Pipe Creek — The bottom section of Bright Angel Trail follows the stream to the river. The beach just upriver from the mouth is where most rafting groups land to do their exchange. It’s another mile to Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch crossing the Silver Bridge, and an extra mile to follow the River Trail to the Kaibab and the old Black Bridge.

The original section of trail leaving the bed going up to Indian Garden was called the Devil’s Corkscrew (old trails description). This original segment of many short switchbacks has been abandoned but some of it can be spotted below as the current trail goes up toward Garden Creek on a long traverse. Old photos are interesting to compare.

The upper part of Pipe Creek, upstream from the Bright Angel Trail and below the Tonto Trail section, is almost inaccessible due to a series of chockstone obstacles. One of these obstacles is just a short distance up Pipe Creek from the Trail. But it's possible to get into this upper basin from the east side of the east branch. There is water here and it is quite an interesting place to visit - relatively mysterious and unknown even to most hikers. Harvey B. included this in his explorations, and Wayne Tomasi has been here and written about the access. This access was once an Anasazi trail and it seems the deer still travel this up to the current generation, and it is very nearly a trail. Stay close under the Tapeats cliff and follow this track above the vertical drop and the sound of running water far below, with an easy descent to the stream after this very long (amazing) traverse.

2007 May - Descending Skeleton Point Route and looking for the access into upper Pipe Creek basin.