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Hermit Trail
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This route to Hermit Rapids descends along a well-used trail through Hermit Canyon. The route is obscured in a few places by rock slides in the Supai Sandstone. This is a challenging and scenic way to enter or leave the canyon. At the northern end of this route is Hermit Rapids some of the largest along the Colorado.
Begin this hike from the end of West Rim Drive at Hermits Rest. The trail leads southwestward at the start. It descends through the upper stratum of the canyon along a meticulously carved stairway. The trail work along the upper section of this trail is a testament to the long hours in the hot sun that were spent creating it in the early decades of the twentieth century.
Slightly less than a mile and a half from the trailhead this route reaches the Waldron Trail. Waldron leads southward toward Horsethief Tank. At this junction follow the Hermit Trail to the right as it continues southwestward for a short distance. It soon turns sharply northward to meet the Dripping Springs Trail. At this junction stay to the right to continue along the Hermit Trail.
At this point the trail reaches the head of Hermit Canyon. It begins descending the eastern wall of the drainage through the Supai Sandstone. Less than a mile from the Dripping Springs Trail the Hermit Trail reaches Santa Maria Springs, elevation 4,880 feet. Below this rest area the trail continues to descend along the eastern wall of the canyon. In the morning this section of trail is shaded from the sun. During the afternoon this section of trail is fully exposed.
After Santa Maria Springs the trail the trail continues through the Supai Sandstone crossing a few rock slide areas and passing Four Mile Spring before reaching the Redwall Formation. The trail leads across the deep red sandstone before reaching the tight switchbacks of Cathedral Stairs.
After descending through the Redwall Sandstone the trail contours westward on to the Tonto Platform, descending, but less steeply. The trail soon meets the Tonto Trail and turns left along a portion of the route where the Hermit and Tonto Trails follow the same path. One mile from the Tonto Junction the track reaches Hermit Camp. At this point the Tonto Trail leads westward and the Hermit Trail turns northward following Hermit Creek.
The route becomes rocky as it descends through the lower Hermit Creek Canyon. It parallels the creek one and a half miles to the Colorado River. Backpackers should not use Hermit Creek as a water source due to high fecal coli counts. Santa Maria Spring and the Colorado River make the best water sources along this route.
Directions: From South Entrance Station, Drive northward on South Entrance Drive to the East Rim Drive/West Rim Drive junction. Bear left on to West Rim Drive and follow it 8 miles, through Grand Canyon Village, to Hermits Rest. The West Rim Drive is open to private vehicles from October through March. At all other times a free shuttle takes visitors to Hermits Rest.
The Hermit Trail leads nine miles north from Hermits Rest on the South Rim to Hermit Rapids on the Colorado River.
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Click here to edit!The Hermit Trail is not maintained by the National Parks Service(NPS) but is well-defined for the most part. There are a few areas of the trail that have been damaged or wiped out by rock slides. One large rockslide wiped out a good sized section of the trail so don't attempt this trail at night.The trail is steep and rocky and the weight of your pack will put a real strain on your shoulders and knees. This is not a good trail for a day hike.There are 3 trails that join Hermit trail: Waldron Trail(1.25 miles) then Dripping Springs(1.6 miles). Stay to the right there may not be any street signs. Then finally the Tonto Trail, at approximately 5.5 miles, where you go left at Tonto trail to Hermit Camp and/or the Colorado River.There is a rest House and toilet facilities a little over 2 miles from the trail head at Santa Maria Springs. When I we were there in April, there was a pipe with water dripping into a can and we used our water filter to fill up. Check with the Backcountry office about water availability before you head down this trail as there is no more water till you reach Hermit Camp or the Colorado River. This area is the beginning of the Rock slides - there is a small slide right there at Santa Maria Springs and just beyond that there is another. Then a little further down is a Large Slide. BackPackers have been making a few cairns along this large slide to help find the trail again. Basically you descend the first area of the slide then cut back to the East. Fallow the cairns as much as you can but use your own trailfinding ability and be aware that sometimes hikers make cairns before they know where the trail is and get you off track.After the large slide there should not be any other problems (except for sore knees acheing backs blisters and heat) The trail flatteens out for a mile or so before it descends down onto the Tonto Plateau.When you reach the Tonto trail Junction you are about 1.5 miles from Hermit Camp the trail remains mostly flat but there isn't any Shade to speak of. Just Before you reach Hermit Camp the trail to the river cuts off to the right it begins with a sharp descent then generrally stays in the creek bed . Its going to be a little difficult with backs as you may have to climb down over some rocks but the creek will usually be close and you can cool off and rest. There are some Cairns along the way fallow them if you can it will make things easier. We went on a day hike down through this section and didnt pay much attention to the cairns just wandered down though Hermit Gorge. Its about 1.5 miles to The Colorado River from Hermit Camp.The Views looking up and down the River are spectacular and The Rapids are AWESOME. There is an area just upriver from the rapids to camp and fish.Be certain to get camping resevations ahead of timeas there is no camping at large in this area of the canyon.
DirectionsThe trailhead is 1/4 mile west of Hermits Rest. Take the free West Rim Shuttle to Hermits Rest. The Shuttle runs every 20 minutes or so -- check with the Information Desk at Bright Angel Lodge to see how early the Shuttle begins to run.
HighlightsThe Hermit Trail offers breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon to the west. Hermit Camp has a stream there with a few small falls where you can cool off in the Colorado River and Hermit Rapids.
