After a while I found that it was easier to walk along the edge of the trail, where the snow had not been packed down. Still, I fell once on the way down and almost fell on three or four other occasions. Before long, the snow thinned out and I reached Indian Gardens. Because of its location at the approximate midpoint between the South Rim and Phantom Ranch, Indian Gardens is a terminus of sorts. It contains a large campground with picnic tables, a corral for mules, benches for hikers, and toilets.
Tap water is available year round.
To reach the Tonto trail west of Indian Gardens, you follow the Plateau Point trail. Plateau Point is a popular destination of day-hikers and the mule trains, so you have a lot of company on this trail. After one-half mile you reach the signed junction of the Plateau Point and Tonto trails. I headed west and after about one-half hour reached Horne Creek camp. There are two adjoining campsites that straddle the trail.