Tonto Platform

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Tonto Platform

The Tonto Platform, which sometimes also referred to as the Tonto Plateau, is a broad terrace which forms the major east-west route through the lower reaches of the Canyon. It is located approximately 3,000 feet below the Canyon's south rim and is composed primarily of Bright Angel Shale which has been eroded back to expose the underlaying layer of Tapeats Sandstone. The Tonto Platform begins near Red Canyon in the eastern Grand Canyon and runs to near Elves Chasm in the west. The Tonto Trail runs almost the full length of the Tonto Platform, beginning at Hance Rapids, at the mouth of Red Canyon and running 70 or so miles west to Elves Chasm.