Experience a mule ride to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with Mule Wrangler and Grand Canyon National Park employee 'TEX’!

Before and after her 2021 Appalachian Trail thru hike, Tex's first love and employment is the Grand Canyon and its mules. Join her to experience a day in the life of a Grand Canyon Mule Wrangler.

This footage was shot in late October.


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Disclaimer:

Please note that the ride to Phantom Ranch is a very strenuous and lengthy 56 hour ride. It is not the “easy way down” to the bottom of the canyon. The 10 mile ride progresses downhill one vertical mile (almost 5,000 feet) over tall steps down for the majority of the ride. This puts continual stress on the back, hips, knees, and ankles that compounds as the ride progresses. Riders need strong abdominal muscles required to lean back in the saddle for the majority of the 5 hour downhill ride. Summer temperatures of 90120 degrees at the bottom of the canyon with extremely low humidity pose a risk of heat exhaustion.

If you’re in good physical health and condition, you’ll do fine, but your knees and seat will be sore.

This ride is not recommended for
those with pain in the back, hips, knees, ankles, or weak abdominal muscles;
those with poor flexibility or poor range of motion in the hips;
those not in good physical condition;
those with underlying health issues;
those who recently underwent surgery;
those with poor balance;
those prone to heat sickness; or
those with an extreme fear of heights.
Please be honest with yourself, the checkin staff, and the barn staff about your physical health and any health conditions or concerns. Failing to do so puts you at risk of pain and physical injury, as well as poses a risk to the rest of the group due to delay as your situation is being attended to.