Grand Canyon National Park in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Mules and the Canyon
Behind you is the Bright Angel mule corral, where each morning mules greet riders and another adventure begins. Mules have carried people into Grand Canyon since sightseeers first visited here in the 1890s. For many people - including those who cannot hike - mules provide access to the inner canyon.
Mules?
What is a mule?
Mules are hybrids, a cross between a male burro and a female horse.
How long do mules live? How old are the ones visitors ride?
Mules live about 30-35 years. The ones visitors ride are between 6-25 years old (10 years average).
Can I pet or feed the mules?
No, please. It is dangerous
Will the mules bite?
Yes, they might. They are not aggressive, but if someone reaches out with hands that smell like food, they will bite.
Why mules? Why not horses
Mules carry more weight, are less temperamental, and are more economical. And, as one wrangler said, "The difference between riding a mule and riding a horse is like the difference between riding in a Cadillac and riding in a washing machine. Mules are just a whole lot smoother."
Where do Grand Canyon's passenger mules come from?
Mostly from Tennessee. Often used for tobacco cultivation, mules are generally sold wherever tobacco is grown. The Fred Harvey Company, which operates the mule rides, buys about 15-20 each year.
Where do I get information about taking a mule ride?
Information is available at all park hotel desks. Reservations are made through the Bright Angel Transportation Desk in the lobby of Bright Angel Lodge.
Must I make reservations?
Absolutely! A year in advance is recommended.
How long do mule rides take? Where do they go?
There are two different trips: a day trip and an overnight trip.
The day trip takes about 8 hours. Starting here at 8:00 a.m., it goes to Plateau Point about half way into the canyon, then returns here by about 4:00 p.m.
The overnight trip leaves here around 7:00 a.m. (8:00 a.m. in Winter) and descends to Phantom Ranch in the canyon bottom, where riders spend the night. The trip out is via Kaibab Trail, 5 miles east of here, and ends by about 4:00 p.m.
What should hikers do when mules are passing?
Stand quietly to the inside of the trail and follow instructions from the wrangler. Mules have the right-of-way.
Do the mules ever fall? Have there been accidents?
Almost never. There has never been a human death associated with passenger mules. Occasionally pack mules have fallen. Passenger mules are chosen carefully. They must not be easily excited. The greatest hazards involve heat and interaction with hikers.
"If the mule should slip, all would be over. BUT - the mule doesn't slip. The trail is never as narrow or as steep as you will describe it when you get back home. If it were, no living animal could possibly make the trip safely."
Fred Harvey publication, 1909
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 36° 3.437′ N, 112° 8.627′ W. Marker is in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, in Coconino County. Marker is near the mule corral, along the South Rim walkway, about 750 feet west of Bright Angel Lodge, off Village Loop Drive in Grand Canyon Village. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grand Canyon AZ 86023, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bright Angel Trail (here, next to this marker); Grand Canyon Village (within shouting distance of this marker); Hermit Road (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bright Angel Cabin 88 & 89 (about 300 feet away); Kolb Studio (about 400 feet away); Historic Kolb Studio (about 500 feet away); Buckey O'Neill Cabin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lookout Studio (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Canyon National Park.
Also see . . .
1. Grand Canyon Mule Trips. (Submitted on January 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Grand Canyon Mule Photos. (Submitted on January 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,637 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on August 31, 2022, by Bruce Guthrie of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 8, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.