest calling any time to see if they have accomodations, even just a couple days prior. Each dorm has 5 bunk beds and a toilet and shower, and is cool and dark (allowing me to sleep through the 4 hottest hours of the day). Still, it wasn't intuitive to doing any hanging out with my boyfriend, but I also took a 4-hour nap, so who knows if we would have taken advantage of that anyway. The picture in this review of the bed is definitely a cabin, not the dorm. Dorm style sleeping was a mere $39/person/night, which is obviously pretty cheap. Where Phantom Ranch makes it up is the food - dinner was $45/person, breakfast was around $20/person, and a 'sack lunch' with some peanuts and a bagel and other things was $12. Everything is brought down/up by mule, so I get it, but it's still expensive for what you get. The food wasn't good but it wasn't terrible either, all served family-style and all-you-can-eat. But, keep in mind that we hiked for hours and lost all electrolyes - it probably should have tasted amazing. The staff was incredibly nice, helpful, and knowledgable - however, this is still very much a 'roughing it' experience. I was disappointed that they didn't give us any useful warnings, such as check your shoes for scorpions in the morning, since like they to hide there (which a fellow dormer told me) or hang up your backpack for the same reason. read more

You can buy booze at the bottom of the Grand Canyon! Phantom Ranch is a very welcomed pit stop. We arrived here at mile 14 of our 26 mile R2R day hike. It was insanely luxurious to be able to get off our feet, sit down, be sheltered from the elements and imbibe on alcoholic beverages. Non alcoholic drinks are also available as well as hot and cold beverages of choice like tea, coffee and soda. There are also snacks for sale like trail mix and chips but food service is restricted for those that sign up for dinner or breakfast. I can imagine supplies are hard to manage down here and so they must dole out their fresh food fare for those that plan in advance. There are cabins, campgrounds and a little village of sorts. Phantom Ranch is an oasis for weary Grand Canyon adventurers. The experience of being able to indulge in modern comforts here is pretty rad. read more